Knowing that there's a lot going on in USA, I'd be glad to hear how native Americans jugde the polical crisis of it's most important ally Germany. Last night the German chancellor Scholz (SPD) fired the minister of finance Lindner FDP. Instantly all FDP-Ministers resigned and left the coalition.
I think it's a positive thing. Germany's media hacks are little different than the American ones, they're mostly just news readers and halfwits with high self-esteem and some of the Parties have figured that out and no longer fear them as they have little credibility with the public any more; the same in France, and we now have the two European elephants in the room able to break the cycle of political inaction and more people being represented in their govts. Not all Americans think Europe has to kiss our asses all the time, contrary to what the leftists babble. Ignore the technocrats and their idiocy and go back to a more moral and people friendly culture.
Losing the most powerful ally to Russia* might affect the Land of the Free, too. If, then hopefully it's the Land of the Brave, too. *For those who care: Germany will now discuss whether it will remain part of the Transatlantic Alliance or turn to East to Russia. There are two parties, that could gather around 50% of the votes in three states of East Germany (former GDR)
As ever, it's the economy. Germany's is suffering at the moment and that upsets a lot of people, and as always happens as a consequence in a democracy, the incumbent leadership suffers and is likely to be voted out as a result. Turning to Pootler's Russia in hopes of alleviating short-term economic pain would be a massive Fehler, of course. Maybe the Ossis are nostalgic for the DDR, but going back to that is not the way forward. It's the sort of disruptive, corrosive dialogue that Pootler wants in his bid to break up the EU and NATO. I should hope that Germans know better than to fall for it.
When Germany declares war on the U.S., let me know. Otherwise, I just think the only thing the U.S. should be deciding is the tariff. And in that case a flat tariff is what I would want - not giving anyone any special privilege. That and don't trade with belligerent countries.
This IS a big deal, not just for Germany but for the entire EU, and NATO. It is especially concerning that Kanzler Scholz has decided to get rid of the only part of his 'coalition' that was even the slightest bit 'conservative' and business-oriented. Now Germany is likely to fall even deeper into an economy-destroying death spiral than it has been before.
Germany is not discussing if it should turn east towards Russia and leave the Transatlantic Alliance. There are some people, mainly within the far-right AfD and the newly formed BSW (former part of the far-left) who constantly babble about "peace with Russia, no weapons to Ukraine and Putin is a great guy". This does in no way mean the country as a whole is completely rethinking or rearranging its political affiliations. Besides, there will be early elections, probably in March, so this has nothing to do with going down an economy-destroying death spiral because there's no conservative party anymore in the currrent coalition. Come March next year, there's going to be a new federal government; that's all.
I hope you're right! My German friends tell me that more and more Germans are saying, "Why work? I can make about as much money, and with a lot less stress, anxiety, and bullshit by just staying at home and doing NOTHING but collecting Bürgergeld (a very sweet German unemployment) and a lot of other free-stuff 'goodies' (especially if the recipient has children, as so many of the 'migrants' to Germany do). But should Germany be concerned that it isn't going to have enough income to pay out all these lavish benefits to people who have no interest in working? Hint: Volkswagen is the largest employer in all of Germany, and it has recently announced that it is closing three of its huge plants inside Germany itself!
Are you daydreaming? If you are referring to Thüringen, Sachsen and Brandenburg, we talk about a population of 8-9 million people. They can discuss there about NATO exit all they want, its not gonna happen. With every populist right party in Europe it was all the same, they claim stuff like that to pick up voters with anti-American sentiments and switch sides as soon as they gain real power. The Front National did, Salvini and Meloni did, Jörg Haider went rogue with the BZÖ with it, bc his party did it. At this stage to leave it without preparation, e.g. a strategy for nuclear deterrence of its own, these plans are madness.
East Germans make up 14 million people, if really all the people who vote for the AfD and BSW wanna leave is doubtful. Not gonna happen. The two-faced strategy of the SPD is more dangerous, which began under Chancellor Schröder to prepare this step is infinitely more dangerous. They are not strong enough to get a majority for leaving NATO, but they do have influence. E.g. our actual president (who is in Germany way less important than the chancellor) Frank-Walter Steinmeier ist one of the masterminds of that hidden pro-Russian policy, who had replaced the staff of the ministry of foreign affairs in favor of pro-Russian employees when he was the foreign minister. They decided to build North Stream 2, cutting intentionally out Poland, the Ukraine and other Eastern European countries Russia wants to annect or control sooner or later. They put Russia in a position of power over Europe, made Russian gas difficult to replace. Its not all of the SPD, but a very influencial part. They know they cannot prevent the aid to Ukraine overall, but they will try the best their can to slow it down, make it ineffective etc. Way more dangerous than the dull "We will leave the NATO" calls from the AfD they will drop as soon as they will have a chance to join the government. The fake friend is in this case way more dangerous than the fake enemy, who wants to pick up some unsatisfied voters with that strategy.
Germany is America's hostage. The destruction of the Nordstream pipeline can be described as America grabbing Germany's hat, peeing into it, then putting it back on Germany's head.....and Germany replies "thanks." With friends like America, who needs enemies? But the leadership have no shame so they will continue to suck up. The German people will continue to be demoralized and get more listless as this goes on.....until they go far right again.
