Merkel's Debut Speech as Chancellor

I have had the chance to read the speech Angela Merkel delivered to the Bundestag which sets the tone for her tenure as chancellor. The Washington Post has a good review of the speech. As Der Spindoktor has noted, Merkel lifted a key phrase "Lassen Sie uns mehr Freiheit wagen."(Let us risk more freedom) from Willy Brandt's 1969 debut speech where he said: "Wir wollen mehr Demokratie wagen" (We need to risk more democracy). But by drawing attention to Brandt's visionary rhetoric she only underscores the diminished expectations of her leadership: Angela Merkel is no Willy Brandt.  But she seems to accept that, and rejects the grand vision in favor of small steps:

Viele werden sagen: Diese Koalition, die geht ja viele kleine Schritte und nicht den einen großen. Ich erwidere ihnen: Ja, genau so machen wir das. Denn wir glauben, dass auch das ein moderner Ansatz sein kann. Es hat sich herausgestellt, dass die Vernetzung von vielen kleinen Computern, an vielen Stellen, effektiver ist als der eine Großrechner - der Erfolg des Internets beruht auf genau dieser Philosophie. Deshalb werden wir eine Regierung sein, die diese vielen kleinen Schritte ganz bewusst in Angriff nimmt.

Still, the speech generally received favorable reviews both in Germany and in the international press.  I guess this again gives proof to the famous dictum of Karl Kraus:  Wenn die Sonne der Kultur niedrig steht, werfen selbst Zwerge einen Schatten / when civilization's sun hangs low on the horizon, even dwarfs throw shadows.

For a reality check, I looked in on Albrecht Mueller's blog NachDenkSeiten.  The economist Mueller was close to Willy Brandt, so he found Merkel's reference to his revered friend pretty offensive.  He also has harsh criticism of Merkel's (and her colation partner Platzeck's) "trickle down" economics:

Angela Merkel hat offensiv für die Pferdeäpfeltheorie geworben. Erst müsse man den Starken helfen, damit dann auch noch etwas für die Schwachen abfällt, so könnte man es frei formulieren. Also die Pferde ordentlich füttern, dann findet sich auf der Straße auch noch manches Haferkorn für die Spatzen.

One final comment to Merkel's speech.  Much has been made of her stated intention to restore the close alliance between Germany and the United States.  And in her speech, Merkel emphasizes the shared values that are the foundation of this alliance:

Diese Partnerschaft der Wertegemeinschaft der westlichen Welt ist ein hohes - ich sage: ein kaum zu überschätzendes - Gut.

But a sovereign and democratic Germany must reject (and will reject) pre-emptive war, torture, human rights abuse, and economic polarization, which are the prevailing values of Washington today.

Comments

[Joerg]

Prof Janes at Johns Hopkins noticed that Bush spoke about freedom on the same day, but meant something else:

"Both leaders were convinced of the need to advance freedom in their respective speeches. Both would also agree that freedom is a value cherished equally on both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere throughout the world. Chancellor Merkel was referring to individual freedom and the choices and responsibilities that come with it. President Bush was talking about the relationship between the freedom of Iraqi society as it relates to the world around it. In essence he was arguing that Iraqi freedom is a prerequisite for world peace."
http://www.aicgs.org/at-issue/ai-jj120205.shtml

Merkel is neither Brandt nor Bush.

On a side note: I don't listen to politicians who talk about values. I like to learn about someone's values by looking at would they do, not what they say.

[Joerg]

Prof Janes at Johns Hopkins noticed that Bush spoke about freedom on the same day, but meant something different.

Both leaders were convinced of the need to advance freedom in their respective speeches. Both would also agree that freedom is a value cherished equally on both sides of the Atlantic and elsewhere throughout the world. Chancellor Merkel was referring to individual freedom and the choices and responsibilities that come with it. President Bush was talking about the relationship between the freedom of Iraqi society as it relates to the world around it. In essence he was arguing that Iraqi freedom is a prerequisite for world peace.
http://www.aicgs.org/at-issue/ai-jj120205.shtml

Merkel is neither Bush nor Brandt.