Frank Mosher

The 59-year-old says he has only "21 more years until retirement." If he doesn't make it until then, his biggest wish is to die in a McDonald's, he said. Mosher, who has become a German citizen, shares his views on the country's state and future before the election.

DW-WORLD: How is Germany doing in your opinion?

Frank Mosher: My feeling is that Germany is doing very poorly at the present time. If you look at the economy, it's performing, I think, at the last place in Europe. I think it's pretty frustrating for everybody -- for the entrepreneurs, the workers and the people who, who are retired. I think it's frightening for the people who are still learning or studying and getting ready to go into the work force.

What needs to happen in Germany to help speed up the country's recovery?

Hartz (Eds: Germany's social welfare reforms) is a step in the right direction, but it's not far enough along. We need more straight talk, more honest talk. If we don't get this thing straightened out, the perception of democracy gets weaker and weaker. We just have to get it going. The reform of the tax system is one of most important things that have to get done. It's ridiculous that not all ways of making money are taxed. We need to get rid of subsidies. We have more people working as civil servants, I think, than almost anywhere else in the world. The problem is that everybody is relying too much on the state. You can't expect the state to provide for you when you're old.

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder or Challenger Angela Merkel? Who is your personal choice for chancellor? Why?

Schröder has totally failed. He made promises and he hasn't performed. I think he's disqualified himself. Of course Merkel would be better. At the same time, she has to be a Margaret Thatcher, she has to make the hard decisions. She can't be the most popular person, but somebody's gotta do it. I think the combination of conservatives and the (free-market liberal) FDP is very good. The FDP has the best ideas, they will be able to influence what's going on.

What do you like about Germany?

I love Germany, think that it's a great country with a great culture and the nicest people in the world. I'm a German myself, I choose to live here. I love the way Germans keep their things in order. It's very pleasant to look at.

What do you dislike about Germany?

I dislike that the people who are responsible are not telling the truth. Maybe some people are going to be shocked, but at least they'd know where they stand. We should have more individual responsibility.