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It couldn't be further from the truth. People in power here are super corrupt and trying to erode the freedom just the same as anywhere else. Whenever you thin

by tsss 7y ago

It couldn't be further from the truth. People in power here are super corrupt and trying to erode the freedom just the same as anywhere else. Whenever you think of a foreign government as good you just have to assume you don't know enough about that country to know about all the shit they do.

rndgermandude 7y ago
Yeah, we get a suspiciously high number of former politicians going into industries after their political career, usually industries that they previously were in charge of regulating (but Germany certainly isn't special in this regard). But we do it with "style": e.g. our former chancellor (head of government) Schröder is a lobbyist for Russian gas and oil these days and is best buddies with Putin, to the extent that last time Putin was sworn in as president Schröder was the second person to shake Putin's hand, right after the head of the Russian-orhtodox church, but before the Prime Minister of Russia. His vice chancellor at the time, Fischer, lobbied for a competing gas pipeline after leaving government... did I mention that Fischer belonged to the Green party? Germany also managed to delay the ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption for about 10 years, citing "privacy issues" that could arise if you made politicians to disclose their income e.g., and finally passed a law that is essentially completely useless. Yes, really, the same politicians who were pushing for data retention of communication meta data of literally everybody in Germany cited privacy concerns... But what if you want to donate large sums to a political party or candidate before an election or before a vote for some law you want? No, that would be bribery and corruption! So instead, just donate your large sums of not-bribes-I-swear AFTER you got what you want, and problem solved. Throw in a lobby/board of directors job or two for some politicians who needs an income supplement or hobby when retired, and you're done. No corruption to see here, please move along.

by tsss 7y ago

rndgermandude 7y ago

Yeah, we get a suspiciously high number of former politicians going into industries after their political career, usually industries that they previously were in charge of regulating (but Germany certainly isn't special in this regard). But we do it with "style": e.g. our former chancellor (head of government) Schröder is a lobbyist for Russian gas and oil these days and is best buddies with Putin, to the extent that last time Putin was sworn in as president Schröder was the second person to shake Putin's hand, right after the head of the Russian-orhtodox church, but before the Prime Minister of Russia. His vice chancellor at the time, Fischer, lobbied for a competing gas pipeline after leaving government... did I mention that Fischer belonged to the Green party? Germany also managed to delay the ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption for about 10 years, citing "privacy issues" that could arise if you made politicians to disclose their income e.g., and finally passed a law that is essentially completely useless. Yes, really, the same politicians who were pushing for data retention of communication meta data of literally everybody in Germany cited privacy concerns... But what if you want to donate large sums to a political party or candidate before an election or before a vote for some law you want? No, that would be bribery and corruption! So instead, just donate your large sums of not-bribes-I-swear AFTER you got what you want, and problem solved. Throw in a lobby/board of directors job or two for some politicians who needs an income supplement or hobby when retired, and you're done. No corruption to see here, please move along.