Good comment on german reactions to the hurricane disaster:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/inte...372425,00.html

And here some responses, from Mr. Trittin's Inbox:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/inte...372434,00.html

Honestly, I find it scandalous how the Greens abuse this tragic incident for their election campaign.
But its good to know it wont save them. This government will be gone in less than 3 weeks.

Its europe, what do you expect.

Originally Posted by loki

This government will be gone in less than 3 weeks.

WTF, are you bringing back National Socialism or something? How do you know it's going to be gone in 3 weeks?

Damn freaking liberals. What do you expect from socialist Europe. Help, fat chance. Our friends and ally Israel has promised help and also has requested if they can send search and rescue units. That's a true ally, not like France or Germany. And to hell with the Greens. I hope that a conservative government wins the elections.

Originally Posted by Rabs

Its europe, what do you expect.

There are decent people in Europe too. I mean the comment I posted was published in the SPIEGEL, which is a traditionally left-left magazine. Even the editors there get furious over such cynical polemics

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

I hope that a conservative government wins the elections.

I hope so too. But it's become a neck-and-neck race lately in the surveys:



The black line are the conservatives (Christian Democratic Union), red are socialists (social democratic party), green are Greens , yellow are liberals (Free Democratic Party). Pink is the new left-left party which emerged from former socialist functionaries (who left the socialists because of their "neocon" agenda) and the GDR-nostalgia-commie-party (PDS) which is still strong in the east but non-existant in the west.

I hope there will be a CDU+FDP government. If they fail the 50% there will be probably a "big coalition" of CDU+SPD and I dont think that would be good thing.

I'm confused, is it like a cultural thing to say your government is "gone" when you have elections?

When people say "this governemnt will be gone" I'm thinking revolution.

Geez! I didn't recognize those guys without their little cookie dusters under their noses.

I really don't care what they think or do with regards to Katrina. Too insignificant to get peeved.

The quote below from the article cited in the original post sums up the problem, in my opinion, of the perception many Europeans have of the USA. They point to the US when disaster strikes in the third world or other countries and forget the long history of the US, both governmental and private citizens, giving aid throughout the world. The Marshall Plan saved most of Europe from economic disaster after World War II. But I guess it only works one way one it comes to the USA. Yeah right!

Nevertheless, German aid money delivered to American aid agencies would surely be welcome on the other side of the Atlantic. But apparently, people over here believe that the Americans over there don't really need help. Strange. The same people who normally spend their time pointing their holier-than-thou fingers at the ghettos and slums in the US, the same ones who describe America as an out-of-control capitalist monster, are now, when the Americans could really use a bit of help, oddly quiet.

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

I'm confused, is it like a cultural thing to say your government is "gone" when you have elections?

When people say "this governemnt will be gone" I'm thinking revolution.

LOL, ok thanks for pointing that out. I just tried to say that the greens wont be part of the next government.

Originally Posted by tomtom22

But I guess it only works one way one it comes to the USA. Yeah right!

On the other hand its a fact the US dont _need_ help to cope with that. It would have been nice if governments here and elsewere had offered immediate help and equipment more willingly. But I would find it odd if Germany paid for long-term reconstruction. Like the US send their money to Indonesia and other Tsunami victims and Germany send theirs to Louisiana. And maybe Indonesia could send some to Germany as we had a flooding here too a few weeks ago, cause some 100M of damage,you get my point.