Democracy: It Ain’t Much

November 10, 2022 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, History Tags: , , , , , 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 in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness Tags: , , , , , , 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 in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hustle (Hoax) Tags: , , , , , , , , 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 in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , 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.”

Brain Dead

November 6, 2022 By in Hard Facts, Hideology, Hysteria Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

In oh so many ways.

Earlier this week in Berlin, a cyclist was declared brain dead after an ambulance couldn’t reach her on time. Berlin police blamed the delay on a traffic jam caused by a road blockade by protesters from theLast Generation group. Police filed charges against two of its activists for failing to render assistance and obstructing persons rendering assistance.

“We did not expect that an entire media system would turn against us.”

The Next Sinking Ship?

November 4, 2022 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, History Tags: , , , , 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.”

Recreational Cannabis?

October 28, 2022 By in Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Is that an Olympic discipline? Or lack of discipline, I should say?

You can never have enough recreational taxation here.

Germany moves to legalize recreational cannabis – Germany on Wednesday announced plans to legalize cannabis for recreational use. It was a move the country’s health minister said would make Germany Europe’s “most liberal cannabis legalization project” but also its “most tightly regulated market.”

German Of The Day: “Keine Deutsche Sonderwege”

October 27, 2022 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hurt Feelings, Hypocrisy Tags: , , , , , , , , , 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.