All countries have their share of 'dummkopfs' including 'this septic Isle' if you consider the likes of our less than distinguished Chancellor, Phillip Hammond. However, rarely do ours reach the heights, or perhaps depths is the better word, of the sort of truly monumental stupidity exhibited by 'Mutti' Merkel. The creation of the European Union was a grand project, so grand, of course, as to instantly raise the suspicions of many English people who have seen similar edifices rise up, only to collapse to the ground under the pressures of reality. Practicality beats idealism every time!
Even so, the EU built layer upon layer upon layer rather like those ghastly skyscrapers that dominate the horizons of all those get-rich-quick cities in the Middle East which you just know are literally, as well as metaphorically, built on sand. The main beneficiary of the EU construction was, and still is, Germany and it is a truly delicious irony that it is the leader of Germany who has done more than anyone to bring the edifice crashing down to earth in one simple - and I do mean 'simple'! - act of idiocy. 'Mutti' Merkel, for reasons which still escape me, decided in a moment of rash insanity to throw open the doors of Europe to everyone and anyone. Instantly, millions of Muslim immigrants rushed for the entrances.
Suddenly, and equally, millions of shocked Europeans muttered to themselves the equivalent of 'What the hell is happening here? Where is my homeland heading?' It doesn't much matter whether you are German or French or Polish or Swedish or whatever, people everywhere have a deep and abiding love of their own country and its history and customs. Of course, unlike the 'wannabe' political gurus who write or read political blogs for a hobby, most people just concentrate on earning their livings and looking after their families and leave the politics to the shysters who are in charge. Even so, day by day, month by month, year by year they gradually become aware that around them everything is changing - and they do not like it!
Sooner or later, of course, this dissatisfaction will out and when it does so it will not necessarily be, in the words of Sellars & Yeatman, "A Good Thing"! Thus, we have seen nationalist insurgencies in Catalonia threatening the break-up of Spain. In Austria, a Right-wing, nationalist newcomer has taken the majority of votes and will go into government partnered by an extreme Nazi-style party. In Czechia, another nationalist is set to win power in the next few days. Poland and Hungary are already ruled by fairly extreme Right-wingers who are already refusing to implement EU laws. I gather from reports that there are now moves afoot for the Dutch-speaking province of Belgium to break away. On top of all that, of course, Britain, the second biggest economy in the EU, has already started for the exit.
Thinking about it, I suppose we have much to be grateful for in 'Mutti's' stupidity because it helped nudge us in the right direction. Of course, the collapse of mighty constructs nearly always produces collateral damage but in this case, from a British point of view, it will be worth it in the long run. Then I can sing along with Barbra Streisand:
Back to being free again
Back to being me again
With all my precious freedom, my precious, precious freedom
On my own
Back to being on my own
Back to live the life I'd known
Before I ever knew him, before I ever knew him
Free again, independent me , free again
Time to call up all the crowd
Raise the roof and shout out loud
Time to have a party, a party
Lucky me, take a look at lucky, lucky me
Take a look and you can see
How much I love my freedom, my precious, precious freedom
Simple me, complicated, simple me
Back to where I used to be before I ever knew him
Österreich is sick and damn tired of being over run by Muslim invaders. The city of Graz, where I attended college long ago, has had problems with the "newcomers". It just turns my stomach. Other EU countries will grow a spine, hopefully before it is too late.
Posted by: Whitewall | Monday, 16 October 2017 at 18:40
Politics is always affected by the stresses of great change. Today globalization, technological advances and other events are the drivers. In 1939, even in supposedly liberal New York City, we had the beginnings of war in Europe and the hangovers of WWI and The Great Depression:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxxxlutsKuI
Posted by: Bob | Monday, 16 October 2017 at 18:53
"'Mutti' Merkel, for reasons which still escape me, decided in a moment of rash insanity to throw open the doors of Europe to everyone and anyone."
It's hard trying to work out her motivation. There is the old Marxist idea of the "reserve army of labour", which capitalism needs when production is at full capacity, but who are then kicked onto the scrap-heap during recessions. If she needed more workers, then she must have realised that these people would become dangerous once they were on the dole. And with future developments in computing and robotics looming on the horizon, there are going to be a lot of economically unproductive people in Europe. Maybe she still believes, Brown-and-Blair style, that she can keep the economy booming all the time?
The only other possibilities are in the realm of fantasy. She might have been following orders from somewhere higher up, destroying nation-states as a way of ushering in world government. Or she might just hate her own country. Given that many Germans are a seething mass of repressed guilt, I think that's probably the most likely reason.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Monday, 16 October 2017 at 20:54
Just at the moment Merkel stumbled, and a resistance of "little guys" made their voices and actions heard and looked out for a bigger guy for leadership and support, where was "Brain of Britain"?
The chance to consolidate the single market, Britain's idea and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, and extend it into services, Britain's forte, across half a billion fellow western-minded citizens.
The chance to build a powerbase with the Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Hungarians, and Austrians, and grasp the leadership of the continent of Europe and fashion it to our "Anglo-Saxon" way.
Where was "Brain of Britain"?
Paddling back home from Dunkirk. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. That's where "Brain of Britain" was.
The cowardly idiot.
Possibly the greatest act of political stupidity and feebleness in recent history.
And yet, and yet, it may not be so. You can sing if you want to Gaffer, but the fat lady ain't.
A pint and a poke in Southampton, about face (or whatever the nautical term is for about face), and get straight back in there.
As Desaix said to Boney on arriving at the battle of Marengo at lunchtime and surveying Boney's morning efforts: -
"This battle is completely lost." Crestfallen expression on Boney's face. Looks at watch. Pulls sabre from scabbard. "But there's still time to win another".
Thankfully for Boney, Desaix gave his life in the winning of the battle of Marengo in the afternoon - and Boney trousered the credit.
Who will "win it back in the afternoon" and sacrifice their political career for Blighty? Look who's back asking the question ...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/16/theresa-may-brexit-cant-be-done
Where's the balls and brains when you need 'em? C'mon Blighty, from out of the fog of war, will someone please emerge, glance at their watch, and draw their effing sabre.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Monday, 16 October 2017 at 21:19
Lordy, you know Blighty's lead Brexit negotiator must be a tit when even the DT calls him out and takes the piss ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/17/david-davis-had-cunning-plan-brexit-fear-may-have-spotted-flaw/
Jeez that really is bad.
And here's Dipso-Davis and Junck-the-Drunk staggering around and hugging each other ...
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/867420/Brexit-news-UK-David-Davis-Jean-Claude-Juncker-Theresa-May-meeting-EU-video
What exactly are they so exuberant about, do you think? Apart from being on the wrong end (or right end) of a shed load of top quality booze paid for by you and me.
I wonder how long this relentless national humiliation can go on before someone or something calls a halt?
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Tuesday, 17 October 2017 at 23:58
Aha, all about calling a halt, about facing, and having at 'em again ...
https://www.ft.com/content/29476034-abab-3b61-9d75-75dc88eb76b0
All we need is a Desaix - someone with balls and brains prepared to sacrifice their political career but who might "win back a morning battle lost in the afternoon".
That person would live in the nation's heart, soul, and mind in the same place as Churchill and Thatcher forever.
Someone must surely be tempted for that glory soon.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Thursday, 19 October 2017 at 14:03