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0 sats \ 5 replies \ @optimism 11h \ parent \ on: We think it's a conspiracy, it's much worse. It's a consensus! West got it wrong Politics_And_Law
I'm not entirely sure what you feel "a lot of people" means. I don't know anyone that would deny that there are severe issues. The disagreement is, to stay with hyperbole, "we should help people" versus "they can fuck right off". The longer it takes to fix issues, the more people will end up in the latter camp. Not because they aren't morally aligned with helping people, but because they feel incapable of helping, especially when they themselves aren't being helped either.
AfD is more popular in the US than in Germany - at least where I voted.
I don't know what I mean by "a lot of people" either.
Probably what I mean is that, within my own professional circles, I 100% feel like there are certain things I cannot say without professional risk---and suggesting any causal relationship between immigration and social problems is one of those things. Even if it's just for the sake of discussion, without landing on any particular policy solution.
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I think that we need to be careful of taboos interfering with practicality, but if you want to adhere to German Basic Law then it's hard to make a point that there is something different than equality, or single people out based on their race, religion or beliefs.
I honestly think that absolute equality for the law is a great thing. I can think of some places where racial profiling is no longer taboo, and this is imho awful. Your race doesn't decide whether you're a good person.
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The idea that rules and laws can stop people from making assumptions is laughable. Prejudice is not good but it's also inherently something everyone has and does. Doing so on race or national origin is bad but also if we are honest impossible to eliminate. Often trying to eliminate something leads to outcomes as bad as what you are trying to prevent. Which I think is one of Reno's core ideas. By saying never again you almost are guaranteed to have it again. Regardless of the philosophy behind this it's pretty easy to see his book was pretty spot on in describing what is happening the years following it.
My main question that has raised by another man is if not nation, what does a diverse people in a country unit around. These countries no longer have common faith or nationality. I have to admit, the ideal of liberal values is a weak god and one that seems doomed to fail as it seems to be failing the post war west.
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In the context of political parties, lets hope they stick to the constitution.
I do think that you're confusing support for the government with national identity, similarly to the video. People will not volunteer into a meat grinder for some politician that got 30% support just because they are the least worst option. I think that the more danger is perceived, the better these numbers will look like. AfD is not championing the alternative for Germany to merge with France; on the contrary.
The problem is the same everywhere: politicians don't have much authority in a connected world because they cannot narrate falsehoods all the time anymore, like they have for millennia, because they'll get fact checked and destroyed - even if they are right; someone will just make up a viral lie. This is why in authoritarian regimes you have the firewall; rulers won't survive without it, the same like democratic governments are a mess now. Blame the internet.
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I get the difference between government(political party) and nation(cultural identity) but unless the current government falls to one a plurality supports the outcome seems the same. I had the same problem in the US. I have always loved the nation but there was no way I was going to sign up to do what Clinton, Bush, or Obama would tell me to do.
In the US there isn't such a separation of nation(people) and government. Most more liberal and libertarians are not flag wavers and many seem to despise traditional American values. Not sure how it is in Germany. For all his flaws Trump has attracted the support of most of the people that are proud of America.
I disagree with Reno on several things but I think his predictions are directionally correct. I'm totally for free markets and zero state but I do not see that happening in my lifetimes and maybe never.
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