It’s not a slowdown…

It’s more like a Vollbremsung. That’s German for full braking or emergency stop.

Germany’s highest court just cancelled the Green’s latest rush-rush trick, I mean plan to save the planet at German taxpayers’ expense.

Germany’s Green Slowdown – While voters may still broadly support net zero goals, they’re not necessarily on board with the escalating costs of the transition.

… Today, it’s the Greens’ proposed ban on new gas boilers in homes that’s causing trouble. Against a backdrop of sliding poll ratings, the party’s partners in the coalition forced a dilution of the plan last month in a package that also included a massive road-building program.

In another blow to the policy — dubbed Habeck’s Heating Hammer by the opposition — Germany’s constitutional court has made a highly unusual intervention in the legislative process and ordered the government to give parliament more time to scrutinize the plan.

Just like Germany reduced its dependency on Russian gas…

Before the war in Ukraine. Not.

What could possibly go wrong this time? China being Germany’s biggest trade partner, I mean.

German industry urges reduced dependency after China export controls –
German industry on Tuesday warned that Europe must become more self-reliant in the hunt for raw materials needed for cleaner, more digital economies, after China caused alarm by announcing restrictions on some metals used for semiconductors.

China’s commerce ministry said on Monday it would require export permits for eight gallium products and six germanium products from Aug. 1 to protect national security.

Why far-right populism is popular?

In Germany? Because there is no place else for many conservative voters to go.

Angela Merkel turned the CDU/CSU into Social Democracy Light (the SPD). The conservatives behave like social democrats now and are frightened to stand up for conservative values. People with these values still exist in this country, however. Anything else I can help you out with?

Why is far-right populism so popular in Germany?

The Alternative for Germany is finding support from new voters, and has now won two local elections in a week. Why?

Muslims In Germany Can’t Figure Out Why Germans Don’t Trust Them

The routine attacks carried out by Muslims in Germany and the 35,000+ terrorist attacks carried out by Muslims worldwide since 9/11 could certainly have nothing to do with it. Oh, and then there’s France right now (coming to your neighborhood soon?)… Well, some things are just downright inexplicable and must remain a mystery forever, I guess.

Germany’s 5.5 million Muslims are often exposed to everyday, structural racism, report finds – Racism, hatred and sometimes violence against Muslims in Germany are widespread and often part of their everyday experience, according to a new report presented at the interior ministry in Berlin on Thursday.

The Surge Is On

And it ain’t over till it’s over. If ever. Over.

German inflation surges more than expected to 6.8% – Spain becomes first major eurozone economy to beat ECB’s 2% target in almost 2 years.

German inflation was higher than forecast this month, even as Spain became the first major eurozone economy to beat the European Central Bank’s 2 per cent target in almost two years.

The divergence between Germany’s 6.8 per cent rate for June and the 1.6 per cent recorded by Spain highlights the dilemma faced by the ECB, which is focused on core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices.

German Of The Day: Schrumpfen

That means to shrink.

You know. As in the Sick Man of Europe? The Incredible Shrinking (or was it Sinking) Country?

German Economy Shrinks Faster Than Expected – It’s a rare thing to happen, but Germany now looks like the sick man of Europe, a phrase previously often used to describe Britain.

The health of the business sector dropped significantly in June, according to recent data. The Ifo Business Climate index for Germany, which measures the health of the commercial sector, registered 88.5 in June, down from 91.5 in May. Higher numbers show economic strength, whereas lower ones show a weakening of the economy.

Speaking of sinking…

Delegates Defect

The missing people include eight members of the Ivory Coast delegation along with one each from Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Guinea, Lebanon, and Senegal.

Berlin police seek missing Special Olympics delegates – More than a dozen members of delegations at the Special Olympics in Berlin have disappeared, rather than return to their home countries, German authorities have said.

Forget Manhattan

First we take Sonneberg. Then we take Berlin.

When conservative parties no longer have the courage to be conservative parties (thanks again, Angela Merkel), where will many of their voters go?

German far-right party wins its first county leadership post, rising in polls – Victory of AfD’s candidate in rural Sonneberg area reflects rising popularity of anti-immigration party.

They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I’m coming now, I’m coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

We Germans Don’t Have Babies Anymore

And now we don’t have workers anymore (some speculate there may be a connection here).

But we’ve passed another way cool law. Now the unskilled migrants who came here illegally can stay. Unfortunately, the skilled migrants we would now like to have aren’t interested in coming to Germany because of our taxation bureaucracy, etc. A well-functioning system, don’t you think? Or have we forgotten to fix anything else? No need to thank us. We’re from the government and we’re here to help.

German parliament reforms skilled work immigration law – The German parliament has passed legislation to open up new opportunities for job seekers from countries outside the EU and for many refugees who are already in the country. Conservative lawmakers are up in arms.

Wet And Wild Summertime Diversity Fun!

The elephant in the pool. The name we do not speak.

Spate of mass brawls at German outdoor swimming pools.

Some of the comments, blaming “social hotspots” or so-called “clans”, appear tinged with racism: both are code words for immigrant groups…

But German society today is less hierarchical than ever. So, in Berlin, the “Bademeister” already relies on security guards to keep the peace.