That has to be about a different Angela Merkel, the one I know had one priority:...

btilly · 2025-05-04T04:31:06 1746333066

She also was for making Germany economically dependent on gas pipelines to Russia, even though she knew that she was funding Russia's war in Ukraine.

I am not inclined to give her a free pass on that.

FirmwareBurner · 2025-05-03T21:26:17 1746307577

Which recent German politician in power wasn't about preserving the status quo? The entire country and culture is all about the status quo.

riffraff · 2025-05-04T04:51:18 1746334278

I'm. It sure of the "recent" definition but Schroeder's tenure brought a lot of changes (which one can argue against, but it was not conservative).

Aeolun · 2025-05-04T04:14:01 1746332041

> slow and steady presence

> preserving status quo

That sounds like the same thing to me?

DonHopkins · 2025-05-03T21:37:14 1746308234

[flagged]

netsharc · 2025-05-03T22:06:20 1746309980

Feh, Merkel created conditions for the rise of right wing fascism... IMO.

She and her finance minister championed austerity uber alles, squeezing the middle and lower class across the EU, and then she said refugees were welcome. I agree with the idea of helping people fleeing bombs and bullets, but after decades of saying there's money, we need to watch our budgets, suddenly there's money? Nooo fucking wonder the populist right managed to grasp on to the disillusionment of the lower/middle class.

DonHopkins · 2025-05-04T09:45:52 1746351952

Yeah, just like Obama created conditions for the rise of right wing MAGA fascism in the US by being black. Thanks Obama!

Right wing fascist are going to try to seize power no matter how nicely you treat them.

netsharc · 2025-05-04T12:12:33 1746360753

Apparently mistaken faith in austerity and the invisible hand of the market is comparable to the color of one's skin. One is born with it and can't change it...