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Off Topic Coronavirus and NOTHING to do with football thread

Discussion in 'Watford' started by andytoprankin, Mar 21, 2020.

  1. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    Once again you do not understand German politics SH. Along with perhaps Switzerland, Germany is the most decentralized country in Europe where the constitution establishes very firmly exactly which powers are held at the federal level and which are held by the states. Every state in Germany has a minister president and a government, which may, or may not be from the party which holds power at state level. Of course a crisis such as this places a strain on such a relationship because central government wants to take more powers to itself, whereas the states will naturally oppose this. It should also be added that whilst Merkel is still federal chancellor.everybody knows she is standing down next year, and she has already stood down from the leadership of the CDU. She is currently in charge of Germany but not in charge of her own party - obviously some politicians are playing the popularity card at the moment hoping to take over as candidate for the federal elections next year. Another reason why Merkel maybe does not have the same authority as previously is that she is basically pissed off with the job. Apparently she didn't want to stand this time around but was persuaded by Obama to serve another term. Basically she wants a quiet life again away from all the macho men around her - she is not power hungry and never was.
     
    #2001
  2. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    You can see why Boris wants to retain the services of Dominic Cummings. He has just outsmarted the opposition again, hopefully this non story will now rightfully fade away leaving him to lead the charge against the EU later in the year.
     
    #2002
  3. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    You do not need to fully understand internal German politics to appreciate what a monumental cock up she made regarding flooding Europe with immigrants. Nobody is doubting her concern for migrants although Germany's particular selfish need for more labour was clearly in her mind. She is the main reason most of Europe has lurched to the far right.
     
    #2003
  4. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    This has absolutely nothing to do with the thread SH. Try to stick to the subject !
     
    #2004
  5. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    Of course a major player's standing has everything to do with coronavirus and every other major issue including the method of financial repair. To pretend otherwise is foolish.
     
    #2005
  6. oldfrenchhorn

    oldfrenchhorn Well-Known Member
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    A beach on the south coast has been “as busy as Notting Hill carnival” over the bank holiday weekend, with local residents saying a “rave” took place on Sunday night, as tourist hotspots across the UK reported a rise in visitors.

    Residents of Botany Bay in Kent complain that their cove – popular for its rock pools, spectacular chalk stacks and clean swimming water – has been overrun by large groups of people ignoring social distancing and drinking, partying and defecating on the beach, with some camping overnight.

    So there we go. Do what you think is best for you.
     
    #2006
  7. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    The method of financial repair is being held back by the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and Sweden SH. Merkel and Macron had already agreed a package - it is not Germany which is holding this up. Or are you saying that Merkel should be able to dictate policy to those 4 countries ? Refering to your first point (though it is irrelevant to the subject) - most Germans support her stance in allowing refugees into Germany - and no, Germany didn't do this because of a shortage of labour. People with refugee status are not allowed to work in Germany !
     
    #2007
  8. oldfrenchhorn

    oldfrenchhorn Well-Known Member
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    Public loss of trust in government advice after Dominic Cummings’s decision to travel to Durham during the lockdown could severely damage the test-and-trace strategy that is vital to managing the coronavirus epidemic and may lead to a new spike in infections, say experts.

    Scientists say people told to self-isolate for 14 days because they have been in contact with somebody with symptoms will be less willing to comply.

    Any opening up from lockdown requires having the test, trace and isolate policy fully in place.

    Anyone who is showing symptoms should be tested and if they test positive for the virus they are put immediately into isolation. Then they [contact tracers] trace all of the contacts that person has made over the previous 14 days and all of those contacts too are placed into isolation.
     
    #2008
  9. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    Most of those arriving to Europe at that time, and now, are economic migrants not refugees.

    This minor package concocted by Merkel and Macron occurred without consulting the rest of the EU. The others were miffed about not being included. When the details became known, grants instead of loans, the 4 nations disagreed and turned it down. I expect the German court would also have an opinion. Years ago these nations would have bowed to Merkel's view but now they are queuing up to oppose her, she has lost her power. This is a very serious split in the EU leading to Germany doing particularly well due to the massive financial package already lined up. The Southern nations and France look to be the real losers who will continue to fall behind those other richer Northern UE members. There are many serious players predicting Italy may leave the EU, one of the previous most pro EU member countries.
     
    #2009
  10. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    You overestimate the position of Angela Merkel if you think that the leaders of 4 rich countries would have ever bowed to her view - European politics doesn't work like that. There will always be differences of opinion which lead to compromise solutions. It is only in your black and white brain that it works otherwise. Pray tell me how Germany will do particularly well due to the massive financial package lined up. Your wishes for the break up of the EU are nothing short of spitefull wishfull thinking. Have you ever heard anyone on this side of the Channel saying that they wished the breakup of the UK ? Even though such an event could be even more imminent. How often have you said that Scotland could not afford to go it alone yet, apparently, Italy can. Also - why do you refer to it as a 'minor package' in your first sentence - yet refer to the 'massive financial package already lined up', although there appears to be little difference between them ?
     
    #2010

  11. Markthehorn

    Markthehorn Well-Known Member

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    #2011
  12. oldfrenchhorn

    oldfrenchhorn Well-Known Member
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    The UK has developed, and is expecting to license internationally a brand new, revolutionary, world beating eyesight test for drivers.
    Got to be a lot better than the existing driving for 35 miles to see if you can see. :emoticon-0102-bigsm
     
    #2012
  13. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    You are clearly confused.

    Germany's recovery financial package has nothing to do with a general fund for all members, it is solely meant for Germany using its dominant position. It currently amounts to over half of the total so far announced by all members. This will put it in an increasingly unfair position against other members that cannot afford such large investment.

    The fund you mentioned, cooked up by France and Germany, was designed to share the load by a limited kind of mutualisation. It is a fraction of what is actually required. The frugal four, plus Germany of course, do not want to go beyond providing loans to the poorer members with lots of strings attached. The Dutch will come up with an alternative scheme which will involve loans, not what the struggling member states want or need. Italy is particularly vocal against this and the ECB providing funding and conditions which will involve increased interference from Brussels.

    I have not said Italy can afford to leave the EU, it probably cannot afford to stay in the EU unless there is an unlikely change of heart by the Northern clique of countries. Italy has had no growth since 2008, it is in a mess already without the massive effect of the shutdown.

    The EU is unworkable in its present form. It needs to adopt Macron's vision for a superstate or return powers to individual member states. The only other option is to let the frugal five, maybe plus a few extra, to adopt an inner circle with pooled assets and liabilities under strict German guidelines. Those Southern nations unable to compete at the moment would then leave the shared currency allowing them to devalue their own currencies. The problem Macron has is that there is very little support amongst the populations of all member states for closer integration. Brussels would not dare ask the people in a referendum because they know how great the opposition would be. So the EU floats along pushing decisions as far into the future as possible although it faces some really difficult situations this year which it cannot postpone. Brexit, new 7 year budget and bailing out all members. I have never known so much open hostility between EU member states before, I can only see this increasing.
     
    #2013
  14. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    One moment - both France and Germany were in favour of giving a grant to Southern European states - which has been scuppered by the other 4 countries - so Germany, at least, is prepared to consider more than just loans. Please get your facts right ! Another aside is that Brexit is far more of a problem for the UK than it is this side of the Channel. This may not be the official German position but I would personally link funding to environmental performance - I do not want to provide eg. government funding for agriculture without strings attached such as environmental performance.
     
    #2014
  15. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    Germany has been against grants for the struggling Southern member for many years, this is just a token amount to try to unite the EU, which has backfired spectacularly. In Germany you also have the problem of your Constitutional Court that not only puts itself above the German government but also above the ECJ, very interesting. Who said Germany is not running the EU?
     
    #2015
  16. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    If you are still confused this make good reading.

    The PSPP judgment of the German Constitutional Court: An ...europeanlawblog.eu › 2020/05/06 › the-pspp-judgment...
     
    #2016
  17. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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  18. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    Why don't you stop trying to derail this thread away from the present Corona crisis ? Is it because Britain is failing miserably ? Lets get this thing over first and then start talking about how money will be allocated. We should be talking about why Britain is just about the only country in Europe not getting the better of this thing.
     
    #2018
  19. superhorns

    superhorns Well-Known Member

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    These issues are intrinsically linked to coronavirus. It has created massive stresses which have brought self interest to the fore. The facade of unity within the EU has shattered for all to see. Thankfully by the end of the year the UK will be rid of this dreadful club for good.
     
    #2019
  20. colognehornet

    colognehornet Well-Known Member

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    We are talking about 2 different things - one is the virus itself and how best to handle it, and the other is how to cope with the financial fallout afterwards. I rather take the view that the best way forward is to tackle the virus effectively, and quickly - which Germany, and several other countries, have done. I regret that there was not more medical cooperation towards the beginning of this crisis - but this was hindered by the fact that the respective health systems lie outside of European jurisdiction. We cannot discuss the financial bailout until we know how long the virus is going to be active, and whether there will be a second wave.
     
    #2020

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