Angela Merkel’s calm steadied a wounded nation — but it also put it to sleep. For sixteen years, Germany mistook caution for competence and comfort for courage. This essay dissects how the myth of …
In Europe, however, we forgot to use our own elbows to get what we want.
What is happening in Libya, Congo? For whom has Syria been changed?
Or the other way round, why did Germany have a trade deficit with the US during the good times?
The only thing that changed is that we ignore it differently.
currently ditching Microsoft is huge progress.
Yes
All it takes is just another fit of Trump to push us further away.
Are we different than US citizens? Trump is using the military internally and getting away with it.
The US has adapted. They use the inertia of the masses. They accept open rejection.
It takes the change of half of EU governments to change the commission. So it takes so much more than a fit to push us away.
I know why Germany is no direct democracy and the very good reasons for it.
How would you phrase it? History doesn’t match because the fascists came to power by the choice of a representative.
If you want the EU to become more independent
I wanted to show that a change in policy requires a change in government in many countries. In Germany Merz ties with the US are deep. It will be the same in many countries. Increasing pressure will not change much, much like the left cannot create the pressure to change anything in the US.
Nice framing! If Assad hadn’t waged a war against his own people, including chemical weapons and other war crimes, he’d still be in power.
But nevertheless, let’s try not to derail here. I’m talking about using our elbows against the US and China, just as they don’t have any problems using their elbows against us.
why did Germany have a trade deficit with the US during the good times?
From 2017 onwards, we had our highest trade surplus with the US…
Are we different than US citizens?
All that matters to us is that we are at the receiving end of his antics.
How would you phrase it?
We don’t want a charismatic, manipulating leader to be directly electable by the people ever again. So that’s our compromise. I think it reasonable.
In Germany Merz ties with the US are deep.
Yet members of his party governing a Bundesland changed their administration away from Microsoft towards FOSS. That change can happen at a multitude of levels and can still gain momentum, even if there’s someone braking at the top.
I’m talking about using our elbows against the US and China
Those ellbows are controlled by politicians who are in favor of the US. Of course, if you don’t see how the democratic uprising in Syria was influenced, you cannot imagine that similar things happen in the EU.
From 2017 onwards, we had our highest trade surplus with the US…
Sorry, I meant that. Like China, we have produced goods for money that we didn’t spend. Germany always accepted to support the US. Now the EU is forced to do the same.
All that matters to us is that we are at the receiving end of his antics.
Then try to escape on your own.
We don’t want a charismatic, manipulating leader to be directly electable by the people ever again.
Who was that? Hitler was chosen by the president, not by majority. A direct election would have prevented the third reich.
That change can happen at a multitude of levels
Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
Those ellbows are controlled by politicians who are in favor of the US.
How does that change anything in my point that we have to learn to use our elbows against the US and China? So far, we haven’t used them against either as much as we should.
Germany always accepted to support the US.
Having a trade surplus with a country is hardly “supporting” it. See how mad Trump is about it?
A direct election would have prevented the third reich.
Bold claims!
So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
The pressure from the US is already so big. Right now, we are highly dependent on both the US (digital services for example) and China (outsourced key manufacturing for example). The more aggressive and selfish these players are becoming, as they do, the more we’ll face the truth that we have to exit these dependencies as fast as possible.
Is it a point if it is not achievable? The small countries show that we know how to use them. Who is going to use the ellbows on the big ones?
Having a trade surplus with a country is hardly “supporting” it.
It is. That’s colonialism.
See how mad Trump is about it?
Because the US switched strategy. Before it allowed them to specialize in weapon manufacturing but they realized that that is not enough. It’s also bad to rely on Europe if that is flattened in ww3.
The tariffs, oil imports and digital services will keep Europe paying.
Bold claims!
Wrong claims?
we have to exit these dependencies as fast as possible.
Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
Us, also a big one. Second largest economy, you remember?
Because the US switched strategy.
Because the surplus is bad for them. Ockham’s Razor. No need to fall into some rabbit holes of conspiracies again. He doesn’t like that we sell them more than they us, that our products are valued on their market, but not the other way around.
Wrong claims?
Who knows? You didn’t care to substantiate them yet.
So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
My plan for a free Europe is to react accordingly to the already existing and growing pressure from the outside.
With politicians who are in favor of the US, you remember?
No need to fall into some rabbit holes of conspiracies again.
Until the switch, that was the explanation. We have the surplus and the US use it to have their big army.
You didn’t care to substantiate them yet.
Are the free election results not enough?
My plan for a free Europe is to react accordingly to the already existing and growing pressure from the outside.
See how that plan works out for the Democrats in the US. You can also have another look at Syria. And I want to bring back to mind that our leading politicians are in favor of the US.
With politicians who are in favor of the US, you remember?
Up until now, many maybe were. But that changes since Trump is in office again and even long-standing partners of the US are no longer safe.
We have the surplus and the US use it to have their big army.
How does that make sense? We have a trade surplus with them, aka more money goes our way, more products go their way. And they use that (us getting their money) to have a big army (which costs money)??
A direct election would have prevented the third reich.
I’d like to see anything substantial to back this claim up in the absoluteness you put it out here.
See how that plan works out for the Democrats in the US. You can also have another look at Syria.
I neither care about the Democrats nor Syria and don’t see how they matter here. This is about Europe and if you don’t want to do that, we’re done here.
long-standing partners of the US are no longer safe.
Germany is as safe as before. It’s just mask off for the rest of Europe.
How does that make sense?
Like China, Germany kept the money. The US got products for some numbers on a computer. That allowed them to spend the money again on arms.
I’d like to see anything substantial
Like election results? You should know or look it up yourself.
I neither care about the Democrats nor Syria
Too bad. If you only feel entitled for Europeans you will draw the wrong conclusions.
don’t see how they matter here.
Take your time. It could help to wonder if the US will treat Europeans fundamentally different.
This is about Europe and if you don’t want to do that, we’re done here.
It is. If you want to understand the European situation by dwellung on the injustice of US pressure alone, you will feel victimized but you will never understand how it can continue.
I hope you keep going. Otherwise thanks for the conversation.
What is happening in Libya, Congo? For whom has Syria been changed?
Or the other way round, why did Germany have a trade deficit with the US during the good times?
The only thing that changed is that we ignore it differently.
Yes
Are we different than US citizens? Trump is using the military internally and getting away with it.
The US has adapted. They use the inertia of the masses. They accept open rejection.
It takes the change of half of EU governments to change the commission. So it takes so much more than a fit to push us away.
How would you phrase it? History doesn’t match because the fascists came to power by the choice of a representative.
I wanted to show that a change in policy requires a change in government in many countries. In Germany Merz ties with the US are deep. It will be the same in many countries. Increasing pressure will not change much, much like the left cannot create the pressure to change anything in the US.
Nice framing! If Assad hadn’t waged a war against his own people, including chemical weapons and other war crimes, he’d still be in power.
But nevertheless, let’s try not to derail here. I’m talking about using our elbows against the US and China, just as they don’t have any problems using their elbows against us.
From 2017 onwards, we had our highest trade surplus with the US…
All that matters to us is that we are at the receiving end of his antics.
We don’t want a charismatic, manipulating leader to be directly electable by the people ever again. So that’s our compromise. I think it reasonable.
Yet members of his party governing a Bundesland changed their administration away from Microsoft towards FOSS. That change can happen at a multitude of levels and can still gain momentum, even if there’s someone braking at the top.
Those ellbows are controlled by politicians who are in favor of the US. Of course, if you don’t see how the democratic uprising in Syria was influenced, you cannot imagine that similar things happen in the EU.
Sorry, I meant that. Like China, we have produced goods for money that we didn’t spend. Germany always accepted to support the US. Now the EU is forced to do the same.
Then try to escape on your own.
Who was that? Hitler was chosen by the president, not by majority. A direct election would have prevented the third reich.
Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
How does that change anything in my point that we have to learn to use our elbows against the US and China? So far, we haven’t used them against either as much as we should.
Having a trade surplus with a country is hardly “supporting” it. See how mad Trump is about it?
Bold claims!
The pressure from the US is already so big. Right now, we are highly dependent on both the US (digital services for example) and China (outsourced key manufacturing for example). The more aggressive and selfish these players are becoming, as they do, the more we’ll face the truth that we have to exit these dependencies as fast as possible.
Is it a point if it is not achievable? The small countries show that we know how to use them. Who is going to use the ellbows on the big ones?
It is. That’s colonialism.
Because the US switched strategy. Before it allowed them to specialize in weapon manufacturing but they realized that that is not enough. It’s also bad to rely on Europe if that is flattened in ww3.
The tariffs, oil imports and digital services will keep Europe paying.
Wrong claims?
Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.
Us, also a big one. Second largest economy, you remember?
Because the surplus is bad for them. Ockham’s Razor. No need to fall into some rabbit holes of conspiracies again. He doesn’t like that we sell them more than they us, that our products are valued on their market, but not the other way around.
Who knows? You didn’t care to substantiate them yet.
My plan for a free Europe is to react accordingly to the already existing and growing pressure from the outside.
With politicians who are in favor of the US, you remember?
Until the switch, that was the explanation. We have the surplus and the US use it to have their big army.
Are the free election results not enough?
See how that plan works out for the Democrats in the US. You can also have another look at Syria. And I want to bring back to mind that our leading politicians are in favor of the US.
Up until now, many maybe were. But that changes since Trump is in office again and even long-standing partners of the US are no longer safe.
How does that make sense? We have a trade surplus with them, aka more money goes our way, more products go their way. And they use that (us getting their money) to have a big army (which costs money)??
I’d like to see anything substantial to back this claim up in the absoluteness you put it out here.
I neither care about the Democrats nor Syria and don’t see how they matter here. This is about Europe and if you don’t want to do that, we’re done here.
Germany is as safe as before. It’s just mask off for the rest of Europe.
Like China, Germany kept the money. The US got products for some numbers on a computer. That allowed them to spend the money again on arms.
Like election results? You should know or look it up yourself.
Too bad. If you only feel entitled for Europeans you will draw the wrong conclusions.
Take your time. It could help to wonder if the US will treat Europeans fundamentally different.
It is. If you want to understand the European situation by dwellung on the injustice of US pressure alone, you will feel victimized but you will never understand how it can continue.
I hope you keep going. Otherwise thanks for the conversation.