Today we are dealing with the day of the year for German politics, the accumulation of failed elections, love storms, and the question of why tax offices say they are incorruptible
A good hand
Oliver Berg / DPA
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Issue 38/2019
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The day is here . The day of the year for German politics. First a day of waiting, until the evening. Then the coalition committee meets and discusses the climate program for Germany. In the night from today to tomorrow, the essential decisions will probably fall. You do not have to say much anymore, just wish everyone a good hand.
- Interview with family counselor: How do I talk to my child about climate change?
Failed elections
ATEF SAFADI / EPA-EFE / REX
It accumulates that elections no longer deliver the results that make democracies work well . In Israel , where elections were held on Tuesday, there is again no stable majority in sight. That was already the case at the last election a few months ago. Spain has failed to form a government. Again, you have to choose a second time.
In Italy , the results at the last election were such that two parties that did not match each other co-opted. The alliance of Lega and Cinque Stelle is quickly broken. In Germany, the Federal Government came about only with great efforts and bends. In Saxony is currently negotiating a Kenya Alliance, which is also a stopgap. In Thuringia , according to the polls, it is impossible to predict who should form a government here.
What's going on there? At first glance, two trends are the causes: An increasing radicalization in societies, which makes the compromise difficult. An increasing differentiation in societies, with the same result. If this continues, we will have to think about electoral systems. In proportional representation, voters delegate the search for compromise to politicians. Perhaps they would first have to find a compromise within themselves through a majority voting system. But those are just first thoughts. It needs more cases and a deeper analysis.
- Israel after the election: Netanyahu's fear of mutiny
Love storms
Getty Images
I've always wondered what the opposite of Shitstorm might be . The best answer so far has been Candystorm. Soon we can get used to the word LOVE-Storm . That's the name of an app that will be presented in Berlin today. It aims to help people who are exposed to hate comments or shitstorms on the net, a warning system, solidarization actions .
An interesting question will be whether there will be a tie between hatred and love on the Internet as far as attention is concerned. I have my doubts. That is because we are interested in love above all the failure, see the most famous love story of all time: Romeo and Juliet. In real life: Prince Charles and Lady Di. The narrative of a successful love, however, is usually considered kitsch. Hatred, on the other hand, can not be cheesy, it always fascinates, even through rejection.
- Sociologist on Shitstorms: "Completely new quality of Stammtisch slogans"
Loser of the day ...
Carsten Rehder / DPA
... ... are the tax offices . I often pass an advertising pillar showing a placard reading "The Untouchables". Thus, the tax offices promote young talent. For me that triggers three thoughts.
First, I would never have guessed that a German taxman could be corrupt, so I do not understand why to promote incorruptibility.
Second, a billboard naturally sets out distinguishing features, and if the tax officials are the incorruptible, then what about the others, the police, state secretaries of state and diplomats? Are the bribes?
Third, does not the slogan "The Untouchables" have a deterrent effect on one or the other candidate?
For me, the poster is certainly an opportunity to finally explain the tax offices to the losers of the day (but I admit that I fear as a result of a tax audit).
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
The latest news from the night
- Justin Trudeau apologizes for photo from the year 2001: The picture shows him with dark make-up and turban. Canada's prime minister is grudging
- Trump has a new security adviser: Robert O'Brien is more of a hardliner. Does this affect the Iran policy of the United States?
- Bahn prohibits consultant deals for former managers: Such contracts should no longer be issued. In the past many millions went for it
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
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- If football fans go too far: Lotta, the poor lute pig
I wish you a nice start to the day.
Your Dirk Kurbjuweit