September 11, 2005
PROMISE THAT NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE:
Schröder in surprise comeback to close poll gap with Merkel (Luke Harding, September 12, 2005, Guardian)
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is closing the gap on his conservative rival, Angela Merkel, according to the latest opinion polls, making it increasingly possible that the challenger could be forced into a "grand coalition" with the ruling Social Democrats (SPD). [...]Together, Germany's left parties now have 49.5% of the vote, compared with 47.7% for Mrs Merkel's coalition, according to the Emnid institute poll. The gap is enough to stop Mrs Merkel forming a centre-right government with the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the CSU, and junior coalition partner the FDP.
She is still likely to become Germany's chancellor next week. But her initial lead in the polls started to ebb away following a row over her appointment of Paul Kirchhof as shadow finance minister. The SPD launched a brutally effective campaign against Mr Kirchhof, a former constitutional judge, portraying his plans for a 25% flat tax as unjust and a gift to the rich.
The FDP last night joined the critics of Mr Kirchhof's plans. FDP chairman Guido Westerwelle told a party rally that tax cuts would do not help reduce Germany's high unemployment rate.
These opposition parties outside the Anglosphere need to learn that the path to power lies in opposing reform, not proposing more of it. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 11, 2005 11:46 PM
So Japan is part of the Anglosphere now? After all, the Democratic Party there (民主党) ran on opposing the postal reform. (Along with pulling troops out of Iraq.)
Posted by: John Thacker![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://brothersjuddblog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 11, 2005 11:57 PM
John -- except in Japan the reformers are already in power and I certainly never expected Koizumi to lose power by taking charge and being a real leader.
It is interesting how reunification has destroyed the German economy by saddling it with a bunch of whining luddites who seem very content with 25% unemployment (in the east). Almost everything that I ever thought of as "German" is not made there anymore. Even Michael Schumacher lives in Switzerland.
Should be a lesson to Taiwan and South Korea, but only Taiwan seems to get it.
Posted by: Randall Voth at September 12, 2005 3:59 AMMr. Voth:
"Only Taiwan seems to get it?" On the contrary, I'd say that the South Korean government has been intentionally propping up the North Korean government for the last few years specifically to stave off the dislocations that would occur if reunification were to happen.
Not that they'll admit such a thing publically, mind you.
Posted by: John Thacker at September 12, 2005 10:52 AM
John:
No, it ran on the need for even greater reform, surrendering the issue to Koizumi.
However, there's a compelling argument to be made that Japan, which is essentially an American creation in its current iteration, is a de facto part of the Anglosphere, as India is.
Posted by: oj at September 12, 2005 11:02 AMoj,
What explains the difference between Japan and Germany with regard to Anglosphericality?
Posted by: James Haney at September 12, 2005 4:21 PMGermany was already a developed Western democracy. All we did was put Adenauer in charge instead of Hitler. In Japan we remade the society so completely that the Japanese actually seem to feel somewhat estranged from it. Of course, the difference in how we treated them is also a function of race.
Posted by: oj at September 12, 2005 4:28 PMDo the Germans want 20% unemployment?
If this keeps up, the Fuhrer in 2030 will be a 'militant' Turk.
Posted by: ratbert at September 12, 2005 4:47 PM