European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 19, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                So you Wanna buy american he sometimes it s Tough to Tell who makes what the recent buy America Binge has raised the question of just which common products Are in fact made by american companies. Here a a quiz 1. The Parent company of Braun household appliances is a. Swiss b. German c. American  2. Blk pens Are a. Japanese b. Czech c. American d. French 3. The maker of Haagen dazs  Cream is based in a. France b. Sweden readers action line c. Britain d. America 4. Ria televisions Are made by a company based in a. Japan b. America c. France d. Korea 5. The Parent of Arrow shirts is a. Thai b. Italian c. American d. French 6. Godiva chocolate is a. French b. Belgian c. Swiss d. American 7. Vaselines owner is a. American a French a Anglo dutch d. German 8. Firestone tires Are  b. American even some of Lee Iacocca a a Chry Atara Are japanese. C. German d. French 9. Holiday inns Are owned by a company based in a. France b. America c. Britain d. Saudi Arabia 10. Tropicana Orange juice is owned by a company based in a. Brazil a Canada a Mexico d. America 11. Jaguar cars Are made by a company based in a. Germany b. Britain c. America d. Japan 12. Atari video games Are a. Korean b. American c. Japanese d. Malaysian answers 1. C Gillette co 2. D Bic a. 3. C grand metropolitan pc 4. C Thomson a 5. D Bidermann International 6. D Campbell soup co 7. C Unilever pc 8. A. Bridges tone corp 9. C Bass pc 10. B Seagram co. Ltd 11. C Ford motor co 12. B atari corp a users guide to cola allowances Why is there such a discrepancy Between the amount of Cost of living allowance cola that a department of the army civilians receive in Japan Korea and other Pacific locations As compared to what we receive in Europe i was employed at Camp Zama Japan from May �?T87 to August �?T90. During that time when the yen rate dropped Between 130 to 120 yen to the Dollar As it is noway cola averaged Between $150 and $187 a pay period. Also i lived in Bachelor officer quarters All civilian employees at Camp Zama lived in government housing. Nothing on Camp Zama was based upon the yen rate . The Cost of dry cleaning and other services were in dollars and did not fluctuate according to what the rate was at any Given Day. You did not have to buy yen unless you absolutely wanted to for your personal use. When i arrived in Germany in september �?T90, i was amazed at How expensive things were Are on the German Economy. Also i was even More amazed and still am at the amount of cola that Days receive in Germany. This last pay period my cola amounted to $29 and has exceeded $48 Only once or twice since i arrived in Germany. This is even though the Deutsche Mark has Only been As High As 1.78 Marks to the Dollar from september 90 until the present. Here in Germany i live on the Economy which Means that i must pay my rent utilities phone and other Bills in Marks sometimes the la we receive does not always cover All living quarters expenses so you must buy additional Marks. So it is absolutely necessary to buy. Marks to pay for services As Well As for personal use in Germany. I read in the stars and stripes that the state department bases the cola rate in Germany on the Cost of living in Frankfurt and Washington . The stars and stripes also published a list of the 10 most expensive cities in the world but Washington . Was not on the list although new York Frankfurt and Tokyo were. So. After experiencing life in the Pacific and Row in Europe As a . I am convinced that a civilians in Europe Are being cheated by the state department. . Moore we Brucken Germany Ruth l. Willow director allowances staff  of state replies a civilian Post Cost of living allowance is paid Only where foreign living costs Are significantly above those of the Washington . Area. The Post allowance is based on a detailed comparison of living costs As they affect a typical . Government family living abroad in comparison with the Washington . Area. Some american families adapt readily to foreign living conditions while others do not. A Cost of living allowance based on a typical american family living abroad will not necessarily reflect the tastes and living patterns of a particular family. A Post allowance level is expressed As the percent by which foreign living costs exceed those of the Washington . Area. Post allowances for employees in Germany Are currently based on 1.51 Marks and reflect living costs which Range from 10 percent for locations such As Frankfurt to 25 percent for the More expensive locations such As Hamburg. Comparable allowances in Japan Are currently based on 124 yen and Range from 20 percent in Okinawa to 80 percent for Sapporo. The Post allowance for Tokyo City is currently at the 50 percent level. Civilian Federal employees in Korea do not currently receive a Post allowance. These different allowance Levels Are supported by a number of detailed Cost of living surveys from the three countries. A general description of the Post allowance program is provided on Page 9 of the department of state publication 9437 which states in part Quot the Post allowance is a Cost of living allowance paid to american civilian employees assigned to a foreign Post where the Cost of living excluding the Cost of living quarters and schooling is significantly higher than in Washington . Quot the Post allowance represents the amount necessary to enable the employee at the Post to Purchase with salary plus allowance goods and services comparable to those the employee could Purchase in the Washington . Area with salary  consideration is Given to 1 the Quantity of goods purchased and the prices paid on the local Market or from commissaries where available 2 goods shipped to the Post at government expense upon assignment 3 articles imported at employee expense from the United states or other countries and 4 goods and services provided by the . Government at Low or no Cost. These latter items would include any government provided household furnishings medical care and recreational facilities. Adjustments Are made to allow for necessity to use substitute articles for those that would normally be used in the United states for example the use of canned milk at posts where fresh milk is not considered Safe for consumption by americans or the use of other types of meat where pork is not available. Adjustments Are also made to allow for additional medical care at unhealthful posts additional clothing for harsh climates and additional essential household  the living quarters allowance program is described on Page 8 in part Here Quot either a living quarters allowance la or free government quarters Are furnished to each american citizen civilian employee living in a foreign area by reason of employment by the . Government. Quot in determining the appropriate allowance rate for employees at a Post All available information is considered. This includes a thorough examination of quarters expenditures by All government employees at the Post analysis of changes occurring in quarters expenditures since the last review special attention to the expenses of new arrivals a comparison with stand arc data on the appropriate size of quarters which should be occupied by families the amount of out of pocket expenditures by salary level and family size the relationship Between quarters allowance Levels and consideration of All other data available pertaining to housing at the  More detailed technical descriptions of How these allowances Are determined Are included in publications 9871 april 1991 and 9899 july 1991i can assure you that allowance Levels established by the department of state Are based solely on the careful and objective analyses of Cost data submitted by Many posts abroad. These measurement processes have been reviewed on Many occasions by various Federal offices responsible for the accuracy and appropriateness of overseas allowances. These reviews have generally found the reporting system and results to be As reliable and fair As Survey measurement methods  write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available if you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apoate 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes wednesday february 19, 1992