'Understanding Germany' is like trying to 'understand Ukraine' - or any other country: not easy for…

1.) Everybody thinks countries like Germany, Austria etc. are 'free of corruption'. Actually, we have some of most politically corrupt…

'Understanding Germany' is like trying to 'understand Ukraine' - or any other country: not easy for a foreigner.

1.) Everybody thinks countries like Germany, Austria etc. are 'free of corruption'. Actually, we have some of most politically corrupt governments on this planet: in essence, all are working for one or more of our own oligarchs. No politician here has the power to 'remove' the influence of any of our oligarchs.

In German (and Austrian) governance, it's the _form & relations_ that matter, not the result. I.e. everything must be done strictly according to laws and regulations, BUT also in agreement with all the possible 'friends within the governing circles of interest' (see: political parties and stakeholders'). That costs (immense) volumes of time and money - because our oligarchy and politicians have taken great care to keep our politics non-transparent (and that for decades already).

Changing/reforming this is taking time (and money) - even more so if a large segment of one or another political party is tied to Putin for commercial reasons, or expecting Putin to 'liberate the World of Western imperialism' (yes, plenty of people here are THAT stupid), in another.

Means: no 15 Scholzs could change the way specific decisions in Germany are taken and executed (and the situation in Austria, for example, is completely hopeless). Moreover, one can't expect Scholz to reform both the Bundeswehr and the German defence sector in a matter of days. Finally: one can't expect him to just let the defence sector 'take over' the German foreign policy, like successive US presidents have permitted the US defence sector to do, since 1950s - because that defence sector is linked to the CDU/CSU, which is currently in opposition. Besides, even if, what would that change? As explained in my feature, the same CDU/CSU has disarmed Germany, but is now the primary source of all the histeria about 'Scholz is braking'.

As next... its the way Germans (and Austrians) think.... at least the majorit of them (and us): after two World Wars, they (and we) have decided they (and we) do not want to fight wars any more. Alone explaining people here that they (and we) have to be ready to fight if necessary - was a major 'reform' of the politics.

....and all of that is still 'just the tip of an iceberg' - and then the one in Germany (and in Austria, which, traditionally, is always heavily influenced by Germany).

There's exactly the same - or an even worse - situation in France, in Italy, etc., etc. NOTHING here can be done 'in a matter of days', and be sure, the buerocracy alone is going to take care this never to change.

2.) You say (essentially), 'this shouldn't mean we must accept this embarrassing mediocrity and low calibre people at the highest positions of power'....

I'm in immediate agreement with you. BUT, if 'we' should not, then tell me: why are 'we' then constantly electing dictator populists who are dismantling our democracies and pluralism?

(See Hungary, a week ago, see France....sigh... see the Austrian government of the last three years... or, and worst of all: see what' s going on in the USA at least since early 1970s...)

Why are 'we' letting the oligarchy hand-pick 'people's representatives' - for us?

With other words: if 'we' want reforms, we have to take care to pick the right people, too - and not let anybody else do that for us. If 'we' all the time elect populists instead... well: don't complain about the lack of creativity, ideas, and solutions.