|
Register | Sign In |
|
QuickSearch
Thread ▼ Details |
|
Thread Info
|
|
|
Author | Topic: German Election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Straggler Member Posts: 10333 From: London England Joined: |
I get the impression that many wouldn't know who Merkel is. Do you think the level of interest would have been radically different if she wasn't standing again?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Straggler Member Posts: 10333 From: London England Joined: |
It depends.
The EU is the largest trading bloc in the world, the Euro is an international currency second only to the US dollar and Germany largely dictates economic policy. In terms of elections and the effect they have on world economics arguably only the US is more significant.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
caffeine Member (Idle past 1024 days) Posts: 1800 From: Prague, Czech Republic Joined: |
Well it is not as if Merkel is some unknown or radical element. I mean does she have some secret plan to invade Poland again? Other than being aware that she was elected and that she is basically a moderate and rational politician what else is there to be interested in? What new direction is she planning that will affect us all? I think that the new president of Iran has a far greater chance of impacting all of our lives. The question is more whether Merkel will still be chancellor, which we don't know yet, since the FDP are out of the Bundestag, and whether a new government would mean a significant change in European policy. I think the import of this election for Europe is a bit exagerrated, though, since the main opposition party don't really differ from the CDU on European policy. The only way we'd expect to see a change is if some sort of left-coalition is established between the Social Democrats, Greens and Die Linke. This would be a coalition with a very small majority, so the SPD would need to make some significant concessions to the left. For that very reason, though, I doubt such a coalition would happen.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
caffeine Member (Idle past 1024 days) Posts: 1800 From: Prague, Czech Republic Joined: |
I get the impression that many wouldn't know who Merkel is. I think everyone with a passing interest in politics has heard of Angela Merkel. I suspect our colleagues over the pond were being slightly facetious.
The EU is the largest trading bloc in the world, the Euro is an international currency second only to the US dollar and Germany largely dictates economic policy. The idea that Germany dictates economic policy to Europe is nonsense which it gets tiresome to hear. What does it take to block a German proposal in the European Council? France, Britain, Poland and Malta*. That's it. So if Germany is leading an overwhelming large coalition of EU members with some proposal or other, she can still be blocked by a few dissenters, because that's how the EU's designed. When Germany gets its way, it's because other countries agree with them. It's because they've got France, Britain, Poland and most of the smaller nations to sign up for their proposal. That's not dictating - that's leading. But the main thing to notice is that Germany does not always get its way. The banking union wasn't Germany's idea. The German government disagreed with most of its powers. But there was nothing Germany could do about this, since they have no power to dictate terms and have to go along with the majority when it goes against them. *With the understanding that this is just one arbitrarily constructed combination of nations - there are many that would do.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 411 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Straggler writes:
In most democracies, most elections don't have "far reaching ramifications". They may seem so to those who are too close to see the forest for the trees but most democracies are constituted for a certain amount of continuity - to prevent far reaching ramifications in a single election. In world terms it was an important election with potentially far reaching ramifications. A re-election is likely to be even less jarring.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diomedes Member Posts: 995 From: Central Florida, USA Joined: |
In most democracies, most elections don't have "far reaching ramifications". They may seem so to those who are too close to see the forest for the trees but most democracies are constituted for a certain amount of continuity - to prevent far reaching ramifications in a single election. Generally yes, although I would argue that within the broad space of the new Eurozone, specific elections, especially those in the larger, more powerful countries can certainly have some ramifications to other nations. In this case, Germany of course holds tremendous sway when in comes to monetary policy of the Euro. How that will play out moving forward could have either benefits or consequences to other countries or the Eurozone as a whole.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 411 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Diomedes writes:
In that way, the German election is more like a state election in the US. An election in a state like New York (or a city like New York, for that matter) can have significant ramifications for its little neighbours like Vermont. However, it has little impact on the world as a whole.
... I would argue that within the broad space of the new Eurozone, specific elections, especially those in the larger, more powerful countries can certainly have some ramifications to other nations.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diomedes Member Posts: 995 From: Central Florida, USA Joined: |
In that way, the German election is more like a state election in the US. An election in a state like New York (or a city like New York, for that matter) can have significant ramifications for its little neighbours like Vermont. Agreed. Certain city elections can also have the same effect. In massive cities like Chicago, people often claim that the Mayor of Chicago has more sway when it comes to state politics than the actual Governor of Illinois.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.61803 Member (Idle past 1503 days) Posts: 2928 From: Lone Star State USA Joined: |
I think you make a good point here. My interest over the past week has been on the shootings going on at the Naval yard, and in the Kenyan mall. Germany elections. meh.
Miley Cyrus draws more internet hits. Now Merkel flashing her stuff or doing a bump and grind? That might do it!!! Edited by 1.61803, : No reason given."You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only be superficial and relative" William S. Burroughs
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon Inactive Member |
In terms of elections and the effect they have on world economics arguably only the US is more significant. Which might be why the U.S. doesn't care.Love your enemies!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tangle Member Posts: 9489 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
Jon writes: Which might be why the U.S. doesn't care. The US does care, but for as long as Germany and Europe is aligned with it, its government can be complacent about it. The more interesting point is that the US public is parochial, but from time to time, they're forced to realise that what happens outside their borders matters to them. Usually too late.Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dogmafood Member (Idle past 348 days) Posts: 1815 From: Ontario Canada Joined: |
Do you think the level of interest would have been radically different if she wasn't standing again? No I don't. It is a long way from here and people's interests are closer to home. I guess that I view Germany as a modern stable liberal democracy full of educated people, excellent rail service and good beer. Anyone that they choose to elect is likely just fine with me. In a democracy the elected officials are supposed to be functionaries that represent the will of the people. It is the mood of the people that we should be interested in. Ideally, our elected officials should have no personal opinions and just do what they are told.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dogmafood Member (Idle past 348 days) Posts: 1815 From: Ontario Canada Joined: |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr Adequate Member (Idle past 284 days) Posts: 16113 Joined:
|
How important is this election and how much do EvC members know/care about it? Actually, so long as the Germans keep holding elections, I'm fairly relaxed about the outcome. It's when they stop that you have to worry.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
caffeine Member (Idle past 1024 days) Posts: 1800 From: Prague, Czech Republic Joined: |
In that way, the German election is more like a state election in the US. An election in a state like New York (or a city like New York, for that matter) can have significant ramifications for its little neighbours like Vermont. However, it has little impact on the world as a whole. This is hugely overstating the case. It has to be remembered that, as well as being the most powerful state in the EU, Germany is the fourth largest economy in the world by itself, and the European country which exports the most outside Europe. German policy certainly does have a significant impact on the world, with the integrated economies we have today.
|
|
|
Do Nothing Button
Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved
Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024