08-18-2024, 07:37 AM
As if Ukraine doesn't have enough problems:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-freez...23606.html
Germany has been "cheating" on their federal budget for years. They have laws in place to limit deficit spending. Previously the government would get around them by defining the spending to be in categories that were exempt from the laws even though that wasn't the case and everybody knew it. As long as the German economy was humming along (at least in most places) it was "don't ask, don't tell". When that ceased to be the case it was taken to court and the government predictably lost. This isn't a "fake" issue being used to justify cutting off further aid. It is a real issue in Germany and will have plenty of consequences.
Unfortunately the current governmental coalition has neither the popularity nor the will to actually confront the issue and start a meaningful public discussion on what to do. Germany isn't poor or disadvantaged. The cost of fuel and natural gas has gone up dramatically, due to the Ukraine war and policy decisions. That is part of the problem. It isn't the main problem however. Like many other countries Germany has been living beyond their means. They have definitely skimped on maintaining an adequate military. The can't do that anymore (maybe, who knows). The policies adopted by the Green party and implemented in Germany for political reasons have not all worked out, to say the least. Their laws are now forcing them to confront that fact. Unfortunately this is happening when the German body politic is fractured much more that ever before in the FRG history.
As a side problem, it is clear the "reunification" is still a work in progress. In regards to the above discussion on Ukraine, note that the eastern part of Germany that was under Russian control in the Warsaw pact is the are of the country most supportive of Russia and opposed to Ukraine. One would think it would be the opposite. It is also worthy of mention that Angela Merkel is an "Ossie".
https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-freez...23606.html
Germany has been "cheating" on their federal budget for years. They have laws in place to limit deficit spending. Previously the government would get around them by defining the spending to be in categories that were exempt from the laws even though that wasn't the case and everybody knew it. As long as the German economy was humming along (at least in most places) it was "don't ask, don't tell". When that ceased to be the case it was taken to court and the government predictably lost. This isn't a "fake" issue being used to justify cutting off further aid. It is a real issue in Germany and will have plenty of consequences.
Unfortunately the current governmental coalition has neither the popularity nor the will to actually confront the issue and start a meaningful public discussion on what to do. Germany isn't poor or disadvantaged. The cost of fuel and natural gas has gone up dramatically, due to the Ukraine war and policy decisions. That is part of the problem. It isn't the main problem however. Like many other countries Germany has been living beyond their means. They have definitely skimped on maintaining an adequate military. The can't do that anymore (maybe, who knows). The policies adopted by the Green party and implemented in Germany for political reasons have not all worked out, to say the least. Their laws are now forcing them to confront that fact. Unfortunately this is happening when the German body politic is fractured much more that ever before in the FRG history.
As a side problem, it is clear the "reunification" is still a work in progress. In regards to the above discussion on Ukraine, note that the eastern part of Germany that was under Russian control in the Warsaw pact is the are of the country most supportive of Russia and opposed to Ukraine. One would think it would be the opposite. It is also worthy of mention that Angela Merkel is an "Ossie".