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Skybird · 05-16-12, 09:19 AM

Edit Nov. 2012:
I will use this thread to occasionally post interesting essays in German that I found no English translation for. Had to chose between the foreign language forums we also have, and GT, but I think this mixture here maybe becomes a very wild mixture and thus more belongs into GT, than the foreign language forums which seem to be more focussed.

----

The dominant news for Germany in the past days was not so much the new French president, although that may be due to a slight underestimation of the relevancy of the French vote for Germany, but the federal state elections in Northrhine-Westphalia, home to 13 million Germans and thus the one of the 16 federal states with the biggest population of all.

The Merkel-party was given a crushing defeat, the socilists and Greens won with flying colours.

Northrhine-Westphalia is in a very threatening fincial situation, and while it has some better economic potnetial than greece, the financial situation has been compared to the dimension of the Greek tragedy, if one takes into account the differences in population. The old and most likely new coaltion government of SPD and greens have vowed to make more debts and increase the burden for the future generations, because their social responsibility ends with the voters whose vote they cna get right now. In the past two years, the plans for the fiscal budget have been stopped by the constitutional court due to violating debt limits and constitutional conditions imposed on budget plans. The socialists also want to make stronger absue of the "Länderfinanzausgleich" and suck more money from economically healthier and socially more realistically planning southern states like Bavaria and Baaden-Würtemberg. Just to underdstand that they cannot raise their spendings if their earnings break away - this is what they do not want to take into account. Quite the opposite, the SPD is currently on a party-trip in an attempt to unify qwith France's Hollande.

The once total dominance of the CDU in federal state parliaments, has being evaporated in recent elections, leaving the CDU with a minority only in the second national chmaber.

Merkel also has no names left that could line up by her side and support her. All potential rivals have been bitten away or voluntarily dropped the towel and left the party. Others got burnt up in scandals, were chasen away to positions where they could not threaten Merkel's authority, or got defeated in state elections. The CDU, by its program does not exist as a conswevative party anymore, since years. I mean it when I talk of Merkel'S party only. And Merkel is the only argument they have left to maybe win next year's national elections. With Europe jumping to the extreme left, Merkel now has a very difficult, isolated and lponely stand everywhere, national, international. But since she so far always has just balked loud, but then obeyed international pressure and allowed to hollow out the "tough decisions" she was advocating (especially the now disliked Sarkozy pulled her over the table several times), I somewhat doubt that it makes a real difference in total effects.

Germany's Social-Democrats return to relevancy

"It's going to get harder for Merkel"

One thing is worth to be mentioned. In number of total votes, ALL established parties have lost, even those who won in shares and seats. It has been like that in the election two weeks ago in Schleswig-Holstein as well. Interesting also is the age-structure of voters in said elections. It were the old ones going to vote, while the younger ones stayed away. The erosion of wide acceptance of democracy as well as trust in established poltical structures and established names is continuing. And the Pirates, well, they are no political party but both an egopist and ifantile protest movement playing anarchy and calling that circus politics. Amusing, but not really helpful, not even for a politician-eater like me. Their level of lacking education, knowledge and competences is terrifying.

I know I know, Penguin, I've seen your sig. But sorry: no sorry at all - that's what I think about them.

05-16-12, 09:19 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,609 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Notes from Germania Edit Nov. 2012: I will use this thread to occasionally post interesting essays in German that I found no English translation for. Had to chose between the foreign language forums we also have, and GT, but I think this mixture here maybe becomes a very wild mixture and thus more belongs into GT, than the foreign language forums which seem to be more focussed. ---- The dominant news for Germany in the past days was not so much the new French president, although that may be due to a slight underestimation of the relevancy of the French vote for Germany, but the federal state elections in Northrhine-Westphalia, home to 13 million Germans and thus the one of the 16 federal states with the biggest population of all. The Merkel-party was given a crushing defeat, the socilists and Greens won with flying colours. Northrhine-Westphalia is in a very threatening fincial situation, and while it has some better economic potnetial than greece, the financial situation has been compared to the dimension of the Greek tragedy, if one takes into account the differences in population. The old and most likely new coaltion government of SPD and greens have vowed to make more debts and increase the burden for the future generations, because their social responsibility ends with the voters whose vote they cna get right now. In the past two years, the plans for the fiscal budget have been stopped by the constitutional court due to violating debt limits and constitutional conditions imposed on budget plans. The socialists also want to make stronger absue of the "Länderfinanzausgleich" and suck more money from economically healthier and socially more realistically planning southern states like Bavaria and Baaden-Würtemberg. Just to underdstand that they cannot raise their spendings if their earnings break away - this is what they do not want to take into account. Quite the opposite, the SPD is currently on a party-trip in an attempt to unify qwith France's Hollande. The once total dominance of the CDU in federal state parliaments, has being evaporated in recent elections, leaving the CDU with a minority only in the second national chmaber. Merkel also has no names left that could line up by her side and support her. All potential rivals have been bitten away or voluntarily dropped the towel and left the party. Others got burnt up in scandals, were chasen away to positions where they could not threaten Merkel's authority, or got defeated in state elections. The CDU, by its program does not exist as a conswevative party anymore, since years. I mean it when I talk of Merkel'S party only. And Merkel is the only argument they have left to maybe win next year's national elections. With Europe jumping to the extreme left, Merkel now has a very difficult, isolated and lponely stand everywhere, national, international. But since she so far always has just balked loud, but then obeyed international pressure and allowed to hollow out the "tough decisions" she was advocating (especially the now disliked Sarkozy pulled her over the table several times), I somewhat doubt that it makes a real difference in total effects. Germany's Social-Democrats return to relevancy "It's going to get harder for Merkel" One thing is worth to be mentioned. In number of total votes, ALL established parties have lost, even those who won in shares and seats. It has been like that in the election two weeks ago in Schleswig-Holstein as well. Interesting also is the age-structure of voters in said elections. It were the old ones going to vote, while the younger ones stayed away. The erosion of wide acceptance of democracy as well as trust in established poltical structures and established names is continuing. And the Pirates, well, they are no political party but both an egopist and ifantile protest movement playing anarchy and calling that circus politics. Amusing, but not really helpful, not even for a politician-eater like me. Their level of lacking education, knowledge and competences is terrifying. I know I know, Penguin, I've seen your sig. But sorry: no sorry at all - that's what I think about them. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 11-13-12 at 06:11 PM.