Democracy: It Ain’t Much

November 10, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, History Tags: Communism, Democracy, Germany, History, National Socialism, Studies 1 Comment

But it’s still better than a Nazi dictatorship and a totalitarian communist regime. I guess.

Study: Germans more satisfied with democracy as a form of government – Public satisfaction with democracy in Germany has risen over the past two years, while in some cases extreme right-wing attitudes have declined significantly. At the same time, hatred of migrants, women, Muslims and other groups in Germany has increased and become widespread. In addition, stronger desires for authority can be observed in the wake of the pandemic. These are key findings of the representative “Leipzig Authoritarianism Study.”

Is Germany Finally Waking Up?

November 9, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: China, Chips, Economy, Elmos, Europe, Germany, Takeovers Leave a comment

Probably not. But still. It’s starting to roll around a little in its sleep.

German economy ministry favours blocking Chinese takeover of Elmos’ chip production – Germany’s economy ministry has recommended to the cabinet that the government block the Chinese takeover of Elmos’ (ELGG.DE) chip factory, saying it would pose a threat to national security, ministry sources said on Tuesday.

Brexit Was Yesterday

November 8, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hustle (Hoax) Tags: Britain, Dependency, Energy, Gas, Germany, Greens, Pipelines, Putin, UK Leave a comment

Let’s let bygones be bygones. We’re friends again, right?

Now that we need to come groveling for your natural gas?

Germany keen to discuss natural gas pact with UK amid supply risk – Officials interested in deal that would allow two countries to bail each other out in event of shortages.

Such an agreement could be mutually beneficial for both London and Berlin, the German civil servant in charge of rationing in the case of a supply crisis told the Guardian in an interview.

Mixed Signals

November 7, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: China, Dependency, EU, Europe, Germany, Olaf Scholz, SPD Leave a comment

And all of them bad.

The next German Alleingang (going it alone).

European Commissioner for Industry and the Internal Market Thierry Breton, a Frenchman, warned Scholz: “The time for naivety is over. We must be on guard.” The behaviour of the individual EU members towards China must be coordinated and not decided alone, “as China apparently prefers.” French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that he and Scholz should fly to China together at a later date to demonstrate European unity, a suggestion which Scholz ignored.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen also attacked Scholz sharply. He accused him of damaging Germany’s foreign policy during his trip, “because it costs us our partners’ trust. It does not even strengthen our reputation with the Chinese, because they only react to strength and despise weakness.”

German Of The Day: Abhängigkeit

November 5, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: China, Dependency, Economy, Energy, Germany, Russia Leave a comment

That means dependency.

You know, like Germany’s dependency on China? Ain’t no big deal, though. Their dependency on Russian energy worked out just fine, right?

Where would we be without China? There is hardly any other country Germany is more dependent upon than China.

The Next Sinking Ship?

November 4, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, History Tags: Demonstrations, Germany, Iran, Mullahs, Protests Leave a comment

Couldn’t ask for a nicer one to sink.

Germany Urges Citizens To Leave Iran, Starts Evacuating Embassy – Amid daily antigovernment protests across Iran, Germany’s government on Thursday urged its citizens to leave the country or risk arbitrary arrest and long prison terms there.

Warning that dual nationals who have Iranian as well as German citizenship were particularly at risk, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said in a statement that “For German nationals there is a concrete risk of being arbitrarily arrested, interrogated and sentenced to long prison terms.”

German Of The Day: “Keine Deutsche Sonderwege”

October 27, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hurt Feelings, Hypocrisy Tags: Dependency, Economy, Energy Crisis, EU, EU Zone, France, German, Germany, Inflation, Language Leave a comment

That means no (more) Germany going it alone.

That’s a very popular political mantra here. You normally hear it right before Germany goes it alone again.

France and Germany’s relationship questioned as Scholz goes alone on policy – Germany has been criticized for approving a 200 billion euro ($200.2 billion) rescue package.

Fresh tensions between France and Germany are challenging their relationship at a time when their unity is critical for broader European policy in tackling the energy crisis.

The leaders of the two nations will meet in Paris on Wednesday, but this encounter almost got canceled.

Hamburg, An Islamist Hotbed?

October 26, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: 9/11, German, Germans, Germany, Iran, Islamists, Language, Mosques, Mullahs, Propaganda, Terror, Terrorists Leave a comment

Ausgeschlossen (no way)! German authorities would never allow such a thing.

Hamburg Mosque Reportedly a Hotbed for Iranian Propaganda – The Hamburg Islamic Center is considered the most important outpost of the Iranian regime in Germany. But since it is also reportedly used to spread the mullahs’ propaganda across Europe, calls are growing for its work to be restricted.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is charged with keeping tabs on all forms of extremism, has been observing the IZH community for many years and describes it, besides the Iranian Embassy, as “Iran’s most important representation in Germany and a significant center of propaganda” in Europe.

German Greens Discover A New “Core Value”

October 24, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Energy Crisis, Environmentalists, German, Germans, Germany, Greens, Ideology, Nuclear energy Leave a comment

Not freezing to death.

Reality can be a bitch.

Nuclear power: German Greens put pragmatism first – The Green Party has seen challenges to its core principles ever since it became part of Germany’s three-party government. Pragmatism is forcing painful decisions on weapons exports, fossil fuels, and nuclear power.

“Party members are absolutely livid.”

Why Should We Worry About Becoming Too Dependent On China?

October 21, 2022 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: China, Dependency, EU, Germany, Illusions, Russia Leave a comment

It worked out great with Russia, didn’t it?

Germany’s Continued Illusions About China and Russia – Berlin’s pursuit of economic and political ties with Beijing and Moscow has created dangerous dependencies. A change in strategy would benefit both Germany and the EU

Over the years, these two authoritarian regimes embedded themselves in the German economy and ingratiated themselves with the elites. Such developments prevented the EU from forging a coherent, critical strategy toward both Moscow and Beijing.

Observing Hermann

“Was interessiert mich mein Geschwätz von gestern?”

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