There is, of course, a minor problem with stating that one will talk about German politics: it’s boring as hell.
Admittedly, now and again they’ll try and take over the world, but usually, German politics is sleep-inducing. Hitler might not have been an entirely decent bloke, but at least he’d give us bloggers something to discuss (and yes, I know, he was Austrian). When I first arrived in Germany I’d watch the news and feverishly ask about the Rentenreformdebatte. I now know they have such a debate every year. And a Bundeshaushaltsdebatte and a Boredoutofyourskulldebatte.
So, I’ve found it kind of hard to get myself worked up about the forthcoming election and not just because I can’t vote.
The ruling coalition, the left-wing SDP-Greens have tried to implement a very modest set of reforms. Their traditional supporters have either not voted, or said they’d vote for their traditional enemy, the CDU/CSU/FDP – a centrist/right party.
So that’s the deal: You don’t like the very modest economic reforms that your traditional left-wing party wants to implement, so as a protest you say you’ll vote for the slightly more center-right party duo - who will implement harsher economic reforms.
No, I don’t understand it either. But I have eight days to try and work it out. As do German voters.
German Phrase For Today: “Wechseln?” - Yeah, yeah, blah, blah.
Song playing as this was published: Thomas Dolby - “Eastern Bloc”
This election does seem silly, CDU wouldn’t support SPD reforms, but now wants to implement harsher reforms (like taxing my hard earnt shift pay….the bastards). The other wierd thing I find is that most Germans seem to think that their voting intention is a state secret.
Incidently, did Hitler really only have one ball?
haddock - I think so. lol
I watched both debates and thought- thank god I don’t have to vote. However, it really will be interesting to see if Schröder can pull it off again. Personally I think he will. I know in Germany one votes for the party rather than the candidate which would seem to give Merkel the edge, but after talking with a few people, they seem to think Germany may still be too old fashioned to be ready for a female at the helm.
We’ll see in a few days!
hmmpfff…I’m allowed to vote and I have ALWAYS ALWAYS voted but this time I just have no clue for whom I should vote. *sigh*
I don’t think the Groblem is that germany is too old fashioned for a female. That would make it to easy. I would vote for a female anytime but I refuse to vote for one JUST because it’s a female!
that’s supposed to say Problem and not Groblem and too easy …sorry..
Hey, who’s supposed to be “right”? The CDU or the FDP
?
The “boredom problem” with German politics is that there is no “one central issue” here. Germans are such goddamn balanced people, there’s barely anyone who will NOT vote for a party just because they hold ONE REALLY BAD postion. If, for example, the CDU are against Homosexual Marriage, but also for letting Nuclear Plants run longer as well as non-taxation of private Autobahn-use, even a flaming gay person might vote for them.
Very different in America, for example, which makes for better “Good vs. Evil” debates between the Fascist Faithful and the Hedonistic Libertarians
.
Best ones,
- Sparky
My German officemates can’t decide either. 2 of them have resorted to an internet survey which “could” help them choose the “lesser evil” (their term). I’ve always hated the fact that I couldn’t vote here nor in my home country (some rule about being a permanent resident elsewhere) but I sure am glad that I would have to wrack my brains for this German election.
Sorry if I’m being too curious here, but an earlier posting seemed to imply that you are living close to the French border — which is where I am living as well. Is this true?
Not that it really matters, but it’s always nice to find out about cool people living close to you.
Sparky: I’d consider the FDP more “right” economically, but more liberal in terms of how one should behave. I’ll state now that I would vote FDP if I could vote and I was sure that their larger coalition partner the (CDU/CSU) didn’t want, say, Edmund Stoiber as Kanzler. Oh, and “hedonistic libertarian”, 99% of the time (but not “in that way”)….
All: Oh in fact I’ll write a proper reply in the next but one post
Florian: SW von Stuttgart - I shop in France occasionally and made quite a few trips to Paris this Summer - hence the rail trip stories.