This evening I watched a lecture of the German philosopher Markus Gabriel. It was posted on Youtube. He is often invited by an institution from Switzerland to give lectures.
And in the past he said he is always pleased to visit Switerland where capitalism still functions in contrast to Germany. In contrast to Germany the trains are punctual, the taxes are lower, the people are happier. I think the institute he gives his lectures is very neoliberal and it pleased when he says something like that.
Switzerland is indeed a very attractive country. I would not call it a better version of Germany though. Both are freeriders internationally and profited of exporting huge amounts of goods. The German export model isn't working that well anymore in contrast to the Swiss model. Conservatives always point the finger at Germany it ruined itself with mass migration. I think the reality is more complex. The amount of millionaires per capital in Switzerland is astonishing. However, if you are poor in Switzerland you have a real problem. The living standard is quite high on average but the system isn't made for the bottom of the society. It is not as bad as in the US. Hell no. But Germany treats poor people better. Libertarians will say this mistake was the reason for Germany's downfall. But I don't believe in trickl-dwon economics.
I think Switzerland has an economic model that functions only very under specific conditions. The sovereignty over the currency has advantages. But for Germany the Euro is probably better in order to compete with other countries internationally. You could give many arguments in favor of Switzerland or Germany.
Many Germans are leaving the country. This applies especially to people with a higher education.
And some want to migrate to Switzerland. Personally, from what I hear by various people. Many young people told me there is no way around leaving the country if the right-wing AfD becomes the leading government party. And many say it is only a matter of time until this will happen. It is also ironic how salient migration is in the media coverage despite the fact numbers are going down. The right-wingers decide the agenda and they use the narrative that Germany is in decline. I could probably go on. There is the question how bad is the situation of Germany really? And this catastrophizing only helps the AfD. There is the mistake made by many experts and politicians to use the metaphor that the current coalition is the "last bullet of democracy". Many use comparisons with Weimar and that we are close to situation of 1930 when the coalition broke over minor issues and the big picture was faded out. Personally, I am in favor of the firewall. And I consider the AfD to be very dangerous for Democracy. But the usage of panic is an instrument the masses can easily backfire. This can easily turn into frustration and the feeling of impotence . And there are not a few people that equate the CDU/CSU (conservatives) with the AfD and the equate all of them with fascism. I think this isn't a smart choice. The German party system is far more healthy with a strong conservative party. I think some young people argument the CDU/CSU is responsible for inhuman policies and almost as bad as the AfD. Such simplifications are pretty bad. I am not sure how to explain this to foreigners. There are no real appropriate comparisons for the American political system. The CDU/CSU absorbed right-wingers positions in the past and at the same time drew borders to people that were antidemocratic and extreme. The younger generation though demonizes the CDU and CSU more and more. I think the party often lacks empathy and compassion for minorities that's true. But the party has an important position in the parliament. And I think this is something most young people don't get. Without a conservative party the AfD will become stronger and stronger.
Switzerland instead is a concordance democracy. And the parties in the parliament form a coalition to govern the country. And the right-wing SVP is integrated in the coalition. This prevent a radicalization to a lesser extent. There was always the question how to integrate the AfD or whether it was better exlclude the party of coalitions. In the past years, the AfD was excluded and became a lot more extreme. However, the question whether a different approach would have been better is also disputed. The thing is so complicated. I will end it here. The whole thread is a mess and more of a rambling.
Germany and Switzerland have different starting points, different institutions, different roles in Europe and the world, a different history etc.
There are good reasons to argue that Switzerland for now is the more successful model economically While at the same time it is questionable whether Germany with its different circumstances could simply copy the success of Switzerland by adapting some positions.
Horrible thread.
Damn even my corrections were not saved. Fuck it. I am done.
And in the past he said he is always pleased to visit Switerland where capitalism still functions in contrast to Germany. In contrast to Germany the trains are punctual, the taxes are lower, the people are happier. I think the institute he gives his lectures is very neoliberal and it pleased when he says something like that.
Switzerland is indeed a very attractive country. I would not call it a better version of Germany though. Both are freeriders internationally and profited of exporting huge amounts of goods. The German export model isn't working that well anymore in contrast to the Swiss model. Conservatives always point the finger at Germany it ruined itself with mass migration. I think the reality is more complex. The amount of millionaires per capital in Switzerland is astonishing. However, if you are poor in Switzerland you have a real problem. The living standard is quite high on average but the system isn't made for the bottom of the society. It is not as bad as in the US. Hell no. But Germany treats poor people better. Libertarians will say this mistake was the reason for Germany's downfall. But I don't believe in trickl-dwon economics.
I think Switzerland has an economic model that functions only very under specific conditions. The sovereignty over the currency has advantages. But for Germany the Euro is probably better in order to compete with other countries internationally. You could give many arguments in favor of Switzerland or Germany.
Many Germans are leaving the country. This applies especially to people with a higher education.
And some want to migrate to Switzerland. Personally, from what I hear by various people. Many young people told me there is no way around leaving the country if the right-wing AfD becomes the leading government party. And many say it is only a matter of time until this will happen. It is also ironic how salient migration is in the media coverage despite the fact numbers are going down. The right-wingers decide the agenda and they use the narrative that Germany is in decline. I could probably go on. There is the question how bad is the situation of Germany really? And this catastrophizing only helps the AfD. There is the mistake made by many experts and politicians to use the metaphor that the current coalition is the "last bullet of democracy". Many use comparisons with Weimar and that we are close to situation of 1930 when the coalition broke over minor issues and the big picture was faded out. Personally, I am in favor of the firewall. And I consider the AfD to be very dangerous for Democracy. But the usage of panic is an instrument the masses can easily backfire. This can easily turn into frustration and the feeling of impotence . And there are not a few people that equate the CDU/CSU (conservatives) with the AfD and the equate all of them with fascism. I think this isn't a smart choice. The German party system is far more healthy with a strong conservative party. I think some young people argument the CDU/CSU is responsible for inhuman policies and almost as bad as the AfD. Such simplifications are pretty bad. I am not sure how to explain this to foreigners. There are no real appropriate comparisons for the American political system. The CDU/CSU absorbed right-wingers positions in the past and at the same time drew borders to people that were antidemocratic and extreme. The younger generation though demonizes the CDU and CSU more and more. I think the party often lacks empathy and compassion for minorities that's true. But the party has an important position in the parliament. And I think this is something most young people don't get. Without a conservative party the AfD will become stronger and stronger.
Switzerland instead is a concordance democracy. And the parties in the parliament form a coalition to govern the country. And the right-wing SVP is integrated in the coalition. This prevent a radicalization to a lesser extent. There was always the question how to integrate the AfD or whether it was better exlclude the party of coalitions. In the past years, the AfD was excluded and became a lot more extreme. However, the question whether a different approach would have been better is also disputed. The thing is so complicated. I will end it here. The whole thread is a mess and more of a rambling.
Germany and Switzerland have different starting points, different institutions, different roles in Europe and the world, a different history etc.
There are good reasons to argue that Switzerland for now is the more successful model economically While at the same time it is questionable whether Germany with its different circumstances could simply copy the success of Switzerland by adapting some positions.
Horrible thread.
Damn even my corrections were not saved. Fuck it. I am done.
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