Most Americans or non-Germans probably have never heard of Thilo Sarrazin. He's one of those oddball characters in German politics that has a split crowd and journalists tend to avoid mentioning his name or his discussions.
The best description of Sarrazin? He's fairly well known economist, and former politician. He is (for the moment) still a recognized SPD Party member. I should note that he's in his early 70s and generally retired. For most of his life, he was a civil servant and around 2000....got into a major role with the German railway system (the Bahn). Then from 2002 to 2009, he was the SPD Finance Senator in the Berlin-City Senate. Toward the end (2010) he was even a member of the Deutsche Bundesbank Board.
Then he got into writing books, and got people fairly upset.
He's suggested that the welfare program is basically marginalized and needs a total rebuild. He's come out in various talks with negativity over asylum and immigration. And he suggests that the tax program of Germany needs a 'redo'.
In 2010, he suggested that the migration program was importing in a new class of lower-intelligent people and would do long-term harm to the nation.
In essence, he's a lightning rod for commentary which disturbs the general political scene.
The SPD? They'd like to just see him leave the Party, but he won't do that....and if they formed a committee to toss him out (there are rules to make that happen), it'd draw a fair amount of attention within the SPD, and likely cause some unknown number of SPD members to identify with Sarrazin, and they might be leaving as well.
So yesterday, via a short FOCUS news article....it was announced that Sarrazin is wrapping up a new book....to be printed at the end of August. The SPD Deputy Chief....Ralf Stegner....says that the Party will review the book and see if it meets their criteria (meaning that they could toss him out).
The title of the book? "Hostile Takeover: How Islam Blocks Progress and Threatens Society."
Yep, you can sense that it's going to draw attention around Germany, and be the final straw for the SPD to toss him out.
I would offer these three observations:
1. Sarrazin is not an idiot and he generally does a fair amount of research, and his arguments carry weight. I'm not saying he's always right, but in a debate....his comments bare listening to and pondering.
2. I would suggest that 25-percent of the nation are very familiar Sarrazin and his previous books, with a positive feeling toward him being 'correct'. This cuts across various lines, where you could be a far-leftist or a far-right kind of individual. You will find various SPD and CDU voters who support Sarrazin.
3. The blocking effort by various political folks and journalists? It's apparent and draws public review. Instead of countering the argument, they basically want to censor or prevent public review. I think this is a serious mistake.
Odds of the SPD tossing him out this time? Oh, I'd say 100-percent chance. And as he walks out....probably five to eight percent of the SPD loyal voters will walk out as well.
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