German Politics Thread

Nah, I'm pretty sure the people running Twitter really are just that stupid.

Stupid, and overworked. Policing social media sites competently is an exercise in futility.

Is it? I think it is just a matter of not saving money and putting enough people on it.

You cant have a productive community without good moderation, not on the current internet, the problem is that social media sites are aiming to be the gathering point for everyone, which means the required size of the moderator teams becomes mind warping. And generally they do not want to spend the money.

The logistical burden is just mind boggling for the larger social media sites. I don't see how they could ever keep everyone in line.

They are not supposed to keep everyone in line, though, they are just supposed to stop the worst of the racists out there.

They are not supposed to do active moderation, they are supposed to review reported content and act accordingly.

This would be more convincing if it weren't for Twitter verification being suspended after it was revealed that they verified Richard Spencer among other identarian types.

And the founder following several known harrassers, right-wingers and crypto-fascists.

Merkel is now one step closer to forming a government:

German coalition talks clear first hurdle after marathon session

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/12/german-coalition-talks-angela-merkel-to-move-on-to-next-stage-after-marathon-session

Looks like the CSU finally got their "Obergrenze" for the refugees.

....Until it gets canned by the Verfassungsgericht because such a thing would violate the Paragraph about offering refuge.

They'll still insist on it as long as possible. Just like the "foreigner" Maut.

Here's hoping to the CSU getting mauled at the polls later this year...

It looks like the SPD has voted to give coalition talks the go-ahead (think it's too soon for an English language report right now). The result was 362 in favour and 279 against, with a single abstention.

Edit: Here's one

edited 21st Jan '18 7:41:46 AM by Snipertoaster

Well, now if we only found a way to push Alexander Dobrindt off a cliff and we might actually get a Government before Easter.

Well, the one good thing about this particular coalition is that they don't necessarily need the CSU. The have enough seats without them.

If only they actally ditched the CSU...

Now it remains to be seen if the SPD can actually assert themselves this time and not just play the "Mehrheitsbeschaffer" again, as a relative of mine - who's a member of my hometown's SPD - put it.

There's a certain wariness among the party base that they might get sold out again.

edited 21st Jan '18 9:20:47 AM by DrunkenNordmann

One thing's certain, the Union's going to have to make quite a few concessions if they're going to woo the SPD's base. Trying to get the party on their side was one thing, trying to get the general public on their side is another (especially with Kühnert running around...).

Eh, I would prefer it if the SPD doesn't reassert itself too much. Their plans will make the lower and middle incomes even poorer. Nor do I think that we should move quite as fast regarding the EU. This is something which has to be done step by step, and with proper safeguards.

How likely are the rank-and-file Social Democrats to vote for a new Gro Ko, be honest?

Depends on what kind of concessions they can wring out of the CDU.

Let's hope they actually DO try and get some concessions this time; otherwise their base will crucify them. Not literally, of course.

edited 21st Jan '18 11:17:18 AM by DrunkenNordmann

I mean, that's what these past two-ish months of SPD debate have been about, and they have a pretty solid case for negotiations to that effect.

They always got concessions. It just tended to be really stupid concessions which did little for their base (I especially loved the Augenwischerei which is the minimum wage. And the mietpreisbremse. Both things the SPD pushed through and which made the plight of the people either worse or at least didn't help).

Honestly, this narrative that the coalitions are responsible for the downfall of the SPD has to die. The SPD is suffering because Schröder really screwed over the voter base of the SPD and every time another one of them reaches pension age, they realise just how much they got betrayed.

edited 21st Jan '18 12:13:03 PM by Swanpride

French and German politicians advocate closer cooperation between the two countries.

France, Germany to mark Elysee Treaty with resolution to step up cooperation

http://www.dw.com/en/france-germany-to-mark-elysee-treaty-with-resolution-to-step-up-cooperation/a-42246712

If Merkel manages to forge a government, I hope she'll be open to those suggestions. She should consider her legacy now, and particulary a closer military cooperation could be integrated into her efforts to boost the German defence budget.

On a side note - the Elysee treaty reminded me of this - it looks like future historians will look more kindly on Charles de Gaulles reservations towards the reliability of the UK and the USA.... .