The General Political Thread

[BabyJesus]

Sure but if you would spend that 800 billion somewhere else, you could still create jobs and actually achieve something better than new tools of destruction.

but then who would save us from those darn Russians

[Theodin]

Sure but if you would spend that 800 billion somewhere else, you could still create jobs and actually achieve something better than new tools of destruction.

Like what?

[StevenChilton]

Sure but if you would spend that 800 billion somewhere else, you could still create jobs and actually achieve something better than new tools of destruction.

Like what?

The best ferry service in the Mediterranean

[Toffee]

Like maybe making sure all of your citizens are given proper healthcare. Not fucking the environment could be a priority too.

[Karth]

Like maybe making sure all of your citizens are given proper healthcare. Not fucking the environment could be a priority too.

So you want to take away thousands of jobs and GDP  to instead use that money to increase spending on already trillion dollar programs? Nice

[Toffee]

Like maybe making sure all of your citizens are given proper healthcare. Not fucking the environment could be a priority too.

So you want to take away thousands of jobs and GDP  to instead use that money to increase spending on already trillion dollar programs? Nice

Did I say that? Just it's clear that America chooses to increase its budget in a department that doesn't need extra funding and cut funding for areas that do need it.

[Olafson]

Like maybe making sure all of your citizens are given proper healthcare. Not fucking the environment could be a priority too.

So you want to take away thousands of jobs and GDP  to instead use that money to increase spending on already trillion dollar programs? Nice

Did I say that? Just it's clear that America chooses to increase its budget in a department that doesn't need extra funding and cut funding for areas that do need it.

Exactly.

[StevenChilton]

In the UK Labour are having their annual party conference for the next few days. Looks to be more exciting than in previous years:
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-political-editor-laura-kuenssberg-to-be-accompanied-by-security-guards-at-labour-party-a3642221.html

I'm looking forward to Monday's lecture on whether Artificial Intelligence is sexist.

Spoiler

[close]

[William]

Merkel saying she'll refuse to work with AfD which isn't too surprising. We'll see how it turns out for her but I can say that alienating a populist movement usually doesn't work too well.

[MrTiki]

You say that but it worked pretty well for mainstream parties in the UK. UKIP just died down, although that could be attributed to Farage jumping ship, then flip flopping and then associating with Trump, plus the leadership challenges etc.

[StevenChilton]

How good are German exit polls? They suggest that a) Merkel's lost a quarter of her vote since 2013 but remains as Chancellor, b) SPD at 20% which is worst result for them in the history of modern Germany, and c) AfD at 13.5% making them third largest party and almost certainly the official opposition.

Wow-terrible night for Schultz and Merkel. Former should probably resign by tomorrow, later will have to put forward a succession plan earlier than thought. Only possible coalition is continuation of CDU/SPD. If the exit polls are right of course....

[Ted]

Welcome to Weimar: Where the parliament is going to paralyze itself. Bundesrepublik Deutschland in 2017.

[Duuring]

c) AfD at 13.5% making them third largest party and almost certainly the official opposition.

There is no official opposition in Germany, and even if there was, the SPD is about 7% bigger than the AfD. On what do you base this certainty?

. Only possible coalition is continuation of CDU/SPD. If the exit polls are right of course....

SPD has already stated it will not continue the 'Grand Coalition' and wishes to go into opposition. The most likely coalition is the so-called Jamaican model: CDU/CSU, the Greens and the Free Democrats.

Welcome to Weimar: Where the parliament is going to paralyze itself. Bundesrepublik Deutschland in 2017.

Laughs in Dutch

[close]

[StevenChilton]

Is there not? Been reading news reports that say there is, and Euractiv is usually pretty good.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/germanys-race-for-third-place/

Green grassroots are strongly against a coalition with Merkel and the FDP, and I read somewhere any deal would have to go before their members. No chance of passing. Far more likely SPD will change their minds. For Schultz it's either that or resign as I can't see how else he could stay on in his position. I guess there might be some kind of confidence and supply arrangement rather than an outright coalition.

[Duuring]

The budget committee is chaired by the biggest opposition party. That's it. Die Linke held that position the past session.

Yeah, either SPD-CDU or CDU-FDP-Grüne. AfD doesn't have enough seats to form a coalition with CDU/CSU and it would be sorta direct betrayel of their anti-Merkel platform anyway.