February 10th, 2020, 11:52
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The left party is the leftist party and they got 31% of the vote. So it doesn't make sense for CDU to let them win by not voting for own candidate. The mainstream parties and the Left should have comprised and have the left coalition nominate SPD as PM which CDU has no problems letting them win. But they wouldn't because the AfD bleeding off votes from the right coalition, while "the left" party gets a free pass, is very favorable to them.
However, I've changed my opinion. The former CDU Thuringia leader wouldn't have shaken hands with AfD leader if they just voted for them without any agreement. So what the CDU leader should have done is not make any agreement with AfD and let Bodo Ramelow in with a plurality (when AfD wastes their votes, instead of voting for CDU). It's only a matter of time before a more "reasonable" AfD leader throws votes at CDU for nothing in return which would force their hand but CDU's hand wasn't actually forced yet. AfD's Thuringia leader is so far right I don't think he'll just throw votes to CDU/FDP without getting anything in return. CDU Thuringia doesn't get to complain. They should have waited until they got to complain.
February 10th, 2020, 13:09
(This post was last modified: February 10th, 2020, 13:10 by Charriu.)
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Ah now I understand your logic behind 69%. But I think it's flawed. Just because 69% of the people did not vote for the left does not necessarily mean that 69% wanted a more conservative PM. SPD and the Greens worked together with the Left in a coalition for the last five years. This coalition only had one seat more than the opposition, but despite that was stable. SPD and the Greens never really had any chance of winning the election and getting their candidate as PM. Both parties stated that they wanted to continue the coalition after the election. Most people knew those facts about these parties, because these are normal procedure during German elections. So one must assume that the majority, who voted for SPD and Greens also wanted Ramelow as PM. Therefore you can't really claim that 69% wanted a more conservative PM.
You have to remember that almost all elections in Germany resulted in a coalition of two or more parties. Germans are used to that and vote for the smaller partner, because they want to strengthen the aspect that this party brings into the government.
February 17th, 2020, 14:59
(This post was last modified: February 17th, 2020, 15:00 by ipecac.)
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The ongoing Huawei 5G furor in Europe is notable, because China is breaking the mold of 'just being a copycat', and has overtaken the US in developing technology within this important industry.
Tides are shifting, history books will write of this moment.
February 17th, 2020, 18:51
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Europe had overtaken the US a long time ago, Nokia and Ericcson are the main players in this industry. Huawei is dramatically outspending them and the results show in 5G. I don’t doubt it was built on a foundation of IP theft, but Western companies have no one to blame but themselves for allowing that to happen.
Darrell
February 17th, 2020, 20:40
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(February 17th, 2020, 18:51)darrelljs Wrote: Europe had overtaken the US a long time ago, Nokia and Ericcson are the main players in this industry.
Good point. I remember Barr suggesting that the US buy one of these companies.
Quote:Huawei is dramatically outspending them and the results show in 5G. I don’t doubt it was built on a foundation of IP theft, but Western companies have no one to blame but themselves for allowing that to happen.
It is unavoidable. If technology is deployed publicly, it will be reverse-engineered. Soon it will be the West's turn to copy China's technology.
February 18th, 2020, 08:21
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Indeed, in fact there are already signs that China is modifying its stance on IP protection as they start to catch up and in some areas get ahead. It’s feels like the biggest difference right now is China is unencumbered by distractions like gun control, immigration, abortion, climate denial, etc. and laser focused on unleashing their great potential. Nero fiddling in the West just makes it easier on them, a stationary rather than a moving target.
What’s not clear is when China is calling the shots, how will they behave? The Chinese *people* I know give me hope, but despite their supposed history of looking inward, I kind of doubt the Chinese *government* will sit on the winning hand. Taiwan at least is fucked.
Darrell
February 18th, 2020, 13:53
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(February 18th, 2020, 08:21)darrelljs Wrote: It’s feels like the biggest difference right now is China is unencumbered by distractions like gun control, immigration, abortion, climate denial, etc. and laser focused on unleashing their great potential.
Distractions? More like prime examples of how the US is extremely divided. China is not, making it easy for her to be laser focused.
February 18th, 2020, 14:08
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Divisions are distracting  .
Darrell
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Oil's collapsing:
![[Image: scDpJO8.png]](https://i.imgur.com/scDpJO8.png)
FTSE futures down 7%.
S&P futures hit circuit breaker.
Recession time it is...
"I know that Kilpatrick is a hell of a damned fool, but I want just that sort of man to command my cavalry on this expedition."
- William Tecumseh Sherman
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Crude prices down... = yay lower gas prices?
"Superdeath seems to have acquired a rep for aggression somehow. ![[Image: noidea.gif]](https://www.realmsbeyond.net/forums/images/smilies/noidea.gif) In this game that's going to help us because he's going to go to the negotiating table with twitchy eyes and slightly too wide a grin and terrify the neighbors into favorable border agreements, one-sided tech deals and staggered NAPs."
-Old Harry. PB48.
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