RC:
Well, I recently heard a "joke" (well, not really) from one of my (successful) customers who runs his own business.
In the past, when a neighbor saw that his neigbhor bought a new car, this neighbor tried to work more and harder to be able to buy such a car too.
There is a similar development in other former eastern block countries too. My guess is: many people can't cope with "capitalism"Nowadays, when a neigbhor sees that his neighbor bought a new car, he thinks of ways how to burn the neighbor's house down and with it the new car. 
[...]
East Germany is actually a very good example: many people over there are driving nice cars, they find any kind of food without problems, they can travel freely around the world and they have lots of goods to buy. Now tell me: why does the former socialist/communist party who actually ruined East Germany still get the most votes over there ?
I still think that Germany is one of the countries with highest obedience to authority. East Germany´s citizens had to endure a government-controlled lifestyle for four decades and what is missing now is the political or social bracket that holds people together. I believe that most of them do not know what to do with their life. On top of that, they have been fed an entirely different understanding about wealth in those socialist decades.
I have visited several regions in Eastern Germany in recent years and a huge percentage of industrial sites have been closed down. Imagine if 2/3rds to 3/4th of your city´s enterprises are closed down, there simply is no chance for a promising career. While several villages appear serene and idyllic, there is no work available whatsoever. The vast majority of friends between 18 and 35 have moved somewhere else, leaving the family behind. I have even met people in their late 50ies that endure a travel of 1400 km each week between their workplace in the South-West and their home in the East of the country. Fortunately, my friends and relatives are employed as they are skilled workers or academics. To be honest, I would have to think twice to move there despite my historical connections.
RC:
It is sad, very sad but like one of our doctor friends said: just avoid making friends with these people and you're going to be fine. Not easy if your kids are in school and they have friends there. I suppose it is going to be better when the kids are older. Hopefully.
My circle of friends changed / increased immensely when I attained the Gymnasium and i assume so will your daughter´s. That´s a sad story that parents refrain their children to play with others for a matter of wealth.
This is still surprising to hear it as I never experience those deprecative talks about the rich in my surrounding and region... maybe I am not rich enough. 
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