Posted on 11/03/2006 6:17:14 AM PST by Michael81Dus
A majority of Germans have for the first time ever lost trust in the nations's political and social system, according to a survey commissioned by the ARD public television network on Friday.
While 49 percent of Germans are happy with the democratic developments inside the country, some 51 percent have stated they are either very little or not at all satisfied with the political system.
Germans voiced also concerned over the widening social gap in the country as some 66 percent of those questioned pointed to social injustice and inequality in the political system, indicating a rise from 57 percent in 2005.
The latest poll, for which 1,000 people were surveyed, comes amid continued low approval ratings for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Germany has also been the scene for ongoing mass street protests against labor and social welfare reforms which many view as unfair and anti-social.
I'm still waiting for the day I read, "Germans are Happy" about anything.
One correction: The poll has also shown that more Germans would rather want Merkel as Chancellor than Schröder back.
Welcome to the club.
Everyone is dissatisfied with their country's political system except the sluffers and do nothings.
Yeah this smells like an anti-conservative hit piece to me.
While none will admit it, they loved Hitler. There are no neo-cons in Deutschland!
Once entrenched, socialist policies are virtually impossible to get rid of. When people view a reduction in govenment control as "unfair" there is little hope for a return to personal responsibility. Too much government, too much entitlement, too many arguments about what government owes people.
They have a Parliment with every loony element represented. What part don't they like?
I think they're just upset they didn't win the world cup ...
Bull! Germans probably liked that Hitler restored German pride after the unjust treaty of Versailles - but even then many realized what the price would be: the loss of freedom! Hitler was viewed by many as the dumb private he still was. The middle and upper class despised him, and one can even conclude that from his voters in the free elections until 1933. In 1939, nobody cheered when the war broke out. They have been happy that the Wehrmacht advances so fast, but who would not have supported the army in which your sons, brothers, fathers and neighbours served? Regarding the Holocaust I believe that 75% of Germans had no idea (and didn´t want to know) what happened to the Jews, Communists, oppositionals. Germany had 70 million citizens then, and only 150,000 or so were Jews, so by far not all had Jewish neighbours or friends. And I´m not an apologist, I just think that guilt is individual and that "the Germans" did not "love" Hitler as you said.
You know posts like the one you responded to will be made just to get a rise out of your country. Why do you let it get to you?
You're right. Once a government is morphs into a distribution machine there's no reversing it.
So much for JFK's famous inaugural quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
My bad. I honestly apologize. I´m really really really sorry. I hope I didn´t offend you.
In the last several years, democracy doesn't seem to be working very well anywhere.
Read this post:
German jobless fall adds to eurozone optimism
not going to happen... we are best if we are grumpy.
I did. I didn't see the word "Happy" anywhere. Then again with 11+% unemployment.............
Yeah. I guess optimism doesn't necessarily equate to optimism.
It might be that the last time the Germans were truly happy was the day that Hitler marched into Austria.
... the answer of Michael was necessary.
Many people believe that Hitler was something like a german disease and that it therefore could only happen in germany - the explanation why germans didn't love hitler and certainly don't do it today was correct and well worked out - not for the one troll provoking but for those who follow this discussion and might think there's something to the thesis that the third reich was something germans decided to have because of their german attitude.
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