New German Chancellor

[limerickman]

Just caught the news here that Angela Merkel is the new German Chancellor after three weeks of stalemate following the recent election there.

It seems that Ms.Merkel is from what was East Germany and is a conservative and will lead a coalition with Gerhard Schroeder.

This should be quite interesting.
Merkel wants to limit Turkey's entry to the EU - she wants sweeping changes in German labour law and she wants German to get back to being the Super Economy of the 1970/80's.

 

[wolfix]

Just caught the news here that Angela Merkel is the new German Chancellor after three weeks of stalemate following the recent election there.

It seems that Ms.Merkel is from what was East Germany and is a conservative and will lead a coalition with Gerhard Schroeder.

This should be quite interesting.
Merkel wants to limit Turkey's entry to the EU - she wants sweeping changes in German labour law and she wants German to get back to being the Super Economy of the 1970/80's.

And number one priority is to develope a better and economic relationship with the US.
I understand she gave up some Cabinet seats to reach the deal with the Social Democrats.... It was the all time favorite reason of the people of any nation to want change... Better economics.
Socialism & "Being taken care of from cradle to grave." ..... I think most everyone wants what's best for their neighbors. But man's mindset is that of a predator. He who is biggest, get the bestest. It is my understanding that the German economy is headed for some major problems brought on by it's socialist agenda. It would be a wonderful world if everyone had free medical care and education. Even as a capitolist I want that for everyone. But how does one pay for it?

 

[limerickman]

And number one priority is to develope a better and economic relationship with the US.
I understand she gave up some Cabinet seats to reach the deal with the Social Democrats.... It was the all time favorite reason of the people of any nation to want change... Better economics.
Socialism & "Being taken care of from cradle to grave." ..... I think most everyone wants what's best for their neighbors. But man's mindset is that of a predator. He who is biggest, get the bestest. It is my understanding that the German economy is headed for some major problems brought on by it's socialist agenda. It would be a wonderful world if everyone had free medical care and education. Even as a capitolist I want that for everyone. But how does one pay for it?

Yeah, according to the papers they have very high unemployment over there at the moment and it appears that Schroeders got the blame for this.
So Merkel as an alternative has said that she intends to make Germany a better economy.

I am waiting see if any of this will have an effect on the value of the Euro - that my primary interest.

 

[wolfix]

Yeah, according to the papers they have very high unemployment over there at the moment and it appears that Schroeders got the blame for this.
So Merkel as an alternative has said that she intends to make Germany a better economy.

I am waiting see if any of this will have an effect on the value of the Euro - that my primary interest.

I haven't really kept up on the news and trends from Europe for awhile.... too much garbage going on here. But I sense a feeling of a Germany that may want/ or already have a dominant role in European politics. With Germany's history [as far back as the barbarians] is there any apprehension of a strong Germany from other EU nations?

 

[limerickman]

I haven't really kept up on the news and trends from Europe for awhile.... too much garbage going on here. But I sense a feeling of a Germany that may want/ or already have a dominant role in European politics. With Germany's history [as far back as the barbarians] is there any apprehension of a strong Germany from other EU nations?

I can only give you the views that I have read here.
The EU project is really centred on France/Germany to a large extent.
France and Germany are the main contributors to the the financing of Europe, along with Britain.
But Britain has traditionally been anxious to keep Europe at relative arms length.
I think Britain is uneasy at the idea of an EU dominated by either France and/or Germany to be honest.
In our country we have the endless debate should we be closer to Berlin or Boston ?
My own view is that my country has a lot to be thankful to the EU for - we gained huge amounts of investment from the EU and it has done our country good.

 

[wolfix]

I can only give you the views that I have read here.
The EU project is really centred on France/Germany to a large extent.
France and Germany are the main contributors to the the financing of Europe, along with Britain.
But Britain has traditionally been anxious to keep Europe at relative arms length.
I think Britain is uneasy at the idea of an EU dominated by either France and/or Germany to be honest.
In our country we have the endless debate should we be closer to Berlin or Boston ?
My own view is that my country has a lot to be thankful to the EU for - we gained huge amounts of investment from the EU and it has done our country good.

Boston or Berlin? Interesting . There are many here in the states that feel as if Ireland is part of the US. In the sense that we have so many people here that have Irish backgrounds. And if you are a non-Catholic [ I'm Catholic} here you may get the sense that Boston "is" located in Ireland. It isn't, is it?
Even in the heartland where I live you rarely ever hear anything negitive about Ireland. There is a real sense of attachment to Ireland. Even the politically correct people leave Ireland alone. The Notre Dame '"Fighting Irish" is a classic example. I can just imagine if any other school called itself the"Fighting Germans" or the "French Frys" or any other label that would suggest stereotyping a nationality.
What attachment does Ireland have with Berlin? Or is it that the Irish see Berlin as the center of the EU power?

 

[limerickman]

Boston or Berlin? Interesting . There are many here in the states that feel as if Ireland is part of the US. In the sense that we have so many people here that have Irish backgrounds. And if you are a non-Catholic [ I'm Catholic} here you may get the sense that Boston "is" located in Ireland. It isn't, is it?
Even in the heartland where I live you rarely ever hear anything negitive about Ireland. There is a real sense of attachment to Ireland. Even the politically correct people leave Ireland alone. The Notre Dame '"Fighting Irish" is a classic example. I can just imagine if any other school called itself the"Fighting Germans" or the "French Frys" or any other label that would suggest stereotyping a nationality.
What attachment does Ireland have with Berlin? Or is it that the Irish see Berlin as the center of the EU power?

Well Wolf, when you do get to visit here, you'll see what I mean about "Boston or Berlin".

The debate is whether we should use the US economic model (Boston) or theEU economic model (Berlin).
As it is we have a mix of both, we have social security a la Berlin but we also have a lower tax regime a la USA.
Consequently, a lot of large US firms like to trade from here (Intel, DELL, Microsoft, Hewlette Packard, GE) and it probably helps that we speak english too.
However despite all these large companies, our main industry is agriculture and to that end this country looks toward Europe as it's closest market and also because the only policy that actually unifies Europe is the common agricultural policy (which allows farmers access to markets and allows them to receive capital allowances under EU subsidies).
So that is the debate here in Ireland - do we throw our support totally toward Berlin or do we throw our support to the USA ?

Either way, as you say there are 70m people in the USA who claim Irish heritage - and that has a big bearing on our relationaship with the USA.
Our country has always supported the USA - although that support, i am sorry to say, is being sorely tested over Iraq.
But setting Iraq aside, this country will always provide support to the USA (not that we can offer much, mind !)