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Posts by Tacitus  

Joined: 6 Jul 2017 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - Q
Last Post: 18 Nov 2024
Threads: Total: 2 / In This Archive: 1
Posts: Total: 1248 / In This Archive: 457

Displayed posts: 458 / page 11 of 16
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Tacitus   
23 Apr 2018
News / EU budget revamp set to shift funds to southern states. What can Poland do about this? [12]

Something that has been predicted for quite some time: The next EU buget will most likely allocate far less money to Eastern Europe.

Brussels plans to shift tens of billions of euros in EU funding away from central and eastern Europe, diverting money from countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to those hit hard by the financial crisis such as Spain and Greece.

ft.com/content/74d3a5aa-45b5-11e8-8ee8-cae73aab7ccb
Since most of the EU structural funds goes to the rural areas, PiS-supporters will feel the consequences more than others.

There is very little Poland can do about this. The Visegrad Group has no blocking minority, and both Northern and Southern Europe are in favour of this. Especially France, Germany, Italy and Greece are pushing for it. Considering that Warsaw has during the last 3 years antagonized most of its' European partners, a backlash like this was expected. Yet another diplomatic defeat for PiS.
Tacitus   
22 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

@mafketis

Leave it to a leftist to be happy about a bunch of people with different opinions dying.

Not really, it is just a matter of fact that there is little need to appease those people. Especially considering how those guys screwed over the younger generations in the UK with Brexit and the USA with Trump.
Tacitus   
22 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

@Lyzko

It is a vocal minority we are talking about, not the majority.
Most of them are old men whom nature will take care off soon, so I am not too worried abou them.
Tacitus   
19 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

a minimum wage shouldn't be so necessary

The employers seem to think that way.

How do you explain the decline in support of SPD?

The price of running a country. The SPD under Schröder implemented many painful reforms that are the foundation of Germany's current prosperity, but in doing so they had to make several cuts to the welfare system (which was designed in the 1950s and 1960 with little to no employment and hopelessly bloated when unemployment reached 5m people.

Those who are disappointed by that voted instead for the Green party and the Left party (none of which are in power), while the CDU under Merkel also became attractive to former SPD voters.
Tacitus   
19 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

Rational German voters realize that AfD (for all its faults) is the only political voice speaking up for their interests

I hope you are not implying that the AfD speaks for the workers and the poor, because their election program advocates the end of several achievement that the previous governments implemented (e.g. minimum wage).
Tacitus   
17 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

but the current one?? Come on...

This is simply how it is. Things are changing slowly but many Germans view flag waving as distasteful.

satwcomic.com/evil-flag

she had the expression on her face like someone handed her a c um towel

She was simply embarassed about the behaviour of the guy who gave it to her before and afterwards. She acted as the dignity of her office demanded it.
Tacitus   
16 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

I explained to you in detail why Merkel refused the flag and that any other German chancellor would have done the same in those circumstances. Why do you still bring it up? Are you so unable to accept facts?
Tacitus   
15 Apr 2018
History / Do Prussians still remain in Poland? [33]

I dont think Kohl was the one who needed convincing here, but Genscher certainly played a positive role during the negotiations for German reunification, and in Germany's foreign policy in general.
Tacitus   
15 Apr 2018
History / Do Prussians still remain in Poland? [33]

Just visit the place someday, Cottbus, Görlitz and Bautzen are quite nice and have been lovingly restored with West German money since 1990.
Tacitus   
15 Apr 2018
History / Do Prussians still remain in Poland? [33]

I'd advise Crow to visit Lusatia one day, at least the German part (since this is the one he likes to talk about). Because it is a beautiful place to visit and relatively cheap. And because he would then perhaps appreciate why an independent Lusatia is not realistic in any way.
Tacitus   
10 Apr 2018
News / An article: NATO is the American occupation of Poland and Europe, by Mateusz Piskorski [233]

Nato seems to be prepared to protect Poland in case of an invasion.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Guardian

I guess the aim would be to defend Poland across the Vistula while reinforcements arrive. Surrendering Poland would be foolish since Russia could then get into shelling distance to Berlin and therefore gain a leverage in future negotiations.
Tacitus   
7 Apr 2018
News / "It's too late for Germany" (but not for Poland) [1798]

Amazing how many lies and hate one person can fill in such a short speech. It is assuring to know that this man belongs to a tiny minority and thankfully dies not represent Germany. His ilk will never get any influence in Germany again.
Tacitus   
24 Mar 2018
News / Officials in Poland are hailing an upcoming visit by Donald Trump [720]

One of the many things I do not understand about Trump is his fiscal policy. He has inherited a growing economy, yet intents to vastly increase the debts of the USA. Some people claim tha the democrats like to spend money, but the last two democratic presidents (Clinton and Obama, who inherited an economic crisis from Bush) showed financial restrain while repairing the economy. Bush and Trump however, who inherited a good economy, are piling up debts... .
Tacitus   
24 Mar 2018
News / Officials in Poland are hailing an upcoming visit by Donald Trump [720]

sure Obama didn't start the wars

You make this sound as if that is just a minor distinction. You can argue that the war in Afghanistan was justified, but also extremely costly. The Iraq war however was an complete and utter disaster, on every level. Nothing Obama did comes even close to this.

Jesus he couldn't even speak his mind without teleprompter.

Obama was an intellectual giant compared to Bush. It is just so painful to read reports on what Bush knew about the ME and how he got convinced by his advisors that the USA could export democracy to the entire ME. I am not a fan of Obama mind you, he was a mediocre president at best, but history will probably regard him more fondly than he deserves, because he a) did not cause a major scr*w-up like Bush, and looks like a saint compared to his successor. Hopefully not being completely moronic will not become the bar for being a good president after Trump.
Tacitus   
23 Mar 2018
News / Officials in Poland are hailing an upcoming visit by Donald Trump [720]

. I view Obama as the worst President in our nations history now.

I hope you are kidding here. Bush Jr. easily beats him in his century alone. Nothing Obama did comes close to the two catastrophic wars Bush unleashed in his tenure which aftereffects we still feel now.
Tacitus   
23 Mar 2018
Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]

. all supported by archeology, linguistics and genetics.

Stop making stuff up, can you cite any respected historians who believe in those theories?

I am sure you do not, because those views have been thoroughly debunked in the last 50 years.

The times when historians took a few quotes from ancient sources and constructed ethnic identities from them are thankfully over, they are now more interested in actual factual research and what they can actually prove.
Tacitus   
14 Mar 2018
History / How come Poles like Russians but not Germans? [216]

Many families of Polish descent in that region date back to pre-WW1 times.

This is related to the rapid economic development of the Ruhr Valley in the 19th century, when cities like Essen (my hometown) experienced an incredible population increase and immigration from other parts of Germany and beyond. The Ruhr Valley was very attractive for Polish people, since it offered jobs without the discrimination they faced in e.g. Russia.
Tacitus   
13 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

That is rather a moot point, more or less developed it depends on a point of view, we are not talking Kuwait here.

Well the differences were rather big though. Probably as big as between Western Germany and the GDR in 1990 at the very least.

Well, the point is there was no treaty that would nullify legality of the Polish claims for compensation they have never received.

This is untrue on several levels. I have written this several times already and it is getting tiresome to repeat. The signed treaties (Warsaw 1970 and the border treaty 1991) have taken care of all eventualities, and Poland did in fact receive financial compensation as a consequence of the border treaty in 1991. There is zero basis for any Polish reparation claims, neither legally, nor morally. The issue is settled.
Tacitus   
13 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

Actually Germany hadn't recognized the eastern border till... 1991

(West-) Germany recognized the border in 1970 in the name of West Germany, and 1991 in the name of a reunited Germany. 25 years is not really that much if you think about it, it usually takes a generation until such issues are settled.
Tacitus   
12 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

That is a quite simplified statement.

It was a simplified correction, but it is true nonetheless. There is no question that the former German territories were more developed and thus more valuable than the former Polish territories in the East. The Allies and Stalin knew this and used this both as an argument at Yalta and Potsdam.

You know it was quite possible to keep Polish borders in the east

No, because Stalin wanted those territories, and nobody was in any position to deny him. The only question at Potsdam was, how much of German territory Poland would receive in return. It could have been more, it could have been less than it eventually turned out.

Prussia and Gdansk, those are regions whose German identity or German claims to them are not that clearly cut and dry

It is undisputable that the German territory lost in 1945 was overwhelming German in character, the cities had a very large German majority (including Danzig) and had been under German rule for centuries. The loss was the price paid for a war of agression and the numerous atrocities comited in its' wake and none of the diplomats at Potsdam considered it any different. I say this because I have read all the minutes of thei negotiations at Potsdam. The arguments about the future Polish-German border was its' length, how it could be defended and how the Polish were compensated for the lost territory in the East. Some pseudo-historical claims were not seriously entertainted, they were at best used as some justification.

coal mining, something that is scorn right now by Germany and the EU

Not really, since Germany does a lot of coal mining themselves. To my knowledge, the only problem Poland currently has in this regard is the pollution problem in their cities.

a one that refuses fulfil his obligations

It is Poland who refuses its' contractual obligations so far by not adhering to the previous agreements. Besides, this is not a purely financial matter. Germany won't make any concessions on this because there would be no guarantee that a future Polish government would not attempt the same trick in the future again.

As in you eyes it nullifies all the economical bills and all human sufferings.

No, the exchange of territory does not nullify the German crimes, but the many treaties between Poland and Germany afterwards do. The matter is closed and it is time to look to the future, there is zero moral or legal justifications for reparation claims today. It is regrettable that so many Polish people are deceived by their government on this matter.
Tacitus   
12 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

he amount of land that Poland had after WW1 was larger than after WW2 by over 70,000 km2

It was also much, much poorer and underdeveloped than the German territory they received afterwards. Despite the heavy destruction, the industrial area of Silesia in particulary were still more valuable in compared to anything in the East.In terms of economic worth, Poland was more than adequately compensated.
Tacitus   
9 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

Then why did she refuse to wave a German flag, and not only that but toss it aside?

I gave you an answer to this.

Germany should remain true to its Christian European heritage

Merkel was one of the few so-called "Christian" politicians in 2015 that still remembered what being Christian is all about.

BEFORE they were let into Germany

Too bad that Austria vehemently opposed any detention camps on their soil, so that was no option.

And there was no war brewing in the Balkans caused by migrants.

Not caused by migrants, but possibly fasciliated once the countries would have started to deport them to their neighbours. Merkel received repeatedly warnings by the German secret service that the already fragile situation in the Balkans could escalate soon.

would take in anyone who makes it there

Merkel never said this, and repeating this lie does not make it true. Not once did she say that Germany would accept all migrants.

That is why the Greeks and Italians sent everyone north

They sent them North because they could not longer deal with them, particulary Greece was overwhelmed.

Well, clearly millions of Germans like AfD hence their recent success.

Some Germans have apparantly a short memory, but you are of course right, this is reason enough to worry for the future.

I would reply to the rest of your posts, but it is obvious that you are incapable of reason or rational argument on this matter. You like to believe in the lies and distorted reports made by some media outlets, so be it. I just hope not too many people on this forum take your views to seriously here and refrain from visiting Germany because of this. I mean honestly, if taken at face value you could think that people are more likely to get killed by terrorists in Germany than being randomly gunned down in one of the many mass shootings in the USA... .

@SigSauer

No conscience for the EU lawyers daughter who was raped, strangled, and tossed in a canal in Germany by a 31 year old Afghani migrant who claimed to be 17 though, right?

I actually live in the city where the crime happened and go to the very same university the victim attented. In the last three years, we had 3 high-profile crimes in Freiburg. One was the mentioned murder by an Afghani, the second was the murder by an Rumanian (who is probably a serial killer) and the third was a child rape case in which a native German couple sold their son to rapists from all over Europe.

dw.com/en/suspected-killer-of-freiburg-runner-carolin-g-held-in-police-detention/a-39107444

Aside from the fact that picking this case in order to argue against migration from some people, while ignoring cases against Eastern Europeans (in which we had a lot of heinous crimes recently) is already telling, there is another simple reason why this case is now rarely brought up even by the likes of the AfD. Because the Greek authorities failed to notify their colleagues that the culprit had already been convicted of attempted murder, and broke his parole afterwards. No detailed screening beforehand would have revealed this, thanks to the failure of Greek police forces to give his profile into international data banks.
Tacitus   
9 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

Merkel nor any politician is required to let in economic migrants

Economic migrants do not have their status written on their faces. If someone claims to be a refugee, he is entitled to have his application checked, and for the mean time receive appropiate care. Obviously it would have been easier if the Southern Europeans had bothered to check the stories of the refugees themselves, bit since they simply let them go north, Germany has to sort them out.

traditional german culture and identity

Nonsense. There are few German politicians who appreciate German culture as much as she does, as her regular visits to Wagnar operas testify.

she shook her head and refused to take it.

Because it was not appropiate at the moment. This happened after her party won the election in 2013, it has been a long-standing agreements between German parties to not pose with German flags on such occasions, which might seem strange to people who show their flags on every occasion.

elected official is to put the needs of citizens first and foremost

Which is what she did. It is in Germany's interest that the EU and Southern Europe survives which she assured with this decision. If she had done nothing and an armed conflict in the Balkans had broken out, not only would this harmed German interest, it would also have leas to even more refugees entering Germany.

in the hopes of them being future voters

Foreigners are traditionally voting for the SPD, she had thus nothing to gain by this.

begs people not to listen to afd

As does anyone who is interested in the future of Germany. The AfD is a disease and represents the very worst of Germany, and if the statements of their politicians are indication, them getting anywhere near power would be catastrophic, for Germany, but also for Poland btw.
Tacitus   
9 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

Merkel did not take in refugees for economic reasons (the EU immigration did this already) but because a) it was the morally right thing to do and b) most importantly because the countries in Southern Europe, including Hungary and Greece begged her for help. She singelhandily sqved those countries from collapse and prevented an escalation in the Balkans. That is all there is to know to her decision.
Tacitus   
8 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

It is just fascinating to see how Crow can top himself with each post. His statements about Germany were just so outrageous that I had to respond.

Though the fact that I am an historian who has great interest in ancient migration history are kind of making his bs more difficult to swallow.

It is similar with Dirk. How long can he go on without mentioning migrants on every possible topic?

Though I believe him more to be a victim of extensive brain-washing by the media than outright malice.
Tacitus   
8 Mar 2018
News / Polish-German Reconcilliation Seminar [491]

were once described as purely Slavic in some very old Persian sources

It would be interesting if you please could get me more information on this since this is new to me. Do you perhaps remember what kind of sources we are talking about, and when they were roughly written?

I have a great interest in local history in NRW (my home state) but to my knowlege all lasting settlements there were either created by the Romans or later the Germanic tribes.