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Originally Posted by Cannon Shell
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...290190804.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2009/...kel-coalition/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125415019392446515.html
Sunday's election outcome nudged Europe's biggest economy to the right but, with the cautious, consensus-seeking Ms. Merkel still in charge, it appeared unlikely to produce a radical lurch in economic policy.
A key plank of Ms. Merkel's campaign was a pledge to offer moderate middle-income tax relief. The Free Democrats want a more radical overhaul of the tax system, cutting both the top and bottom income tax rates considerably.
Mr. Westerwelle said Monday his party would push for a "fair" tax system.
Ms. Merkel said possible tax cuts could be implemented starting in 2011 or 2012, but gave no details of what they might look like. She argues that cuts would stimulate economic growth and ultimately improve tax revenues.
In the midst of its deepest postwar recession, Germany elected a conservative-free market government Sunday. Maybe the reports of capitalism's demise have been premature
The big winner was the pro-business Free Democratic Party, with a record 14.6% of the vote. This will be enough to end what has been an unnatural alliance between the country's two main political rivals and secure a majority for the center-right coalition. It also gives Mrs. Merkel the opportunity to do the tax-cutting and deregulating that she campaigned on four years ago, assuming she still has the courage of those convictions.
The Free Democrats campaigned on a €35 billion tax cut combined with a radical simplification of one of the most complex tax codes in the world. The current rates, which rise gradually from 14% to 45%, would be replaced with three brackets of 15%, 25% and 35%. The proposal has come to be known as the "beer-coaster reform"—as in, you could fit the whole tax return on a beer coaster. The reform would make Germany's tax code among the most competitive and transparent in the industrialized world.
Sounds like Hi im Gods ridiculous contentions are just that, ridiculous
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chuck-
it's interesting to see the free democrats framed solely as "pro-buisness" ignoring the libertarian social positions they advocate. assuming their party leader is appointed foriegn minister (the usual cabinet role for the junior partner in german coalition governments), he'll be the first openly gay foreign minister I'm aware of.
i'm trying to work my head around a republican doing the same.
you're right that on economic issues this will be a more conservative partership than when the cdu governed with the social democrats. but germany will remain pretty mainstream in a europeon economic model which places far more emphasis on social welfare then here in the states. and they'll remain far more libertarian on social issues than is practical in this country.
i'd love for the u.s. to be as liberal as the new germany under merkel. but i don't think that would be a country you'd like.
that was my point. i don't think you really know what you're cheering for other than some vague notion that "right" is better than "left". Even when that specific "right" would cause you apoplexy if it were attempted here.