What Do You Think of your Government?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I do not like the new government. Well, in fact I believe that we did not have a good one since the 70ies.

S hasn't really done much for me. I hope Angie will be better. She does show a bit of promise, you have to admit that.

She made a good performance on the international stage.

Yes. One of the reasons I think she'll do OK. But, I suppose the S did stand up about Iraq...ah well.

Instead she gives money to increase economy; foolish, every cancler tried it and it never worked.

Yup. But hey, there's a first time for everything.

She has no clue how to fight unemployment or solve the problems with the health system.

I agree with you there. But that was also a problem under S, at least for my family. And we're pretty well off.

Why increasing budget for defense? I see no threat (besides the US).

Well, German troops are a major force around the world, especially peacekeeping and in Afghanistan. We probably do have enough, or close to enough, going to the military, but it's still not very much.

I am very proud that my country is still strong although we do not have good politicians (or industry leaders or union leaders ...)

Yes, yes indeed. The Weimar Republic trained us.



Anyway, I said she's OK. I didn't say she's the heroine of all mankind...

[InsaneApache]

Ah yes, that's it. It all goes into training up northerners to do the jobs that were being done really efficiently until all the workers in London were fired. And employing pointless extra clerks in the NHS, who aren't medically trained, so end up actually making the paper work worse.

That's Northist that is!!

Now I feel oppressed (yeah right!) .....

Seriously though, it seems as though our social fabric is being rent apart by these cack-handed attempts by Blair to achieve a 'legacy'.

Roll on Brown.

[Fragony]

There are a few good people but our government is just too big. A lot of money gets wasted on useless commisions and prestige-projects. Basicly they are being payed to pretend to disagree on small details, playing politician they are. Those are the ones in charge, and then there is the opposition who oppose just because they disagr* I mean are the opposition.

[Husar]

Well, German troops are a major force around the world, [..]

Yeah, this time we pretend to be peaceful, maybe it will work this time, but pshhht...

[Franconicus]

Well, German troops are a major force around the world, especially peacekeeping and in Afghanistan. We probably do have enough, or close to enough, going to the military, but it's still not very much.

I do not know where this will lead us. We as well as other Western countries have peace keeping troops everywhere. And nowhere is really peace. There is no plan how to end it. When will the troops return from the Balkans, when from Afghanistan? Our politicians send our soldiers without a real plan. They will stay there for decades. And more and more new areas are added. Kongo? What the hell are we doing there? There is no plan at all. Just the wish to do something. In the end all our countries will overstretch their resources, having soldiers spread all over the world. But no peace.

Look at the US. They will stay in Iraq for a very long time. This will block so many resources that they cannot afford to have another big military conflict.

[Husar]

Franconicus, I think it makes out troops realise what the army is.
They shouldn´t just join the army to get a job and sit around in Germany all day long, driking beer and enjoying their free time, it´s an army!
As peacekeepers they sit around as well, but at least there is some danger and they need to be aware of threats, I´d see that as a compromise between sitting around at home and real combat, plus it makes a few places on this world more secure.
Hollywood always says if you just change a little bit on this world, you already make a difference. I think it applies in this case. Though if you want to make peace and leave, our soldiers need to chase the criminals in the countries they are guarding.
And I don´t think you can compare that to the US in Iraq, I didn´t know we hire private companies for millions of Euros to secure those places.

[Ja'chyra]

At best, apathetic.

This is not just directed at Labour but at politicians in general, they all seem to have forgoteen that they are civil servants, here to serve the public, and all seem to be more interested in furthering their own and their parties interests. The money for titles scandal is an ideal example, and I'm not niaive enough to think that the other parties wouldn't have done the same.

All in all I think they send too much time trying to get people to vote for them when, if they simply served the people as best they could, the votes would naturally follow. I also hate the secrets, again I know that they are sometimes necessary, but if they want to go to war they shouldn't tell us half a story and spin it their way, they should simply present their case and let us decide, we're not idiots you know, well, most of us anyway

I also think, on a local level, that the elected representatives should reflect the views of the areas they represent, too often their votes seem to be dictated by party leaders or traded away for favours. Once again I know this is sometimes necessary, but, they should be open with the people they represent and held accountable for their decisions.

One thing I really hate is when politicians are allowed to resign from posts, for whatever reason, before they are sacked and then given another post 6 months later when they think we have forgotten As a civil servant I would be sacked and a note put on my record to ensure I wasn't re-hired in the future.

Think that's it for now, I'm sure someone will ridicaule most of the things, and maybe for good reason, but these are my opinions. Sorry I can't give you all back the 2 minutes of your life it took to read this

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I do not know where this will lead us. We as well as other Western countries have peace keeping troops everywhere. And nowhere is really peace. There is no plan how to end it. When will the troops return from the Balkans, when from Afghanistan? Our politicians send our soldiers without a real plan. They will stay there for decades. And more and more new areas are added. Kongo? What the hell are we doing there? There is no plan at all. Just the wish to do something. In the end all our countries will overstretch their resources, having soldiers spread all over the world. But no peace.

Look at the US. They will stay in Iraq for a very long time. This will block so many resources that they cannot afford to have another big military conflict.

You seem to have made a counterpoint against yourself...this is why we need a larger military budget. Because we're not going to pull out anytime soon.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

USA: poop

[Kagemusha]

I have mixed feelings of my Government.While we are little nation.We have our problems like everyone else has. the Taxes are large but then we get free education for all,free medical services and pensions and Unemployment fees.So the government in optimal is the will of us all and provides every citicen a safety net.After all someone wise sayed once that the measurement of Society is how it takes care of its not so fortunate ones.While it gives us lot it also makes us do much.The majority of EU´s Eastern border is Finlands border against Russia. We have mandatory military service or civil service that in war time wont exclude those that serve as civil servants. We have saying that its a lottery win to born in Finland,but many of our fore fathers moved to Sweden and USA in hope for better life. We have three major parties instead two like most countries.The Social Democrats,The Center party and the National gathering party that is the right winfg liberal party.
I think that the world is changing and we just have to adopt to it like everyone else.Like myself,most of us dont belong to any party and we vote based on issues rather then political dogmas.Here are not enough children compared to elder people but after all the Finno Ugrians were in Europe before the Indo Europeans came in.I disagree on many issues with my Government,but i think in Democracy the people get the government they voted for.So in the end im quite happy to my Government but then in some issues im not.

[Incongruous]

Blair is an idiot. His creation of all this beurocracy is amazing in its stupidity.
He is stripping away common rights of British citizens with this new Id crap. He is my worst nightmare, Adolf Hitler without a scrotum is our Tony.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

I think Bush may have brainwashed him ^^^

[Franconicus]

You seem to have made a counterpoint against yourself...this is why we need a larger military budget. Because we're not going to pull out anytime soon.

No! I think it is nothing but wishful thinking that Western armies can make peace all over the world. It did not work and it will not. Even if you have as many sldiers as the US. Instead of making peace your soldiers become the target of agression.

[InsaneApache]

Blair is an idiot. His creation of all this beurocracy is amazing in its stupidity.
He is stripping away common rights of British citizens with this new Id crap. He is my worst nightmare, Adolf Hitler without a scrotum is our Tony.

Possibly, but old Adolf only had a half of one.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

No! I think it is nothing but wishful thinking that Western armies can make peace all over the world.It did not work and it will not. Even if you have as many sldiers as the US. Instead of making peace your soldiers become the target of agression.

Yes, I agree with that. I've been speaking out against Iraq, for example, on these forums for a long time. But as long as our troops remain in there, they need money. I'm not saying have a radical budget like the Americans (that scares me, to be frank), but at least an average budget would help our forces out considerably, IMO.

[Viking]

I am mainly pleased by our relatively newly elected center-left goverment. That said, I don`t like that the Socialistic Left(SV) got into this goverment, but without them, the the center-right would`ve won, so i`m not sure what to say.