Germans protest against austerity; 'Blockupy' protest shut down by riot police

Dwellingdweller

Well, it's about time.

If the Germans themselves have finally caught wind of this mess we're in, who's going to hold it all together? The Germans up until now have been seen to be the resilient ones, willing to take a hit to keep the eurozone together. But if the political landscape starts changing in Germany, that means big things for the rest of us too.

Dangerous Man

And... we're having a referendum because our political leaders are spineless.

crazygeryy

Send in the occupy ireland gang.that will have the police quaking in their boots.

charlemont

The German's are right to protest, But why should Germany pay for the mistakes of Greece and Ireland ? Two countries whom if the circumstances were right would make all the same mistakes again.

DEFTLEFTHAND

1939 Returning?

charlemont

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

1939 Returning?

Yea right.:rolleyes:

mikom

charlemont wrote: »

Two countries whom if the circumstances were right would make all the same mistakes again.

Same could be said for Germany post war........ but we gave them another chance

charlemont

mikom wrote: »

Same could be said for Germany post war........ but we gave them another chance

True I suppose. But its a large and powerful country it couldn't be just ignored either, Ireland on the other hand..

msg11

All we have to do is keep our heads down and they will all invest in Ireland with all these protests going on in Europe.

Gas, no one has gone to prison yet over this fiasco more importantly what the ****ing bejaysis did they spend the money on?

The cartels in South America are better at managing there finances than this lot in the EU.

Run_to_da_hills

Iranian News channel.

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

1939 Returning?

Through EU economic bullying this time though.

Alun

Germany has it's fair share of crushties too, you know I was watching the news on German TV the other day and the Polizei were out stopping busloads of 'activists' being shipped in from various other parts of Germany on the motorways leading into Frankfurt. Not unlike the motley rent-a-mob that do the rounds here when there's a bit of capitalism bashing to be done.

Dwellingdweller

Alun wrote: »

Germany has it's fair share of crushties too, you know I was watching the news on German TV the other day and the Polizei were out stopping busloads of 'activists' being shipped in from various other parts of Germany on the motorways leading into Frankfurt. Not unlike the motley rent-a-mob that do the rounds here when there's a bit of capitalism bashing to be done.

So, you're saying these protesters are wasters, basically? You think that everything they're saying is wrong? If not, it seems a bit... *odd*, to be calling them 'crushties' and a 'motley rent-a-mob'.

But, if so, enlighten me as to what's led you to the conclusion that austerity, etc. is a good idea/is working. Thanks.

3rdDegree

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

1939 Returning?

Hitler wasn't ALL bad you know!

Oh wait, sorry, he was.

Jarren

3rdDegree wrote: »

Hitler wasn't ALL bad you know!

Oh wait, sorry, he was.

Uncyclopedia does not agree with you :pac:



http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Adolf_Hitler

















yeaahhh you are right

He was really bad

Napper Hawkins

Ah he was gas, sure..

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

he was a pretty keen enviromentalist

Alun

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

So, you're saying these protesters are wasters, basically? You think that everything they're saying is wrong? If not, it seems a bit... *odd*, to be calling them 'crushties' and a 'motley rent-a-mob'.

But, if so, enlighten me as to what's led you to the conclusion that austerity, etc. is a good idea/is working. Thanks.

What austerity?

That lot are no more representative of the majority of Germans, than the various Occupy movements were representative of the majority of Irish people, despite what they might have thought.

Dwellingdweller

Alun wrote: »

What austerity?

That lot are no more representative of the majority of Germans, than the various Occupy movements were representative of the majority of Irish people, despite what they might have thought.

..."What austerity?" :pac: Seriously? It seems to me like you've just said that in order to avoid my question. The ongoing programme of fiscal austerity being implemented in the EU, mainly under the direction of Germany.

I find what you're saying a little ridiculous, to be honest. 40,000 people is hardly what you can call 'not representative'. As well as that, I don't remember anyone bringing up Ireland. The point of the video is that it demonstrates that there is a growing feeling of resentment, right in the economic and political heart of the EU (Germany). Merkel's party is beginning to slide in regional elections, and although it is likely that she will make another term as Chancellor in a coalition government, even Germany itself is turning against the austerity policies being implemented in Europe - and Germany isn't even in recession! :rolleyes:

Despite what you might think, what is not important is how popular these groups are (although they will become more popular if the economic situation worsens - which it looks set to). What is important is that they are stimulating a debate on whether or not austerity is right for Europe right now. But it seems that you would rather dismiss them offhand as nonrepresentative than actually have a discussion about the implications of these protests for Germany, and the rest of the EU, including Ireland.

jam_mac_jam

charlemont wrote: »

The German's are right to protest, But why should Germany pay for the mistakes of Greece and Ireland ? Two countries whom if the circumstances were right would make all the same mistakes again.

because Germany wants to save the large German banks, as does France the French banks. Do you think the German government is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Germany is also pretty ****ed if the Euro fails. And Germany is not paying for us, we are paying them back with lots of interest.

Pottler

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

because Germany wants to save the large German banks, as does France the French banks. Do you think the German government is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Germany is also pretty ****ed if the Euro fails. And Germany is not paying for us, we are paying them back with lots of interest.

thats the important part. Bit like when you borrow €100 off your mate and then call him a cnut when he looks for it back. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. Anyway, I'd imagine we aint seen nothing yet when it comes to street protests etc.

Dr Turk Turkelton

mikom wrote: »

charlemont wrote: »

Two countries whom if the circumstances were right would make all the same mistakes again.

Same could be said for Germany post war........ but we gave them another chance

Twice!

imitation

Hurray, once the Germans are fed up of austerity and cut backs that means they'll start sending us free money again.. right ?

shedweller

Dangerous Man wrote: »

And... we're having a referendum because our political leaders are spineless.

It's not a referendum if there is only one answer!

K-9

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

I find what you're saying a little ridiculous, to be honest. 40,000 people is hardly what you can call 'not representative'.

With a population of 82 Million about the same as 2,000 marching in Dublin.

Dwellingdweller

K-9 wrote: »

With a population of 82 Million about the same as 2,000 marching in Dublin.

...How did you come to that conclusion? Frankfurt is a city of 700,000 people, that's 7/10 the size of Dublin, conservatively. If 55,000 people marched in Dublin we'd be looking at a roughly equivalent figure, in reality. And that would be a big crowd of people, for Dublin. Besides, talking about whether or not 40,000 people is 'a lot' of people for a given country is boll*cks, and besides the point. 40,000 people is a lot of people, anywhere.

K-9

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

...How did you come to that conclusion? Frankfurt is a city of 700,000 people, that's 7/10 the size of Dublin, conservatively. If 55,000 people marched in Dublin we'd be looking at a roughly equivalent figure, in reality. And that would be a big crowd of people, for Dublin. Besides, talking about whether or not 40,000 people is 'a lot' of people for a given country is boll*cks, and besides the point. 40,000 people is a lot of people, anywhere.

Thought it was a national protest.

I don't see what people find surprising by this, Germany has a strong social democratic tradition, you'd swear some actually thought that nearly all Germans back austerity and this is some new news!

ascanbe

charlemont wrote: »

The German's are right to protest, But why should Germany pay for the mistakes of Greece and Ireland ? Two countries whom if the circumstances were right would make all the same mistakes again.

Germany is not 'paying for our mistakes'.
On the contrary, we're being forced, through the socialisation of the debt of private institutions at the behest of the EU/ECB, into picking up the tab for the mistakes of their and others private institutions/banks.
The situation in Greece is different, as much of their debt originated from sovereign borrowing; though Germany and the EU are far from having clean hands in that development either.

charlemont

ascanbe wrote: »

Germany is not 'paying for our mistakes'.
On the contrary, we're being forced, through the socialisation of the debt of private institutions at the behest of the EU/ECB, into picking up the tab for the mistakes of their and others private institutions/banks.
The situation in Greece is different, as much of their debt originated from sovereign borrowing; though Germany and the EU are far from having clean hands in that development either.

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

because Germany wants to save the large German banks, as does France the French banks. Do you think the German government is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Germany is also pretty ****ed if the Euro fails. And Germany is not paying for us, we are paying them back with lots of interest.

Fair enough, But did we not have a so called financial regulator that should have known something was rotten ? Clearly our own banks and the German banks should have had enough financial experience to know what they were at was doomed to failure. So why was it all allowed to come to this ? Lenihan hardly had the experience or the intelligence to know what he was doing and now we are paying the price.

ascanbe

charlemont wrote: »

Fair enough, But did we not have a so called financial regulator that should have known something was rotten ? Clearly our own banks and the German banks should have had enough financial experience to know what they were at was doomed to failure. So why was it all allowed to come to this ? Lenihan hardly had the experience or the intelligence to know what he was doing and now we are paying the price.

Yes, we had a financial regulator who didn't do his job and a government that didn't do their job in letting our banks act as they did.
But Germany also had a financial regulator that failed to regulate the activities/lending practices of their banks and the EU/ECB was also supposed to regulate the activities of banks in the Eurozone.
They all failed to do their job, but who is left to pick up the entire tab for these mistakes as it relates to Ireland?
Irish citizens/tax-payers, that's who.
Irish people who had nothing to do with this debt pick up the entire tab for the mistakes of all these people, Irish or otherwise.
Brian Lenihan was the Minister who made the decison to place all this debt on the back of the Irish people, but there's no doubt that he did so under extreme/gun-to-his-head pressure from the ECB/EU, despite the warnings of many that it was unsustainable, apart from it being completely wrong/extortion, and would lead to disaster.
The crux of the whole problem in Europe is that the EU/ECB's entire focus is that a certain gilded sector of the finanacial sector/banks must be protected at all costs.
If this is not faced up to and there is a change in policy, this is only heading towards disaster.
Some believe, of course, that that's exactly what those pulling the strings, and it's becoming increasingly clear that there's a select few pulling the strings, actually want; was never on board with line of thinking but, as every day goes by, i'm beginning to wonder if they might be on to something.

Pottler

mikom wrote: »

Same could be said for Germany post war........ but we gave them another chance

Who the feck are "We"?? Last time I checked, "we" were neutral in that situation. I doubt if "we" gave them anything, tbh. Barring our money for their cars, obviously.:rolleyes: "WE", feck off.

Alun

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

...How did you come to that conclusion? Frankfurt is a city of 700,000 people, that's 7/10 the size of Dublin, conservatively. If 55,000 people marched in Dublin we'd be looking at a roughly equivalent figure, in reality. And that would be a big crowd of people, for Dublin. Besides, talking about whether or not 40,000 people is 'a lot' of people for a given country is boll*cks, and besides the point. 40,000 people is a lot of people, anywhere.

As I pointed out, rent-a-mob protesters were being bussed in from all over Germany, from Berlin for example.

Alun

Dwellingdweller wrote: »

..."What austerity?" :pac: Seriously? It seems to me like you've just said that in order to avoid my question. The ongoing programme of fiscal austerity being implemented in the EU, mainly under the direction of Germany.

That's not austerity, that's just balancing the books, you know, not spending more than you're receiving in income. In other words, what we and everybody else in Europe should have been doing all along.

Dwellingdweller

Alun wrote: »

As I pointed out, rent-a-mob protesters were being bussed in from all over Germany, from Berlin for example.

I really don't understand why you keep on making comments about the integrity of the protesters rather than actually have a discussion about them. 'Rent-a-mob' is just a cheap slur on people who you dont approve of. It's also a bit of a misnomer, I highly doubt anybody at that protest got paid to be there - and my point still stands. 40,000 people is a large crowd in any city, no matter how far they've come or what country they live in.

Alun wrote: »

That's not austerity, that's just balancing the books, you know, not spending more than you're receiving in income. In other words, what we and everybody else in Europe should have been doing all along.

Em... no. It seems that you're actively trying to avoid having a discussion with me about this. You'd rather move the goalposts and talk about how what's being implemented in Europe isn't austerity, than discuss it (and BTW, "austerity" is just a catch-all term for what you described, had you read the article that would be obvious). Or instead, you have a go at the credibility of the protesters - and that's fine. But you're wrong about budget deficits/spending: See this table. Then it'll be clear to you that it's very common for governments to run budget deficits. See this also. Hopefully after you read this you'll actually be ready to have a discussion with me about austerity, eh?

Doc Ruby

Hippehs.

specialops

crazygeryy wrote: »

Send in the occupy ireland gang.that will have the police quaking in their boots.

DonkeyStyle \o/

It looks like those protesters got a bit... carried away. :cool:

hatrickpatrick

How long do we have to wait until the monetary system finally collapses and we can replace it with something sensible which isn't controlled by private companies looking to benefit from it?
IMO that's the only way this situation is ever going to be properly fixed. The power of money creation must be removed from private banks altogether.

charlemont

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

How long do we have to wait until the monetary system finally collapses and we can replace it with something sensible which isn't controlled by private companies looking to benefit from it?
IMO that's the only way this situation is ever going to be properly fixed. The power of money creation must be removed from private banks altogether.

Wholeheartedly agree.