Joona wrote:...
I usually avoid politics here among this happy loony moon nazi brother- and sisterhood, but haven't some learned ANYTHING from nazis and stalinists? Or then again maybe some harebrained journo has come up with bit too funky a header from his ass. Yes, Occam's razor tells me so.
...
One shouldn't take this problem too serious. Despicable as it may be, we've seen the same pattern everytime Germany has been hit by an economic crisis. Now, after the reunifacation and the following collapse of the East German economy (which was no match for the long-established capitalist economy of the west after having suffered 45 years of socialist planned economy) and, most importantly, in 1933, when the great depression proved to be the primary reason among many for Hitler's rise to power (OK, that one ended really, really, reeaally bad for almost everyone, but at least most of us have learned not to believe bullshit like that ever again.*). The same pattern can be seen in every civilization throughout history, from the end of the Golden Age of Islam (there are, of course, earlier examples, but none come to my mind right now) up to the populist "Tea Party" nutjobs of today. That's human nature - sad but true.
Furthermore we are experiencing an increasing divide between conservatives and liberals all over the world. The digital revolution has introduced a rate of change to our civilization that has not been seen since the industrial revolution of the 19th century. As a result, conservative hardliners are radicalizing all over the world in defence against a new age they don't understand and/or don't want to understand. Other factors, such as the fall of inner-european borders, only contribute to this (Anyone remeber the old times when travel documents were required just to get from one European country to another? It seems absoluty ridiculous in retrospect!).
With the current economic boom Germany is experiencing right wing radicalism and populism are on the decline once more. Other topics, such as the increasing discrepancy between the conservative government's politics and the people's will, are slowly replacing other topics like immigration (not counting the occational terror alert to keep the masses obedient). Even Thilo Sarrazin, who either proved that you don't need brains to rise to a high political office or pulled the greatest political hoax of the year just to earn enough money for two lifetimes, is no longer a popular topic of political discussions. There will, of course, always be a certain fraction of the people who will cling to intolerance, right wing radicalism and other forms of idiocy (and I can't help but pity them for their ignorant existence), but unless our economy (or any other pillar of our civilization) collapses they won't be a real threat.
And now, fellow members of the loony moon nazi brother- and sisterhood, to use Joona's very own words, I invite you to shoot away at my theory. I'll be happy to return fire.
* Though I can't help to think that once in a while a short intermezzo with a Führer would be really helpful to remind certain people of why democracy is so bloody important...
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it."
