When Something Slips Out

August 29, 2011

Published in Neues Deutschland
(Germany) on 26 August 2011
by Thomas Blum (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Ron Argentati. Edited by Nathan Ladd.

Helmut Kohl complains that Germany's traditional relationship with the United States is being neglected and accuses Chancellor Merkel of fickleness. She replies that the times have changed and, indeed, Germany has become a capitalist state in competition with the United States.

And Foreign Minister Westerwelle commented that capitalism wasn't all about old bonds and sentimental good old boy friendships but about profits instead, adding that it was necessary to take the new global power centers seriously and to strive toward building new strategic partnerships. That sort of political cliché is the same as saying “profits are made globally and our partner is the country that can do the most for us.”

The Süddeutsche Zeitung also thinks today's challenges are different than they were in Kohl's day. An unnamed source described as “a long time close acquaintance” of Merkel's mentions a difficult “war with the financial markets” as though “the markets” were some anonymous, mystic force threatening us from outside. If I telephone you, can you tell me for whom I should ask if I want to talk to “the markets?” That question reveals the helplessness of the politician who is beholden to money. Tell them “the markets” are right outside your door.

26.08.2011 / Kommentar

Wenn was rausspringt

Kommentar von Thomas Blum

Helmut Kohl beklagt, dass die traditionellen Beziehungen zu den USA vernachlässigt worden seien, und zeiht Merkel der Wankelmütigkeit. Diese antwortet, die Zeiten hätten sich eben geändert. Und tatsächlich: Deutschland ist ein mit den USA konkurrierender kapitalistischer Staat.

Auch der Außenminister erklärte dem Ex-Kanzler, dass es im Kapitalismus nicht um alte Bindungen und sentimentale Altherrenfreundschaften geht, sondern um Profite. Es sei »notwendig, die neuen Kraftzentren der Welt ernst zu nehmen und neue strategische Partnerschaften aufzubauen«, sagte er. Derlei Politfloskeldeutsch dürfte nichts anderes heißen als: »Profit wird weltweit gemacht, und unser Partner ist immer der, bei dem gerade am meisten für uns rausspringt.« Auch die »Süddeutsche Zeitung« meint, dass die Herausforderungen heute andere seien als zu Kohls Zeiten. Ein namenloser Informant, der »Merkel seit langem sehr gut kennt«, spricht dort vom schwer zu führenden »Kampf mit den Finanzmärkten« und will den Anschein erwecken, als seien ›die Märkte‹ etwas Anonymes, Mystisches, das uns aus weiter Ferne bedroht: »Oder können Sie mir sagen, wen ich anrufe, wenn ich ›die Märkte‹ sprechen möchte?« Der Satz zeigt die Hilflosigkeit der Politiker, Angestellten des Kapitals. Mitgeteilt sei ihnen: »Die Märkte« sind direkt vor der Haustür.

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