Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a Spiegel article | 24 comments (24 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (4.00 / 2)

The system in Germany will almost always lead to a federal coalition government. Which will be pulled to the political center.

One should also mention that "centrist" in Germany really means centrist. That stands in strong contrast to "centrism" in the US which is often completely outside of the real majority opinion (for example the "social security reform" nonsense which is often propagated in the Washington Post).

by rz on Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 at 12:07:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 1)

Totally true.

Not to mention that "centrist" in Germany is pretty close to socialism/communism according to the "serious" people in the USA. Republicans or media pundits for example. :)

I consider myself pretty mainstream in Germany. But according to the American "Political Compass" I´m a raging economical leftist and Social Libertarian.
Funny that.

The US media pushed "centrism" would be considered totally unacceptable even by the conservative parties in Germany.

by Detlef (Detlef1961_at_yahoo_dot_de) on Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 at 04:33:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 0)

Uhm, totally I wouldn't say, ask Herr Schäuble and Herr Koch...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 03:00:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 0)

I meant mostly centrism in regard to economics. Further more, Koch never claimed that he is a centrist, nor did the media transport it that way. In all (most?) media reports about the issue it was pointed out how he is shifting further rightwards. The results of this election show clearly that rightwing populism doesn't go unpunished in Germany.

by rz on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 06:29:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 1)

I and Martin didn't claim Koch was centrist, either :-) Martin claimed that "even conservatives" in Germany are to the left of what counts for centrist in the USA, with which I can't agree totally.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 06:36:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 1)

Martin claimed that "even conservatives" in Germany are to the left of what counts for centrist in the USA,

I see it like this: When it comes to economics it is true, generally German politics is to the left of the US. But then there are some issues where it is definitely not true. For example I would say that Germans of all political persuasions have a rather restrictive few when it comes to immigration.

But all this is a little besides the point I tried to make. This is not about how German politics compares internationally, but how "centrism" is presented in the mainstream media. If some opinion is presented as "centrist" then it is most likely in the center of current pubic opinion. In the US media I have often the feeling this is not the case.

by rz on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 07:12:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 1)

I have not said anything in this diary or in the comment section of this diary. You probably mean either rz or Detlef.

Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den Menschen
Volker Pispers

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 09:31:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a S (none / 0)

D'oh! Of course I meant Detlef...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Jul 24th, 2008 at 09:46:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Blogging and politics in Germany - bits of a Spiegel article | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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