Tag Archives: Europe

German Consumers Are An Odd Lot

June 6, 2023 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Heconomy Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

They have this annoying tendency to not spend money they don’t have.

It has to do with something they call “debt.” Whatever that is.

Analysis: Spend the recession away? Not the thrifty Germans – A drop-off in spending by inflation-hit consumers was one of the main reasons Germany fell into recession in the first quarter, even as other countries in the region managed to avoid it.

What’s more, even with inflation starting to ease across Europe, the signs are that Germany’s famously thrifty shoppers are not ready to spend their way out of recession – meaning the region’s largest economy will have to look elsewhere for growth.

If She’s Supposed To Do Damage Control…

April 13, 2023 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Then it’s time to abandon ship.

Greens don’t control damage. They create damage that goes out of control.

Germany foreign minister embarks on post-Macron ‘damage control’ in China trip – Germany’s foreign minister begins a visit to China on Thursday aiming to reassert a common European Union policy toward Beijing days after remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron suggested disarray in the continent’s approach to the rising superpower.

“She was sort of perceived as being a troublemaker. I’d be surprised if this does not play a role at all in her visit.”

Now It’s Credit Crunch Time

March 31, 2023 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Energy price falls spark drop in German and Spanish inflation – Headline pressures ease but investors bet ECB will have to raise interest rates in May.

Some members of the governing council have called for the bank to adopt a more cautious approach after raising interest rates by half a percentage point this month.

The turmoil in the banking sector has also opened up the prospect of a potential credit crunch that could slam the brakes on both inflation and growth in the coming months.

German Of The Day: Blockadepolitik

March 12, 2023 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

That means “blockade politics” or conducting a policy of obstruction.

Geez. The EU is getting really frustrated with Germany these days because it still acts as if it were a sovereign country from time to time.

Germany Is Becoming a Roadblock for More and More EU Business – Row over combustion-engine ban symptomatic of wider problem, Conduct seen as especially unhelpful during period of upheaval.

The unpredictable behavior of Germany’s ruling coalition is becoming a disruptive influence in Europe and raising hackles across the continent.

A last-ditch move this month to block a European Union push to phase out combustion-engine vehicles was only the latest example. On issues ranging from financial aid for Ukraine to reform of state-aid and budget rules, Germany’s EU partners and officials in Brussels have become increasingly frustrated with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center—left alliance of his Social Democrats, the Greens and the business-friendly Free Democrats.

More Engineers And Scientists Are On The Way

February 6, 2023 By in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hypocrisy Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Thanks to Germany’s clever immigration policy.

The avalanche Angela Merkel set off back in 2015 is finally starting to pay off!

Shortage of engineers, scientists threatens German industry – Germany’s homegrown population is declining, and with it the number of science and engineering students.

German engineering is known worldwide for its quality and innovation. But that brand is under threat. The number of students beginning university degrees in STEM fields — shorthand for science, technology, engineering, and math — fell 6% in just one year, according to a recent study from the nation’s federal statistics agency.

German Of The Day: Hybrid Identities

January 31, 2023 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means… The hell if I know.

Other than maybe meaning German citizenship will soon be selling like heiße Kuchen (hotcakes). Of course, it could also mean “lets let our own German identity roll over and die.”

‘Hybrid identities’: why Germany is updating its citizenship rules – The draft law would allow people to apply for citizenship after just five years of residence in Germany, rather than eight years currently. It also states that: “Those who have made a particular effort to integrate — such as becoming proficient in German, doing voluntary work or performing well in school — can apply after three years.”

“The idea that you have only one homeland is completely outdated.”

Since The Suspect Must Remain Innocent Until Proven Innocent

January 26, 2023 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

And since the policies which allowed the suspect to be in the country in the first place must remain above reproach…

It’s time to consider tougher knife control laws in Germany again.

Palestinian man arrested for deadly stabbing spree on German train – A knife-wielding man described as a stateless Palestinian fatally stabbed two passengers and injured seven others on a train in northern Germany before being grabbed by members of the public and arrested by police, officials say. The motive of the attack was not immediately known.

German Of The Day: “Flucht Nach Vorne”

January 23, 2023 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

That means “escaping by going forward.”

Defense? By going on the offensive? Well, if all the other kids are jumping off the bridge… Let us give tanks?

“I think the Ukrainians want to, at some point, launch counteroffensives. And that’s much more effective with heavy armor — as much as you can get. Especially modern systems, which probably have more penetrating power.”

The Leopard can travel up to 44 mph out to a range of 275 miles. It is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and automatic grenade launchers. Additionally, the tank has ballistic and mine protections, and it’s seen operational experience in Kosovo, Syria, and Afghanistan.

I See Germany, I See France

January 22, 2023 By in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, History Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

I see the same old phony song and dance.

Best friends forever! Sort of.

At joint appearances, Macron and Scholz like to ritually reaffirm their nations’ close relations, but so far there has not been much evidence of personal closeness. Politically, too, there is a certain friction at the moment, especially on how to deal with the war in Ukraine. It took a long time for Macron and Scholz to travel together to Kyiv. Scholz has shown himself more hesitant than Macron in delivering arms to Ukraine. On the issue of a gas price cap, Macron even publicly warned that Germany was “isolating itself” in Europe — an affront to Berlin. The two sides are also making very slow progress on joint armaments projects, for example on the development of a fighter aircraft.

Eva K.

December 11, 2022 By in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Beautiful corrupt EU socialist technocrat of the week.

Because somebody has to admire them.

European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili has been arrested in an investigation into suspected bribery by a Gulf state…

Cash worth about €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) was seized by Belgian police in 16 searches in Brussels on Friday. Computers and mobile phones were also taken by police in order to examine their contents.