[Goose]

As if Ukraine doesn't have enough problems:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-freez...23606.html

The first article (Goose's direct link) was from Saturday morning (our time).  There were 2 or 3 updates below it.  AIUI, that's about next year's money, which is of course important, and there's pushback on the August 5th letter from the Chancellor.  It sorta sounds like the political positioning that we see in the US.  (Then, there's also mention of using interest from frozen Russian assets for this purpose.)

It is quite possibly politically driven. However, as I understand it the Chancellor was stating that the Bundestag could not appropriate any more money this year for Ukraine because government spending is up against the stops. That isn't political. The decision of the Constitutional Court has, as the Chancellor stated at the time, created new constraints on what can be designated "special" funding. Ukraine is suffering from a lack of ammunition for their German made PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers (among other things). As I understand it, the Chancellor is saying there can be no "quick fix" to that problem.

Next year's budget in Germany potentially has significant issues as well. The spending levels allowed are directly tied to tax revenues. In the past the Bundestag could blow through those limits by declaring a "special" program and spending money that way. If tax revenue wasn't "up to snuff", that was a way around it. It isn't allowed anymore. In the past, tax revenues were usually adequate and in fact often money would be appropriated outside the original budget because it was "available". That won't be true next year, most probably. The budget may actually have to be cut, and that will not be easy. Ukraine's notional 4 billion may be an easy target.

I find it interesting that (at least the English site) Die Welt doesn't have anything about this.  But, I haven't been following Die Welt so I'm not sure how their coverage is these days.  (BBC doesn't have anything either, yet.)

P.S.  Goose uses many acronyms and terms that sometimes obscures his knowledge from those of us hoping to learn from him.  "Ossi" indicates one from the eastern part of Germany.  I had to look it up, but it seems it would be a term you'd not want to use in a public venue.

I could be wrong about this, but for sure in the time around reunification the term was in common use. That may have changed somewhat, but back then and as far as I know today, it isn't pejorative. It is like saying somebody is a New Englander, a mid-westerner or a Texan. For that matter it is phonetically similar to Aussie, which is definitely not pejorative :-). It is true that some biases (and jokes) have grown up on both sides of the Ossi-Wessi divide. FWIW Wikipedia says

While some people in Germany may consider these names insulting, others regard them as part of the German culture.

I expect that is pretty accurate. It may be less socially acceptable now than it was 1990 in response to the inevitable problems that ensued, but it isn't "impolite".

P.P.S. Since we're talking German politics, the leaders of the far-left Die Linke party have just announced they're stepping down.  The party's support was apparently low.  For this forum, this may help to indicate the overall leaning of the German populace.

IMO you are correct but for a couple of reasons I don't think the lack of support for Die Linke is a good indicator. Talking more about this is "interesting" but too close to the Terry Rule, so I won't :-).

[Goose]

As if Ukraine doesn't have enough problems:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-freez...23606.html

The first article (Goose's direct link) was from Saturday morning (our time).  There were 2 or 3 updates below it.  AIUI, that's about next year's money, which is of course important, and there's pushback on the August 5th letter from the Chancellor.  It sorta sounds like the political positioning that we see in the US.  (Then, there's also mention of using interest from frozen Russian assets for this purpose.)

It is quite possibly politically driven. However, as I understand it the Chancellor was stating that the Bundestag could not appropriate any more money this year for Ukraine because government spending is up against the stops. That isn't political. The decision of the Constitutional Court has, as the Chancellor stated at the time, created new constraints on what can be designated "special" funding. Ukraine is suffering from a lack of ammunition for their German made PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers (among other things). As I understand it, the Chancellor is saying there can be no "quick fix" to that problem.

Next year's budget in Germany potentially has significant issues as well. The spending levels allowed are directly tied to tax revenues. In the past the Bundestag could blow through those limits by declaring a "special" program and spending money that way. If tax revenue wasn't "up to snuff", that was a way around it. It isn't allowed anymore. In the past, tax revenues were usually adequate and in fact often money would be appropriated outside the original budget because it was "available". That won't be true next year, most probably. The budget may actually have to be cut, and that will not be easy. Ukraine's notional 4 billion may be an easy target.

I find it interesting that (at least the English site) Die Welt doesn't have anything about this.  But, I haven't been following Die Welt so I'm not sure how their coverage is these days.  (BBC doesn't have anything either, yet.)

P.S.  Goose uses many acronyms and terms that sometimes obscures his knowledge from those of us hoping to learn from him.  "Ossi" indicates one from the eastern part of Germany.  I had to look it up, but it seems it would be a term you'd not want to use in a public venue.

I could be wrong about this, but for sure in the time around reunification the term was in common use. That may have changed somewhat, but back then and as far as I know today, it isn't pejorative. It is like saying somebody is a New Englander, a mid-westerner or a Texan. For that matter it is phonetically similar to Aussie, which is definitely not pejorative :-). It is true that some biases (and jokes) have grown up on both sides of the Ossi-Wessi divide. FWIW Wikipedia says

While some people in Germany may consider these names insulting, others regard them as part of the German culture.

I expect that is pretty accurate. It may be less socially acceptable now than it was 1990 in response to the inevitable problems that ensued, but it isn't "impolite".

P.P.S. Since we're talking German politics, the leaders of the far-left Die Linke party have just announced they're stepping down.  The party's support was apparently low.  For this forum, this may help to indicate the overall leaning of the German populace.

IMO you are correct but for a couple of reasons I don't think the lack of support for Die Linke is a good indicator. Talking more about this is "interesting" but too close to the Terry Rule, so I won't :-).