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by Oliver JJ Lane17 Nov 2016
Speaking at a joint press conference with outgoing American President Barack Obama on his farewell tour, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made chilling remarks about her views on the need for government to control the internet and slammed anti-Islamisation protesters who she accused of hijacking the German spirit for liberty.
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Calling the surge of interest in right-wing politics a “wave” that “engulfs us,” Ms. Merkel noted the sentiment “seems to come from the United States,” but in an oblique reference to President-Elect Donald Trump said it was an issue she was dealing with in Europe, too. She said:
“Look at the European parliament. There are a lot of people who are looking for simplistic solutions and are preaching simplistic solutions which are very unfriendly policies. We have them here in Europe, too, we have them in Germany too.”
Apparently blaming this rising populism — politics that are popular with voters — on the internet, the German chancellor implied the internet would have to be subject to restrictive censorship laws as were enacted by many European nations to stem the disruptive effect of the printing press. She said:
“Digitisation is a disruptive technological force that brings about deep-seated change and transformation in society. Look at the history of the printing press, when this was invented what kind of consequences it had. Or industrialisation, what consequences that had.
“Very often, it led to enormous transformational processes within individual societies and it took a while until societies learned to find the right kinds of policies to contain this, to manage and steer this. We live in a period of profound transformation.”
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And to take up where the President left off, digitization is, in a way, a disruptive force, a disruptive technological force that brings about deep-seated change, transformation of a society. Look at the history of the printing press -- when this was invented, what sort of consequences this had. Or industrialization -- what sort of consequences that had. Very often it led to enormous transformational processes within individual societies, and it took a while until societies learned how to find the right kind of policies to contain this and to manage and steer this. And I think we live in a period of profound transformation, very similar to when we had a translation from agricultural societies to industrial societies.
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originally posted by: ElectricUniverse
We know there is no freedom of the press anymore.
originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: reldra
Well maybe Merkel needs to look at the root causes of it instead of blaming free press for it. Did this movement exist because she more or less abolished Germany's borders and tried to drown her native population in a bunch of foreign invaders?
If not, I think that maybe she's found her problem.
originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: reldra
Yes, how dare the press report about the incidences of crime associated with the newcomers and their general lack of assimilation into German society? That's what Merkel wants to control.
Also, "hate" is highly subjective.
originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: reldra
Well maybe Merkel needs to look at the root causes of it instead of blaming free press for it. Did this movement exist because she more or less abolished Germany's borders and tried to drown her native population in a bunch of foreign invaders?
If not, I think that maybe she's found her problem.
originally posted by: reldra
Yet, here you still are.
how did Donald trump start his rating at 1800
originally posted by: ElectricUniverse
The goal of this "populist movement" goes against what this nation is about. Forcing people to pay for abortions, which millions of people see as being wrong and being murder is wrong to do.
Imposing the will of a minority group on the majority of the people is also wrong, such as President Obama and his administration has done forcing religious institutions to accept and perform same sex marriages. instead what should have been done is a compromise respecting both views.
The rights and the views of everyone should be respected, but instead the will of the few has been imposed on the majority. This in itself is also the reason why so many Americans voted for Trump. To try to break away from the government mandating people how they should live their lives or what they should believe. The religious views, and the way of life of everyone should be respected and defended.