Germany's party landscape is changing drastically

Skybird · 07-30-08, 05:25 AM

Nobody held weapons at Italians' heads to vote for him. Like all voters, they are to be hold responsible for the choice they made. Who votes for Berlusconi has no right to complain - or to be surprised by what he does, for meanwhile there were plenty of opportunities in past years to learn what to expect from Berlusconi. So, I do not buy into that vacuum thing - Berlusconi was not sucked into office because nobody voted for him, but because enough people made a decision to bring him there. they had the choice to vote differently - or to not vote at all, which might be the best choice when being expected to choose between pleague and cholera. By not voting, you are refusing to give your legitimation to a system which is part of the problem.

Diopos · 07-30-08, 06:04 AM

I have tried it all!
abstained,
voted for a "major" political party,
casted a blank ballot,
voted for smaller party,
all of them at different ages and for different reasons
but always, always had an "empty" feeling afterwards.

Gorduz · 07-30-08, 05:12 PM

The first time i voted in the local election (a town of 50.000 inhabitants) I voted for the 3 or 4th largest party being just to the left of the conservatives. The biggest party(conservatives) wanted to make the town council with the second largest party(libertarians) but the libs decided to raise the stakes, and the coservatives gut fed up and went to the left. So because both the parties to the left of the conservatives had made a good election we had the first conservative, left council in many years

I was very happy with my choice then..

UnderseaLcpl · 07-31-08, 01:09 AM

Fascinating perspective on Germany's sociopolitical situation skybird. I wish I knew enough about German society to fully grasp these articles' import. Research time!

On a semi-related note, France has been getting uppity lately. Seeing as how Germany is the world leader in France-invasions, is there any hope that these political trends might trigger another one?:rotfl:

07-31-08, 01:36 AM

German 1: I'm bored, what do you want to do?
German 2: I don't know, what do you want to do?
German 1: I don't know. Those Frenchies have sure been getting uppity lately. Maybe we should invade again?
German 2: Watch anything good lately?
German 1: Nah.
German 2: Lets do it.

Seriously though, good article. I never hear much about German politics, it's nice to see what's going on.

August · 07-31-08, 11:09 AM

I've never understood the European penchant for voting for a party as opposed to an individual.

Skybird · 07-31-08, 02:12 PM

One week or ten days ago, there was a very interesting docu about French units in afghanistan. actually, they are being held in high esteem by the americans and are beside the British the preferred choice of US commanders to line up with in joint operations. both sides - normal grunts, no PC officers - said that they cooperate very well and trust each other's reliability and efficiency. Also, in 91 it were French light recce units taking the lead in the outer west due to their immense mobility. and in the "war in terror" (what a braindead whrase...) , the french counterterrorism intelligence proved to be inevitable for many American successes, and has been confirmed many times to be at last as tough as the american intel operations. France is a heavyweight, in these regards - no matter who currently are presidents in the US and France. retorics may have been friendly or hostile, but the intel cooperation always was very tight and substantial.

If you have a problem with french policies, adress their politicians, leave the soldiers out of it. They obey politician's orders, like American soldiers do. Always mocking about French army is as if I would mock about the US army grunt for the mistakes made by Georgie. And I never did that!

Platapus · 08-01-08, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I've never understood the European penchant for voting for a party as opposed to an individual.

In our own way we have that here in America when we have voters who always vote straight party tickets irrespective of the individual.

I remember in the old "lever" voting machines there was a single lever that would cast all your votes for you based on party.

07-30-08, 05:25 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,685 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Nobody held weapons at Italians' heads to vote for him. Like all voters, they are to be hold responsible for the choice they made. Who votes for Berlusconi has no right to complain - or to be surprised by what he does, for meanwhile there were plenty of opportunities in past years to learn what to expect from Berlusconi. So, I do not buy into that vacuum thing - Berlusconi was not sucked into office because nobody voted for him, but because enough people made a decision to bring him there. they had the choice to vote differently - or to not vote at all, which might be the best choice when being expected to choose between pleague and cholera. By not voting, you are refusing to give your legitimation to a system which is part of the problem. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

07-30-08, 06:04 AM	#2
Diopos Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, the original one. Posts: 1,226 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	I have tried it all! abstained, voted for a "major" political party, casted a blank ballot, voted for smaller party, all of them at different ages and for different reasons but always, always had an "empty" feeling afterwards. __________________ - Oh God! They're all over the place! CRASH DIVE!!! - Ehm... we can't honey. We're in the car right now. - What?... er right... Doesn't matter! We'll give it a try anyway!

07-30-08, 05:12 PM	#3
Gorduz Engineer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Norway Posts: 210 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I have had a good feeling once The first time i voted in the local election (a town of 50.000 inhabitants) I voted for the 3 or 4th largest party being just to the left of the conservatives. The biggest party(conservatives) wanted to make the town council with the second largest party(libertarians) but the libs decided to raise the stakes, and the coservatives gut fed up and went to the left. So because both the parties to the left of the conservatives had made a good election we had the first conservative, left council in many years I was very happy with my choice then.. __________________ 21. MTB skv. Attacks without warning.

07-31-08, 01:09 AM	#4
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Fascinating perspective on Germany's sociopolitical situation skybird. I wish I knew enough about German society to fully grasp these articles' import. Research time! On a semi-related note, France has been getting uppity lately. Seeing as how Germany is the world leader in France-invasions, is there any hope that these political trends might trigger another one?:rotfl: __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

07-31-08, 11:09 AM	#6
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,217 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've never understood the European penchant for voting for a party as opposed to an individual. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

07-31-08, 01:36 AM	#5
orwell Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	German 1: I'm bored, what do you want to do? German 2: I don't know, what do you want to do? German 1: I don't know. Those Frenchies have sure been getting uppity lately. Maybe we should invade again? German 2: Watch anything good lately? German 1: Nah. German 2: Lets do it. Seriously though, good article. I never hear much about German politics, it's nice to see what's going on.

07-31-08, 02:12 PM	#7
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,685 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	One week or ten days ago, there was a very interesting docu about French units in afghanistan. actually, they are being held in high esteem by the americans and are beside the British the preferred choice of US commanders to line up with in joint operations. both sides - normal grunts, no PC officers - said that they cooperate very well and trust each other's reliability and efficiency. Also, in 91 it were French light recce units taking the lead in the outer west due to their immense mobility. and in the "war in terror" (what a braindead whrase...) , the french counterterrorism intelligence proved to be inevitable for many American successes, and has been confirmed many times to be at last as tough as the american intel operations. France is a heavyweight, in these regards - no matter who currently are presidents in the US and France. retorics may have been friendly or hostile, but the intel cooperation always was very tight and substantial. If you have a problem with french policies, adress their politicians, leave the soldiers out of it. They obey politician's orders, like American soldiers do. Always mocking about French army is as if I would mock about the US army grunt for the mistakes made by Georgie. And I never did that! __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

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