Yanis Varoufakis on Angela Merkel’s Legacy, European Politics & the “Sordid Arms Race” on the Seas

The center-left Social Democratic Party in Germany has narrowly claimed victory in an election that marks an end to the 16-year era of Angela Merkel’s conservative chancellorship. We look at what this means for Europe and the world with Yanis Varoufakis, a member of the Greek Parliament and the former finance minister of Greece. The SDP’s narrow victory should be viewed critically, says Varoufakis, noting that the party “ruthlessly” practiced austerity in 2008 and 2009. “Not much has changed,” Varoufakis says. “It’s not as if an opposition party won.”
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[@justsomebloke6784]

He is a man that understands our times, many governments would benefit from his wisdom. Also, Another Now is a great read.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Yes, I wonder how many refugees he has living in his house?

[@justsomebloke6784]

@@zoomzoom3950 That is a foolish 'gotcha' question. He has in fact worked very hard to facilitate refugee status for thousands of people, even though not on a personal basis. Someone in his position who travels widely and tries to negotiate on behalf of suffering people probably does not have the time to open his home to refugees even if the legislation in his country did allow him to do so, which it does not. What have you done?

[@7sArts]

OMG, the video of the coast guard frigate trying to sink the rubber raft is insane. A clear violation of the maritime laws.

[@TheRedland284]

@@zoomzoom3950 Why do you only focus on how many refugees rather than what caused those people to be refugees at the first place?

[@07Flash11MRC]

And they could, if they ever listened to him. Instead they prefer robbing us average people blind.

[@michaeldentzer7475]

He’s absolutely right. As a German, nothing will change. Some cosmetic variation of the same

[@gargos25]

Yanis, you're the best! You speak truth, even if it endangers your career or life.

[@Mortum_Rex]

I highly respect him, but he should also mention these rich fucking Arab countries not talking in any of their own people. Why is no one talking about that?

[@O-.-O]

He is a millionaire, he doesn't work.

[@EnlightenedSavage]

I always love what yanis has to say.

[@wbafc1231]

Thank you Yanis for cutting through the nonsense. SPD, DSU, Greens are one and the same on the issues that impact people's lives.

[@andreaerling7614]

@@JohnMoran Forget "Die Linke" with the exception of Sarah Wagenknecht. Greetings from Germany.

[@joeheck116]

@@andreaerling7614 Forget Sarah Wagenknecht and support "Die Linke". Wagenknecht is fishing in Corona-conspiracies, cultural-Marxism-conspiracies and racism right now. Without factual value of course, but I know of many leftist votes "Die Linke" lost because of Wagenknecht during this election.

[@effexon]

@@JohnMoran is there proper communist party in germany? perhaps Linke is "regular left party".... I read 1920s communists were popular in germany. So along greens there should be support, I understood Hartz reform created new working poor class so logical choice would be there. As I understood, visited germany 2002 and 2004, there is "K-shaped" divide in youth, urban educated successful vote greens like anywhere else but others, not as fortunate have wide range of options, some for AfD, tho it isnt as good,viable as in some other countries populist, right parties could be. Hungary they were very skillful no matter what opionion have. Austria is more stormy, fast changes can happen in politics vs germany, due to size. But now Im not sure what will happen, I dont see green ideology solution for everything, tho good details there. Germany needs reforms badly, bureacracy is one.

[@jonassanoj3045]

@@joeheck116 what conspiracies are you taking about? and excuse my scepticism, but Sarah Wagenknecht never struck me as racist at all. what are you basing that statement on?

[@jonny2900]

@@jonassanoj3045 she's not but she has criticized her party for focusing on issues of supporting immigration and gender issues instead of real working class issues, which is a fair criticism in my opinion

[@mombasa7]

When this man speaks my brain expands! Wonderful understanding of the hypocrisy in Europe!

[@kaliskunkog2255]

Hypocrisy only matters for people with principles and integrity. The West and brainwashed citizens have none.

[@solidarity8388]

Misogynistic racist bigot detected. You should listen to a woman of color speak if you want to expand your mind, but I think you made it obvious that you have no mind. Black Lives Matter! ✊✊✊

[@space.youtube]

@@solidarity8388 Oh I see what you're up to, you cynical pos.

[@mombasa7]

@@space.youtube This is why peope start becoming racist! I'm African by the way! I'm not going to take the bait😀😀😀

[@davidzz4307]

Calm down people, or I’ll let trump out.

[@georgesais8687]

Thank you Yanis, I was thinking here in lock-down Sydney Australia what you would have thought of the Submarine fiasco and you answered it. I am also in agreement with one of our ex Prime ministers Paul Keating who stated that with this deal we could lose our sovereignty. What a mess! P S Yanis was right about Julian Assange, they are trying to kill him slowly. What a world we live in.

[@brehgankage6242]

Im always impressed by the clear insights and thoughts of Varoufakis. A true leftist intellectual.

[@solidarity8388]

Is this a joke? How is a white supremacist "a true leftist intellectual" ?

[@space.youtube]

@@solidarity8388 What? : I

[@AudioPervert1]

Here is a thing about Yanis Varoufakis. His party DiEM is constantly heckling subscribers to donate, pay and show solidarity for a totally flawed agenda. Yanis is a new-age capitalist who think green technology will save the world and his pathetic motherland totally dependent on tourism - Wow Greece and F&&K Yanis. Angela Merkel is whatever she is. Worshipped by simple minded liberals - Yet she too is a capitalist, with a wee bit more empathy than the other thugs of EU. After all Germany awarded more than 4million refugees with permanent residency, during Merkel's reign - when we see next door Hungary and Poland not even get 10% of that number. Bureacracy Now has to amplify the echo-chamber of pseudo morality and faux social justice as usual.

[@jacktenrec63]

@@AudioPervert1 LOL dude stfu

[@katastrafika5253]

@@solidarity8388 he definitely isn’t a WS He’s a liberal buffoon that ruined my country

[@guvencagil]

Solid podcast. Very informative and Yanis Varoufakis is very eloquent. Thanks to both Amy and Yanis.

[@Happy-uy5wc]

Thank you again for your continued commitment to excellence in journalism.

[@omniamericana2172]

Except for pushing Russiagate and shallow woke’ism

[@WilliamGreen]

The first words out of his mouth, " Let's stop hyperventilating" . 👏

[@GrandmaCathy]

Ah, just like the U.S. Socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for everyone else.

[@NoWay1969]

Only much harsher here. By American standards, Merkel is a full bore communist. She's left of Biden and arguably left of Bernie Sanders. Certainly, Germany under Merkel is left of anything Sanders has proposed here.

[@letsomethingshine]

rugged individualism? I thought it was rugged self-selling through debt accumulation and paying interest.

[@abraxas1983]

when Europeans read US americans comments about politics: 🤯

[@SMMInterexpress]

@@NoWay1969 That is why USA is a Republic.

[@NoWay1969]

@@SMMInterexpress What does it being a "republic" have to do with anything?

[@jvs333]

This man’s intellectual understanding of events is greatly appreciated

[@robertmiller2173]

OK

[@klipkultur2951]

I love listening to Yanis.

[@solidarity8388]

Because you're a bigot

[@50_Pence]

@@solidarity8388 y

[@veitdalee4810]

just one small correction: German SocDems put austerity measures in place in Germany in 2003 not 2009, when they were the leading party the last time under Gerhard Schröder.

[@luperamos7307]

That is true. I don't know how it worked before, but they effectively vilified the poor while liberalizing financial markets. It was a coalition with the green party if I am not mistaken. They passed things not even the right wing parties could have passed.

[@jerkyderphurr]

Richtig. Was about to post it.

[@kevintewey1157]

It's been getting worse and worse but for years USA homeless have an income that is about 40% of that required not to live on the street

[@kevintewey1157]

Us Social Security Disability or retirement check $750 $12,000 a year the cost to keep a roof over your head 24 to $35,000 a year

[@karlcarlsen9664]

@@luperamos7307 But the right-wing parties wer still in favor of that reforms

[@aibekesenov2289]

Sehr gute Darstellung und hochinteressante Inhalte. danke für Ihre wertvolle Arbeit

[@kunalpareek8321]

Varoufakis is always a pleasure to listen to

[@friskedmooo9369]

THANKS for the very first sentence Yanis. Indeed not much has changed. As someone who lives in Germany I find it very irritating when the SPD is portrait as this leftist-proworker force. Yeah maybe that's historically true but most certainly not for the last 20-30 years. The SPD is along with the CDU responsible for all sorts of neoliberal policies in Germany and the EU

[@h0wud0in1]

SPD has completely turned leoliberal and an instrument of the Banks

[@kaavi1391]

If people wanted a radicle left wing government they would have voted for die linke . But people know that only brings poverty and stagnation.

[@h0wud0in1]

@@kaavi1391 Die Linke is not 'extreme' it's just a lukewarm promise of some type of social democracy. But i guess neoliberalism does not bring the problems og poverty and stagnation? Maybe for the banks an even for them untill there is a crisis, so they can be bailed out by taxpayer money. People are going to vote in unions and on the streets soon enough...

[@crazyhorsetrading8655]

Yanis again thank you for your insights. People share this video far and wide, in fact there are a few of his videos that should be circulated. By sharing we can hopefully enlighten the snoozing. Major change starts with a whisper.

[@Ukiyo-e-sama]

I like Varoufakis but what he says about "green transition", the germans want to do that but the math doesn't check out. Where should the energy come from if coal and nuclear are gone? That is a big question mark. In the end Germans will have to return to nuclear. I disagree with him on the refugee issue: Europe cannot receive all the refugees of the world.

[@lucasgrey9794]

The Greens work for American state department and their goal is the utter crippling of Germany into a kind of disney land and outpost for U.S interests.

[@GrandmaCathy]

I have read that Germany uses almost entirely renewable energy. Is that not true? Thanks.

[@lucasgrey9794]

@@GrandmaCathy Half of their energy comes from COAL. Renewable energy is a SCAM.

[@jamisonyoung1586]

I’m living here in Czech.. it seems through this view, that it’s difficult in Czech for Czech companies to put products on shelves of German supermarket chains, yet logistics centres here mostly owned by German based multinationals are popping up like mushrooms. Soaking up much of the lower cost labour.. is this the legacy of Merkel?

[@kamaurahamukti5919]

Thank you, dear Yanis 🙏🏽

[@Gebetino]

What most people outside the EuroZone don't fully appreciate, is that the EZ has de facto no Central Bank. Taxpayers need to bail out states - hence the highest rates of savings and complete lack of meaningful investments.

[@i2ndsight]

France: France 🇫🇷, please relax and just make an equal deal to build us more trains and busses. We all love your public transportation equipment.

[@green2stayecoswdmarketingn339]

Your lucky France you have been evicted from the "Idiots Club" traditional warfare means nothing in the age of navigation software jamming tech and hacking 🤔

[@realzachfluke1]

The United States government and the American people would do well to seek out this man's wisdom.

[@ginamitembe8935]

Simply love Tanis 👍💙 he talks TRUTH and lots of sense!🌍

[@thefakenewsnetwork8072]

Long live freedom and democratic communism

[@jafarsamarrai1999]

“Another Now” indeed comrade? How about helping the Syrian workers by not arming and hoarding Islamic mercenaries by the European countries-NATO- if I remember correctly?

[@erhardt1477]

Well… As a social democrat, here in Germany 🇩🇪 myself, I mostly agree with what Yanis is saying … Minor twitches … Germans are by their very Nature, risk avoiders … I will not get into the psychology details as to WHY that is, let’s just say that others country’s around Europe are much more willing to throw out a sitting government or have their country up in arms, so to speak, about any number of issues. Like the French for example, wich Germans secretly admire for that, by the way … However… As far as the leading candidates for the ruling party’s at the moment, the CDU and the SPD … have to do the trick as to implement change, or signal their voters a willingness for change, but not as much as to scare them away… Besides the fact that any federal government in Germany does not have as much influence on general policy terms, unlike any other European government… because of our decentralization of power… THX to WW2 … In fact some argue that we almost always have a grand coalition because the sixteen states PLUS the federal government have constant battles about laws and influence… and the individual States are very protective of their constitutional powers. That is somewhat mitigated on the international stages, where the federal government has sole responsibility, but even THAT changed couple of years ago … when NOBODY was making a fuss, in a election cycle about foreign policy’s until that is … until a social democrat, G. Schröder made the point, in a election year of not getting into the quagmire that was the Irak 🇮🇶 war … and the opposing conservatives lost that election. So as you can clearly see … it is not as clear cut and easy … is it anywhere … not easy to talk about a country and determine it’s politics from the outside view… nevertheless… Yanis insights are always welcome since a OUTSIDE view, makes it clear to insiders who can’t see the forest, because of all the trees 🌳 Keep up the good work you folks doin … 👍 Even so I don’t always agree … I will always listen what you have to say… Stay safe and … get the „shot“ …👋

[@mudslinger888]

Amy the audio issue is not so much with skype as it is the usual: speaker phone instead of a mic, echo chamber room instead of a soft room. Many people like you and Yanus simply talk far too fast for the electronics, so WE suffer. I wish you would take this to heart for once…

[@knightalexius593]

Excellent idea to ask Varoufakis who has first-hand knowledge of the power-conscious and ruthless real Merkel who is a far cry from the media Merkel.

[@36cmbr]

Mr. V! Respect, sir.

[@o236sama]

guuuurrrlllllll !! Katya sent me here ! u wud not believe what she said. the shade !!!

[@GrandmaCathy]

I can't believe this is happening in Europe too.😱

[@luperamos7307]

Well, look at their location. They are literally bordering Africa and the Middle East. And they have a super high population density. To out this into perspective, we would need 1.5 billion inhabitants here to get close to theirs. They really don't have space. We just act as if we don't.

[@michaelgnit8476]

As a Canadian I always held Europe above America as it's older and has a colorful history and I thought they would act independently from America and I was wrong.

[@starcrib]

Yes- way wrong indeed. Thanks for getting your head out of the sand. 🌬🕯🌐

[@buzifalus]

Europe independence after WW2 is only an illusion by Hollywood-US-CIA. The internationlists are not planning to let any country in the "old world" to show a hint of being strong or independent and all the important decrees are directed by the one-economy directors, using the USA as the arms.

[@markus539]

Varoufakis is just a professor sitting in his ivory tower. He has no real solutions.

[@ronnydiehl7262]

Of course she has her 'pragmatism '. The austerity has allowed the German economy to prosper and invest in the green future like no other country apart from a few. And you cannot allow millions more people into EU - the one million Was already enough to swallow. It's exactly that pragmatism that allowed her to rule for that long and must Germans liked her for that.

[@sallymartin6184]

Thank you

[@tomtom2806]

Many people do not understand or do not want to understand that membership in the Eurozone is a legal obligation to observe certain stability and financial rules, including the ban for the ECB on public financing, compliance with debt limits, and the no bailout clause. Austerity is a consequence of legal binding rules of the Eurozone.

[@tomtom2806]

@Sean Hogan The Irish ECB chief economist Philip R. Lane is going on to support money printing like confetti, to produce inflation, and finally destroying the Euro system. He ignores common rules which do not allow public financing by buying governments bonds like crazy.

[@jvcyt298]

I guess that it's the same, no matter where you are, so we're all screwed.

[@logic52]

The real problems of our herds called politicians is that they don't know whom they are. That they are public not private agents. So, they should defend the general public including public companies, including public banks and all other publicly supply services, like health, education, electricity, water, transports, etc. But, in capitalist based world, the public governors/politicians oppositely defend firstly the private Vis a vis the public. It shows that even apparently they are public and receive public salary, but in reality they are private politicians work a small group and they live more from what receive from the private sector. Or in the best case, just corrupt public politician who receive public salaries but, throw abuse of power, receive bribes from the private minority sector.

[@GhostOnTheHalfShell]

Question: why or how does the US have any say in what military gears is sold internally between EU members, or is the deal under aegis of NATO?

[@brianwheeldon4643]

Thanks Yanis. Your common good sense is an inspiration. Let's hope and keep working towards the change in system that's desperately needed before it's too late to mitigate the worst of the climate and environmental crisis. I think this is what it must have felt like living in the last decades of the decaying Roman empire.

[@robertbrandywine]

Without the help of China and India, anything other countries do will not accomplish much.

[@naalsocomment9449]

It is international law saying refugee status is only applicable until the next save country. Otherwise people would travel across the world and use it to settle in the country of their choice... wait they actually do. Since 2015, more people applied for asylum in EU than people live in Slovakia... and significantly more people came than there are citizens of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia combined. Maybe 4 more years and we can populate Greece with them.

[@jafarsamarrai1999]

How come there is no word about the role of NATO in the creation of the Syrian mayhem?

[@robertbrandywine]

What about Israel? They helped create ISIS.

[@giwrgoshmm9430]

its always the nato man..

[@SpicyTake]

This guy was good!

[@gabrielacobian9137]

Finance minister AND vice chancellor. An EXCELLENT interview. Thanks.

[@fuckbankers]

Yanis Rocks ✊

[@Grappapappa]

Who the Fakis takes this guy seriously?

[@chrisingram5554]

Is it not true that the first millions of refugees who entered Western countries came with $; not so since then.

[@IBMSystemsEngineer]

To understand Yanis' ideas is to understand Cuba and Venezuela's marxist demise.

[@blafonovision4342]

There has always been an arms race on the seas, much more so than the lands.

[@2894031]

Next to Dr. Wagenknecht he is Europe’s best left thinker (which means of course the best thinker period) 👍

[@johnnyboyvan]

Bullseye 🎯 a year later! He knew what he was talking about. Well done, handsome.

[@AliAhmed-rt7ts]

Love Yanis.

[@user-vo1ft9vn2n]

Run 2024 here in States. We all vote for you...

[@robertbrandywine]

Don't you have to be a U.S. citizen?

[@davidwilkie9551]

As he began his assessment, "Nothing is changed", because it's always NOW, only the perceptions flip from one side of the Right-Left paradox of the blame game.

[@GrandmaCathy]

Best guy ever!!!!!!

[@zoomzoom3950]

Yes, I wonder how many refugees he has living in his house?

[@kunaljain712]

Ich heise München!

[@ThomasHalways]

I do not think that Mr. Varoufakis is an expert on German politics, and clearly he holds grudge due to the austerity measures imposed on the Greek government. His opinions seem to be a classic beer-table rambling.

[@mrweasel]

Better to be specific with your criticism rather than just a vague critique. Nothing substantive, so not worth much.

[@logic52]

All such so called politicians, in Capitalist/Corporation economy, are just employees, docile recruited servers, for such corporates. So, they have no free vote, just fulfill the orders that down to them from their bosses/the big corporates, including the big banks. Policy is moral duty, only can and should be served by volunteers. Similar to the example of NGOs, Green Peace, frontierless doctors, etc. Policy neither profession nor should be paid, in money or salary. True honest service, only happens when such service be realized by volunteers.

[@hugonavakopp]

I love this guy, he's a genius that says things as they are. What I don't forgive of him, is that he killed Nairobi in Money Heist.

[@AndrewStamelakis]

looool

[@apostolossas4397]

HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAH! Good One

[@jacquejones96793]

Yanis is one of the greatest leaders of our time. If only men like him were in power right now. The world would be a better place to live in.

[@jeanhawken4482]

Interesting

[@huhummmmmmm]

Traditionally imperialist Turkey? Only Turkey? I think he's forgotten Greek history. And regarding the French deal, it's funny how it's always forgotten to mention that the US had pushed France to offer convential subs as opposed to nuclear powered ones and then swept in to provide nuclear subs themselves. Classic backstab and classic American.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

I remember the IMF squeezing the Greeks for loan repayments - 15 years ago? Creating havoc and suffering for Greece. How was that tragedy resolved? Or is it open ended? This is an interview from previous times. How would this interview be presented now, to include the Ukrainian/Russia War?

[@flamenqueantesthedodges6372]

Please 🙏🥺 Come Over our Country ✍️ Any Country will be blessed with your presence. But MEXICO NEEDS DR. YANIS VAROUFAKIS.🇬🇷🇲🇽❤️🇲🇽 Greek MESÍAS. 🐅😸🐈🌋🏔️🌋🏔️🛸🌋🏔️.

[@juliusaugustino8409]

Yanis

[@davidevans6618]

Money IS THE GOVERNMENT.

[@kgwal4760]

This is some ww1 type shit, the imperialist powers are fighting and trying to out maneuver each other. It’s gonna be a interesting decade💀

[@deborahhirsch3806]

Excellent analysis. Thanks for this Democracy Now.

[@aon10003]

It will be interesting to see how Germany survive this one.

[@Kannot2023]

You can't absorb you unemployed, so how can you absorb 1 million refugees? Who are also have different culture?

[@logic52]

Such capitalism/big corporates servers, so called politicians changing their policy from one day to another/even quicker than the light speed, from one extreme policy to the opposite, out of any logical reason. Only reason, is to defend the big corporates rule/dominance, taking in consideration the circumstances/population reactions, but within the only strategic goal of keep alive the capitalism. In America dominate the policy two big parties: Democratic/Center Left and Republican/Center Right. CENTER=CAPITALISM, is the common Victor between the two dominating parties which make them practically the same one/capitalist parties. Similar trick of two parties in one is. either faithfully/strategically applied in EU.

[@GrandmaCathy]

Yikes. Bad news.

[@markmaurer6370]

Remember the Austerity fad was based on an erroneous publication by a well respected economist. You can't completely forget that at the time, it was thought to be good policy. That doesn't mean that the critics were wrong to be in opposition at the time, but there was reason to believe that austerity was a good idea at the time. It's not like they were being intentionally cruel or hoping to realize only the downsides of the policy. But this is an outcomes based evaluation so Merkel has to accept the judgement

[@twilightcrush]

Yanis is on another level 🔥

[@Erwana1985]

The political left has another key problem (which Varoufakis has talked about earlier) - they cant stop fighting and arguing amongst each other. At the same time the right movement is much better at making alliances and cooperating for common goals. Why is it so? Why cant the left side of politics put their differences aside and create these strong alliances that the right wing are doing? Even the environmental organizations are arguing against each other - and they are almost 100% agreeing.

[@starcrib]

Yanis always has the pulse of reality with his stern voice, he understands all to well what has been the stink in "GREAT CHANGES" especially in the new SO CALLED German Government. 🌬🕯

[@kaninma7237]

Excellent and insightful interview. I always learn a lot from Varoufakis. Here is an observation made in response to part of the interview: In the US, the oligarchs who run the companies generally do not offer any degree of shared prosperity; and those who work for the companies there generally have no or quite poor health insurance. At least healthcare is holding up in Germany, despite all its austerity measures. The same goes for tuition free college. The US does not have it, while Germany still offers it to the world. There is a little more nuance to that, but the idea is close enough to make my point.

[@kaninma7237]

Note: I immigrated from the US, where I was born, to my central European ancestral homelands in my early 50s; and I have a far better life here than I did in the US. I am never going back.

[@robertbrandywine]

If you work for the government or a large corporation you have quite good health insurance in the U.S.

[@dietermaas]

The change, that can possibly come in Germany, once Merkel is actually out of the Kanzleramt, is that the grip of the chancellors office on public media via their black list of Merkel critics who are not supposed to have a say in the public is going to end, possibly, and so Merkel's "softauthoritarianism" could give way again to a more mature and wide ranging discussion in the German public.

[@martinheid9103]

Complete delusion. The german media is in the grip of US interests. It's the last bastion of transatlantic pro US advocates. That's why people like Blackrock-Merz and Christian Lindner are promoted and given platforms despite the lack of achievements or public interest/support and why US foreign policy lies iare endlessly propagated irrespective of german and european interests being damaged.

[@kulturfreund6631]

Much of Varoufakis’ critiques are justified. I never hear a word complaining about the Greek mismanagement that heavily contributed to the present misery there. Tax and EU-subsidy fraud is a common sport in Greece. Two thousand super rich Greek families own 70% of the national private wealth. They hide „their“ money in Switzerland or elsewhere. I never heard Varoufakis say a word about the homemade part of the problem.

[@kulturfreund6631]

P.S.: I heard elder men in rural Portugal say that the EU shouldn’t have helped Portugal and its political imposters at all in the crisis. Well, these old men of course were honorable men who grew up and worked already during the Salazar era, when the logic still was applied that you can only spend what you’ve earned.

[@stalin3725]

Yanis has started to look like Valdemort in Harry Potter -could this be his next career move?

[@Michelle_Wellbeck]

Funny that was just what I was thinking!

[@knowledgeispower6726]

Looks can be deceiving!

[@richardkatz8713]

Yanis!

[@petermanuel5043]

Thanks

[@fazaelma]

Merkel has such a good reputation !!! I don't understand why?? And yanis is right nothing much is changing.

[@GrandmaCathy]

OMG!!

[@cheshired.catastrophe86]

aaaand canada, canada is involved too

[@logic52]

The actual capitalist/professional so called election democracy, of 51% wining over 49%, is arbitrary system of democracy. Since, the 49% legitimately can ask democracy for whom? For the 51% for the 49%? Why isn't it/can't be called dictatorship of the 51% over the 49%? Answer it in one way or another, can't be except subjective/arbitrary. Which means yes/true and no/false at the same time. This, proves, why consider policy as profession and pay for it is wrong and never generally leads to genuine/neutral policy. The policy neither profession nor payable financially, so the only genuine way for that service is by volunteers.

[@robertbrandywine]

Dictatorships are considered permanent but with elections the 49% can become the 51%.

[@logic52]

@@robertbrandywine What is unacceptable as rule of democracy is the base of 51% Vs 49%. Why call it democracy instead of the dictatorship of 51% over 49%??? Both are just subjective words, who decide to call it democracy can call the opposite. The issue, is similar to professionalise/monetize what is not profession by definition. Policy, which refer to public, is Public Moral Duty. Only can't be uncorruptable if, as should be, held by volunteers without paying. Similar NGOs, Green Peace, No Frontier Doctors, etc. Even as now you already understood, it is not the point, regarding your comment 49% can rise to 51% by election. Of course, but elections can be manipulated in infinite ways as do in reality. Even dictators, mafias, etc., make, participate and win in Elections. The problem is professionalise, and monetize, what is not profession by own identity. Policy, sports, etc., are unprofessionalizable. The opposite only corruptd them, and along the time accumulate unresolvable chooses. Corrupts enter anywhere where there are money. And more especially in so easily profitable field like policy.

[@robertbrandywine]

@@logic52 I've had the thought that after public service, the leader of a country should be put out to pasture in a modest house, with no income allowed other than their government pension, but, of course, they'd find a way around that even if we had such a system.

[@logic52]

@@robertbrandywine You are speaking from the point of view of who live in capitalist system., where normally happens what you talk about. But, in different system, that I call honesty based political management + honesty based education system, everything will, yes or yes, working correspondingly. The issue is that things, like unattended cancer, have been left so long in bad hands, capitalist hand, that now speaking about fundamental change seems surrealism/Utopia. But, the cancer when more advances, needs more urgent/quick radical operation to irradiate it. If not the patient can't live anymore.

[@anyariv]

"Evil begets evil." "Shooting it, will only make it grow stronger." - The Fifth Element.

[@plinkfuture2557]

Your idea that the west responding to china’s annexing of and militarizing of other countries territory in the Indo-pacific by building military alliances and strength is laughable. Western power in the face of autocrats power is a necessary cost of protecting liberal democracy.

[@Jubafree]

It means we now pay 2 euro per liter gasoline

[@NoWay1969]

He sounds like Bernie Sanders discussing the Republicans, but in the US the "socialism for the bankers" and the harsh capitalism for working people is many degrees kinder to the bankers and harsher on the middle and working class.

[@MrMakabar]

Merkel and Sanders have very similar positions, so Yanis would be considered left of Marx by US standards.

[@space.youtube]

@@MrMakabar "....so Yanis would be considered left of Marx by US standards."? What does that even mean? Do you think there's a "US standard Marxism" and that "Marxism" is different depending on your geopolitical locale? If you think Merkel and Sanders' policy platforms are defined as "Marxist" you literally have no idea what you're talking about. This could be the single dumbest sentence I've read this year, and 2021 has been a great year for 'stoopid'.

[@MrMakabar]

@@space.youtube No it was a joke considering the USs biggest news television channel calling something like public health care or unemployment benefits communist. If you do that what do you use for somebody who actually wants to end capitalism and not just make it more human?

[@space.youtube]

@@MrMakabar Yeah I think I misunderstood your intention. Oops, sorry

[@NoWay1969]

@@space.youtube Um, perspective does matter, and yes, from a US perspective, most European politicians seem much further left because the US has drifted so far to the right over the last 40 years.

[@GrandmaCathy]

YEAH!!!!

[@benjamincollado2135]

We need more diversity or we'll still keep ppl of color, poor whites, minority & Hispanics poor Asian oppressed!!!

[@lucasgrey9794]

There is NOT a single successful "diverse" country on Earth. I support diversity and open borders for America because I DESPISE the U.S intensely.

[@BL-db6xt]

I trust Mr. Yanis Varoufakis is probably the best person to show us the good, the bad & the ugly of the global financial/economic affairs especially when it comes to the US/UK, Germany, China & the EU. Why he may well be the best person? Unlike many other economist Mr. Yanis Varoufakis' got a Master degree in mathematical statistics at University of Birmingham & a PhD in economics at Essex in UK. He lectured Economics in the Uni of Tech Sydney, Australia & was the Greek Finance Minister when Greece's nose was under the sea of debt caused by the US' GFC 2009. As the Greek Finance Minister he negotiated with an array of world top bankers, creditors, investors across the Atlantic & also with China.

[@jamesfox2857]

Thank You

[@SMMInterexpress]

16 years and then just somewhere in their mind this can't be called dictatorship years, just in Latin America.

[@jonassanoj3045]

I'm not a fan of merkel either, but how is it a dictatorship just because she's been chancellor for a long time? a dictatorship is about the degree of power concentrated in a single entity (by "entity" i mean a single person, party or other organization). neither merkel nor her party have held the sole power in germany at all. they didn't control parliament (they only held a majority through coalition with a rival party), or the courts, or the media. so how on earth could they be considered dictators? if you want an example of a dictatorship, look at russia.

[@barrywalsh7926]

Chancellor Merkel's decision to invite all were capable of making the journey (and paying people smugglers), had a decisive impact on the Brexit Referendum. The footage of migrants stream across Europe was a gift to the Leave side of the Brexit Referendum. Their slogan, "Take Back Control" gained traction.

[@tvgerbil1984]

Well, Britain's new slogan of "Take Back all the foreign HGV drivers" is not gaining much traction lately.

[@mrechbreger]

I doubt that he has economic competence to foresee what's coming up and what not. There are always people trying to stride their way. Merkel however has implemented some catastrophic laws for small business, and the european union has made those problems even bigger for upcoming businesses - let's talk about the WEEE. Another horror example for a so called democratic country is the public tv service in Germany - 8 billion EUR. It's not about 20 bucks here or there, it's about an 8 billion EUR institution installed by the German government and everyone has to pay even against their will. This is corruption at its finest stage - government backed. I live in eastern Asia - no we don't have anything like that but even better news than in Germany. Migration is another big issue - the European union should have created safety zones. The western countries have not solved any problems anywhere -- they have created more and more.... removing Saddam Hussein what did the world gain from that? Going to war in Afghanistan? Any really positive outcome? Not that things might have been good before but things end up absolutely worse.