TV Chatter

 I watched about 30 minutes of a public forum show last night....from ZDF (Channel 2, public TV).  Topic?  Well....it's a odd group....moderator....five panelists....basically in same level of saying the cash-support for Ukraine to continue....is pretty maxed-out.  

2024 or 2025?  Same folks probably were still hyped-up.  

The Merz-gov't has reached a point where a dozen different priorities exist....more important than Ukraine, and debt is starting to be noticed (fair amount projected for 2027).

As bad off as Russia, and Ukraine are....financially-speaking....Germany and the EU are not that distant in admitting same trend.

The Landscape Isn't That Pleasant To Discuss

In roughly six months....it'll be eleven years that the German gov't has been in different ways....subsidizing E-cars in the nation.

Total amount so far poured in?  13 billion Euro (roughly 16 billion dollars).

What you can say...bluntly?  Most German E-cars are still far too expansive for the bulk of German society to buy....while the lesser fortunate folk turn to Chinese-made E-cars to make their statement. 

Also....these German car companies....from BMW, Audi, VW, Mercedes, Ford-Germany and Opel....have quietly entered a 'doom-era' where they realize three-quarters of the public isn't pro-E-car....wanting combustion-engine cars....which were on dinosaur-list (to die off).  Profit-wise?  VW says off each model that comes off the assembly-line....the profit is 12 Euro (no kidding)....to keep the line open and hoping for some 'savior' (Jesus-like politician or party) to correct the mess.

Adding the 'end'?  Well....they added enough taxes/fees to fuel (per-liter) that the public is now frustrated with E-10 fuel being 2.30 to 2.40 (in recent weeks with the temp relief....fuel is temporarily at 1.85 Euro per liter).

2027?  If you work for the car manufacturing folks....your job isn't safe, and your house-payment is threatened. If you own a car-dealership?  You probably are reviewing the staff and discussing a 20-percent cut in manpower.  If you were a peppy-talker over E-cars being the future....you probably put this topic on taboo-topic list. 

Three Observations

 First, a German court stood up and ruled that the emergency 'powers' that were used for German border controls...were unlawful/illegal.

What happens next?  Unknown.  In polls done over the last year or two....this border control business was supported by more than 50-percent of the voters.

Second, 'retire-at-age-63' concept likely to be dumped by the CDU-CSU-SPD coalition.  Polls indicate three out of four Germans still support the idea.

Third, Bundeshaushalt 2027 (the budget plan)....finally cleared by committee after a 16-hour day yesterday.  Spending is set at roughly €561 billion with around €210 billion in new debt/borrowing.  

13 November 2026: Germany

1.  Fair amount of chatter this morning....it appears....the German government wants to legally require operators of coal- and oil-fired power plants to prepare for a day where there is a electrical shortage.

They are being told.....start stockpiling fuel for this purpose.  Mostly aimed at plants who are in newly shut-down situations.

Environmentalists reaction?  Nothing....yet.

2.  Stuttgart....state authorities have bought the old vacant Mercedes office-building....to be remodeled and used as refugee housing for 1,800 folks.

3.  Mercedes....says it's not going to invest any 'extra' cash in manufacturing in Germany....discussing job cuts.

4.  Since 2015....child-benefit payments have surged in Germany from 302-million Euro....to 3.2-billlion Euro.  51-percent of this goes to non-German families.

5.  VW says that they make 12 Euro per car manufactured.....having cut profits to the bone to ensure sales and continued production.

12 Nov 2026: Germany: News

 1.  Hanover.....police and ambulance crews....reacting to some accident....in the past hour, some driver 'plowed' into a number of pedestrians....several wounded/injured.

2.  Public forum show from last night....ARD (Channel 1)....CDU politician Armin Laschet was talking and got asked about  his failed bid for the chancellorship job in 2021.  He responded in some odd way....that Germans were 'punished' with Scholz (SPD, Chancellor for 3 years) and Merz (CDU, Chancellor for past 2 years).

3.  Gunshots fired at a café in Mannheim late last night....one dead guy....one wounded.  Cops have a suspect. 

4.  Some coal power plants which were in shut-down phase.....given new orders....prepare for full-up operations.  Gov't admitting it may be short on power-generation.  Part of this relates to lack of natural gas.  'Evil' coal....saves the day again.

5.  Wife and I went out to a regional restaurant last night....11 Nov is a big deal....traditional goose dinner at some places.  Place we picked....usually has a sitting area of 15 tables and half full for the goose dinner.  Well....last night....mostly empty except for me and the wife.  Bill was probably 20-percent higher over last year. 

6.  Watching ARD news last night...one of the top items....highest level (ever) of German college graduates....UNEMPLOYED.

Urgent need for those educated at this level.....not existing.  

Gov't officials somewhat worried.  X-number in the pipeline currently for college degrees.....that may prove to be worthless.

7.  German Army officials meeting....admitting 'bullying' is at all-time level (for women, and men)  Major changes coming....likely be to be anti-bullying courses.

8.  DAX near all-time record high.

New Health Problem

 The Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry spent a number of months studying an odd problem here in Germany, and this week....issued a report.

What they say....there is this 'new' stress that has come from the coronavirus pandemic.  In some odd way....it has caused young German folks...to age faster and made them more susceptible to disease. 

I paused over reading the intro page.....lot of statistical data....to show the problem started showing up after Covid...and that it relates in some way to stress.

Fragile health?  They aren't saying that.  They merely suggest that some portion of society reacted in a odd way to Covid events.  They aren't even suggesting that these folks had Covid....simply the era, the stupid rules, the lack of social contact....all added up and has never been 'treated'.  I should note....they aren't suggesting any type of treatment.

A big deal?  I would imagine several university units will go and study this....trying to figure a 'best' treatment plan.

UK Court Crap

Court case concluded in the UK.  What the guy (age 56) was charged with?  Well...he quietly applied and was accepted for five gov't jobs (civil servent).....drawing full-time pay for each.

Total counts?  Nine.

This guy...from the east-side of London....took these jobs in the spring of 2023. Based on facts....he held the jobs for about 18 to 24 months....making 284k Pounds.

What was curious to me....the jury sat for about seven hours of deliberation.

I paused over this....wondering....if he'd only taken two jobs....would they have ever caught the guy?

What led the guy to this agenda?  Unknown.  My best guess....he probably knew of two or three guys holding down four jobs each, and no one ever stumbled upon this.

10 November 2026: Germany: 6 Stories

 1.  Chancellor Merz laid out a threat...issued an ultimatum to the EU....saying that Germany won’t back the bloc’s next seven-year budget unless every member state contributes financial aid to Ukraine, which faces a €70 billion funding gap next year.

I'll just say....lot of disagreement about more aid to Ukraine, and I'd say the 7-year budget idea....is crapped-up presently.  Wouldn't shock me if the EU budget business.....goes one-year at a time.

2.  BMW says it'll temporarily cancel 3 shifts at various plants in Germany.

3.  German police suggest....million-plus weapons are sitting in Germany...with guys who have no license.   Facts or proof?  None...simply a police estimate.  

4.  Criminal case opening up against former director of RBB (Berlin's public TV unit).  Court suggests 2 months of testimony.  If convicted?  Well....jail-time.  Hard to imagine it reaching that level.

5.  General belief of the four years of Ukraine-Russia war.....that the Russia losses are at a rate of one Ukrainian loss to three Russian losses.  Why?  Some belief that the lack of training for the Russians play a part.

6.  Natural gas reserves for Germany presently?  Around 59-percent of what you'd expect.  If it were a moderate year....things would be 'fine'.