Happy Easter!
Nathalie B.-W.
The Numbers Keep Going Down
Because the numbers keep going up.
And what goes down must go down. Or at least one can hope that.
German government facing massive drop in approval, survey shows – Germans increasingly disapprove of the federal government’s performance, particularly in combating the pandemic, as coronavirus infections spike across the country.
Only 35% of Germans said they were satisfied with the federal government this April, with 64% expressing their disapproval towards Berlin. This is a massive shift from November of last year, when around 70% expressed approval.
After A Thorough Analysis…
We have decided that Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine is actually pretty good.
Of course, this is also after we have done everything and we mean everything wrong in trying to provide our citizens with any kind of Covid-19 vaccine at all, ever.
Germany Willing to Consider Russia’s Sputnik Covid-19 Vaccine – Germany would consider buying Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine even if some of its European partners choose not to, according to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman.
“We’re still coordinating the details and have already had weeks of talks.”
Phase 1: AstraZeneca Vaccine Too Dangerous For Over-60s
It was made in Brexit England, after all. We don’t think we’ll be using it.
Phase 2: Hey! Where’s all the AstraZeneca vaccine we ordered from you in England? Are you holding it back to punish us for having purposely spooked everybody about using the AstraZeneca vaccine?
Phase 3: OK, so we didn’t order enough but you should give us the order we didn’t order anyway because we are Europeans.
Phase 4: Our studies now show that the AstraZeneca vaccine is OK after all. It’s OK to send us the freakin’ vaccine already. We’re waiting and it’s kind of important.
Phase 5: New studies show that one out of eight zillion can suffer complications after using the AstraZeneca vaccine even though its benefits far outweigh any possible danger so we don’t think we’ll be using any AstraZeneca vaccine after all, thank you.
Phase 6: Our studies now show that the AstraZeneca vaccine is OK after all and its benefits far outweigh any possible danger by taking it. It’s OK to send us the freakin’ vaccine already!
Phase 7. Actually, studies now show that the vaccine could possibly cause problems in one out of sixteen zillion anong the younger crowd so we are going to go back to Phase 1, only this time we’ll only be giving it to the over-60s. Where’s our vaccine?!?
Germany’s government said Tuesday it will restrict the use of AstraZeneca PLC’s Covid-19 vaccine for people younger than 60 following fresh blood-clotting incidents among recipients, potentially presenting the country’s sputtering vaccine rollout with fresh delays.
Tough Talk Is Cheap
But it’s still talk.
Germany is flailing as the pandemic strikes again, not enough people are vaccinated and state leaders are dragging their feet. Merkel is now threatening to assert federal authority over measures to stem infections. It’s a blunt political instrument, and one rarely used.
Fact is, there’s not much she can do. Germany is a federal state designed to resist just such centralized, federal authority. Wonder why?
We’re Not That Efficient
Honest. It’s all a big misunderstanding or something. A stereotype.
Yeah, Germany. Chill. We know already. It’s particularly noticable these days but we recognized this a long time ago. Loser.
German efficiency: The roots of a stereotype – Germany has a reputation for getting things done in an efficient manner, even despite evidence to the contrary. Efficiency has played an important historic role in Germany — though not always a positive one.
“Confidence became arrogance, orderliness became mean-spirited pedantry, and the execution of one’s duties became pure inhumanity.”
Zero The Hero
Or Hero the Zero, if you prefer.
German of the day: Perfektionismus. That means perfectionism. But what it really means here in Germany these days is something else altogether. The Germans are now perfect at getting everything wrong. The days of German perfectionism are long gone and they are reminded of it daily.
Heroes to zeros: how German perfectionism wrecked its Covid vaccine drive – The same thoroughness that made Angela Merkel’s government a pandemic role model is now holding it back.
This time Angie let Brussels handle the vaccination planning, like a good European. BIG strategic blunder. That blew up in her face big time. But she can never get it right, really. The Germans are damned if they do (as in do it alone), damned if they don’t.
N.
Now That Orange Man Is Gone Alles Is Well
Right? Well, not really.
And it’s because of you, Germany. Not the Orange Man.
The German trade surpluses remain. And remain they will.
The promised German defense spending levels for NATO have still not been met – nor do the Germans have any intention of ever meeting them.
The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Germany’s going it alone with Russia (going it alone – Alleingänge – is something Germans regularly swear up and down they will never ever do again), will still not be accepted by the United States – or from most of Europe, for that matter.
Dollar signs in German eyes make it overly eager to allow Iran to do anything it wants to continue it’s nuclear program (a country openly calling for the destruction of Israel).
Germany forced the European Union to complete an investment deal with China – Germany’s largest trading partner – without even bothering to consult the incoming American administration. Nor does it share everyone else’s concern about allowing Huawei to provide the German 5G network.
To name just a few.
How did someone once put it?
“The Germans are very, very bad.”
Observing Hermann 