How similar are Germany and Austria? How different are they?

[Tender Branson]

People in Germany don't tend to lock people up in basements.

That's totally wrong of course. People are locking up people in basements all around the globe.

There have been recent cases in Ohio, California and Germany, just to  mention a few.

There are probably 100x more people locked up in US basements than in Austria ... (not including the CIA black sites)

[Tender Branson]

On the question:

Austria is to Germany roughly what West Virginia is to Virginia.

Canada vs. US would be a similar comparison, but that's not as good as WV vs. VA

Like WV, Austria is more conservative and rural than VA and Germany.

Also, with the FPÖ being much stronger here recently (like in WV, where blue-dog Democrats are now voting Republican), it's another good comparsion. The FPÖ is also picking up former and current blue-collar workers. In VA and Germany that's not the case to this extent.

[Tender Branson]

I thought about posting that the main difference is that Germany can play good football, while we can't ... but that's not true anymore these days.