Who should you vote for in Germany? (The Wahlomat)

[minionofmidas]

Did I misread question 6, or is the CDU the only party opposed to tax cuts?

No, the CDU is the only party in favor of an increase in sales tax. Which is already far too high for my liking. (It's 7% on food and a couple of other items, 16% on everything else. They want to make it 7/18.)

What Lewis said. At least the only party before the election.

Not really, unless you're talking of the FDP, and even that's not something I'd bet money on. It's a very dumb idea - and one that's very unpopular outside the CDU. (Also, remember Claudia Nolte 1998?)

[Notre Dame rules!]

oh wait a minute, it seems that ALL the parties want to raise taxes except for the FDP, at least based on question 8.

[Emsworth]

FDP: 46
Left: 31
Greens: 30
CDU: 26
SDP: 24

[Middle-aged Europe]

oh wait a minute, it seems that ALL the parties want to raise taxes except for the FDP, at least based on question 8.

Hey, it´s the FDP. The day they want to raise taxes pigs will start to fly.

[minionofmidas]

oh wait a minute, it seems that ALL the parties want to raise taxes except for the FDP, at least based on question 8.

As I said, that's a question I'm REALLY unhappy with. Okay, so should I go on a rant how instead of lowering them and then noticing this was neithr an economically sound nor an all that popular idea, they should have let them be - or that, at the very least, the Wahlomat should give SPD & Greens an N and the CDU a D here?
No, I think it'll tire me too much.

[migrendel]

I could only see myself as supporting the PDS. Schroeder, like Blair, betrayed the principles of socialism, and it is impossible to forgive the Hartz IV reforms. As disturbing as the prospect of Angela Merkel seems to be, her victory is nigh inevitable, and it is not the time to cast an insincere vote to save a bad government.

The Greens' idealism is quite attractive, but I think they need to be given more time to grow and develop, whereas many in the PDS already have the experience of running East Germany. The FDP can be dismissed without any discussion; a cursory glance at its economic policies says it all. All I can say to German voters is that you have an historic choice to make. Your children will remember you for your complicity in the destruction of institutional socialism by means of eviscerating its political champion or your willingness to sacrifice power in order to regain touch with your wayward ideals. Please, for all the world, choose wisely.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

betrayed the principles of socialism

Really? What exactly *are* the "principles of socialism"? Because it seems obvious that a toff like you understands whatever they are perfectly...

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I'm sorry? Working for a discredited and vile Communist puppet dictatorship makes you more likely to vote for someone?

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Institutional socialism in Germany? Since when? Germany has a lot of state regulations and all that, but there's little that can really be described as *socialist* (it's all too paternalist and bureaucratist) unless you (like right wing Americans) seem to think that "statist" equals "socialist"...

[minionofmidas]

I'd like to see you take this test, Al.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I'd like to see you take this test, Al.

Wait a sec... (but I'm sure it'll be FDP )

[Filuwaúrdjan]

1. Should there be a general speed limit on freeways?

Neutral

2. Should the laws that make firing employees more difficult be loosened?

Ah... too broad a question really. Neutral

3. Should we stick to the previously agreed deal on phasing out nuclear power?

Yes

4. Should taxes on petrol be lowered?

No

5. Should it be possible for Turkey to become a full member of the EU?

Yes

6. Should sales taxes be increased?

No

7. Should there be a minimum wage?

Yes

8. Should top earners be made to pay more in income tax?

Agree... on balance... to get out of the current economic hole, more money is needed and this is *usually* the most effective way of doing it. Having said that it might make sense to go loophole busting, the effect is usually the same...

9. Should the deposit on soft drink cans be abolished?

No

10. Should all citizens have to be members of the gesetzliche health insurance cooperatives? (Rather than the "private" health insurance companies - don't ask, it's rather complex.)

Yes... I suppose so. But I don't like the sound of the way that works at all... see what I mean about paternalistic and bureaucratic?

11. Should Germans living abroad pay taxes in Germany?

Yes. Especially now

12. Should the EU agricultural subsidies be lowered?

YES

13. Should the common European defense policy be expanded on?

Yes

14. Should there be continued subsidies for German anthracite coalmining?

Yes. But cut down on the amount of lignite mined

15. Should it be made easier to use the German army internally?

Neutral

16. Should MPs be forced to publish all their sources of income?

Yes

17. Should every child have to pass a language proficiency test before starting first grade?

If this means what I think it means, then yes... I suppose so

18. Should there be no fees for universities (for the student's first degree)

No

19. Should education policy be the exclusive province of the states?

No. Where possible (in any case) it should be almost entirely up to local bodies

20. Should student grants be given independently of parents' income?

I'm not sure what this means. If it means giving students money no matter what sort of money their family makes then no; rich kids shouldn't get subsidies.

21. If you take a year off work after the birth of your child, should the government pay you a wage?

Only if the employer doesn't

22. Should abortions during the first trimester without the currently mandatory counselling be legalized?

No

23. Should the DNS of all felons be collected and saved?

Neutral

24. Should the draft be abolished?

Yes

25. Should there be more surveillance cameras in public places?

Neutral (in some places yes, in others no)

26. Should gay "marriages" be made equal to marriage in all legal respects?

I don't know what legal stuff normal marriages get

27. Should the voting age for federal elections be lowered to 16?

Probably not; depends when you get all other benifits/costs of being an adult. It is 18 in Germany isn't it?

28. Should biometrical data such as a fingerprint become part of the federal ID card?

If you're going to have a federal ID card, yes

29. Should cannabis be legalised?

Neutral

30. Should there be referenda on the federal level?

Yes

[minionofmidas]

If I counted right (had to judge some of your answers, too), that's
SPD 44
Greens 38
FDP 34
Left 29
CDU 28

[migrendel]

I categorically deny that I'm a toff, and I daresay the administrative experience the former Communists have from running East Germany is far better than none at all. However, Al's third point is valid, and I should be clearer. What I meant was the ability to progress towards institutional socialism, though it perhaps sounded differently. Surely you can agree that a government that would cut the unemployment benefit to 340 Euros a month is ill-equipped to defend socialist principles.

[minionofmidas]

I categorically deny that I'm a toff, and I daresay the administrative experience the former Communists have from running East Germany is far better than none at all.

Ah, but the only people left on the political scene with such experience are Hans Modrow (PDS) and Manfred Stolpe (SPD).

[freek]

There is translation in Dutch of the Wahlomat at http://www.duitslandweb.nl/stemwijzer.html, it is translated by the institute which produces a Wahlomat/"Stemwijzer" for every Dutch election. They invented the Wahlomat-idea back in 1985.

The result:

[Gustaf]

Lewis, in Sweden the equivalent tax, if I understand correctly, is 25% (though various lower levels for restaurants, hotels and books).

[minionofmidas]

Lewis, in Sweden the equivalent tax, if I understand correctly, is 25% (though various lower levels for restaurants, hotels and books).

Yeah, I know, they're very high in Scandinavia. Then again, they're pretty low in the US and suchlike countries... just goes to show a high tax burden does not equal a high amount of redistribution.

[skybridge]

I got

Die Linke.PDS
SPD
Greens
FDP
CDU/CSU

I don't think it was as accurate this time

[Democratic Hawk]

1. Should there be a general speed limit on freeways? Support (Left - 2 points)

2. Should the laws that make firing employees more difficult be loosened? Oppose (Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

3. Should we stick to the previously agreed deal on phasing out nuclear power? Oppose (CDU/CSU, FDP - 2 points)

4. Should taxes on petrol be lowered? Support (CDU/CSU, FDP - 2 points)

5. Should it be possible for Turkey to become a full member of the EU? Oppose (CDU/CSU, FDP - 2 points)

6. Should sales taxes be increased? Oppose (FDP, Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

7. Should there be a minimum wage? Support (Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

8. Should top earners be made to pay more in income tax? Support (Green, Left, SPD - 2 points / CDU - 1 point)

9. Should the deposit on soft drink cans be abolished? Support (FDP - 2 points)

10. Should all citizens have to be members of the gesetzliche health insurance cooperatives? (Rather than the "private" health insurance companies - don't ask, it's rather complex.) Support (Left, SPD - 2 points)

11. Should Germans living abroad pay taxes in Germany? Oppose (FDP, Left, SPD - 2 points)

12. Should the EU agricultural subsidies be lowered? Support (Green, SPD - 2 points / FDP, Left - 1 point)

13. Should the common European defense policy be expanded on? Neutral (All - 1 point)

14. Should there be continued subsidies for German anthracite coalmining? Support (SPD - 2 points)

15. Should it be made easier to use the German army internally? Support (CDU/CSU - 2 points)

16. Should MPs be forced to publish all their sources of income? Support (CDU/CSU, Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

17. Should every child have to pass a language proficiency test before starting first grade? Support (FDP, SPD - 2 points / CDU/CSU - 1 point)

18. Should there be no fees for universities (for the student's first degree) Support (Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

19. Should education policy be the exclusive province of the states? Support (CDU/CSU - 2 points)

20. Should student grants be given independently of parents' income? Oppose (CDU/CSU, FDP, SPD - 2 points)

21. If you take a year off work after the birth of your child, should the government pay you a wage? Oppose (FDP, Green - 2 points / CDU/CSU - 1 point)

22. Should abortions during the first trimester without the currently mandatory counselling be legalized? Oppose (CDU/CSU, FDP, Green - 2 points / SPD - 1 point)

23. Should the DNS of all felons be collected and saved? Support (CDU/CSU - 2 points / SPD - 1 point)

24. Should the draft be abolished? Support (FDP, Green, Left - 2 points / SPD - 1 point)

25. Should there be more surveillance cameras in public places? Support (CDU/CSU - 2 points / FDP - 1 point)

26. Should gay "marriages" be made equal to marriage in all legal respects? Oppose (equal but without adoption rights) [CDU/CSU - 2 points]

27. Should the voting age for federal elections be lowered to 16? Support (Green, Left - 2 points)

28. Should biometrical data such as a fingerprint become part of the federal ID card? Support (CDU/CSU, SPD - 2 points / FDP - 1 point)

29. Should cannabis be legalised? Oppose (CDU/CSU, FDP, SPD -  2 points)

30. Should there be referenda on the federal level? Support (FDP. Green, Left, SPD - 2 points)

I get:

SPD - 34 points
CDU/CSU - 32 points
Left - 26 points
Green - 25 points
FDP - 23 points

Dave

[Bono]

Lewis, in Sweden the equivalent tax, if I understand correctly, is 25% (though various lower levels for restaurants, hotels and books).

And I thought 21% was high.

[AuH2O]

1. Should there be a general speed limit on freeways?

no

2. Should the laws that make firing employees more difficult be loosened?

yes

3. Should we stick to the previously agreed deal on phasing out nuclear power?

no

4. Should taxes on petrol be lowered?

yes

5. Should it be possible for Turkey to become a full member of the EU?

no

6. Should sales taxes be increased?

No

7. Should there be a minimum wage?

no

8. Should top earners be made to pay more in income tax?

no

9. Should the deposit on soft drink cans be abolished?

yes

10. Should all citizens have to be members of the gesetzliche health insurance cooperatives? (Rather than the "private" health insurance companies - don't ask, it's rather complex.)

no

11. Should Germans living abroad pay taxes in Germany?

yes

12. Should the EU agricultural subsidies be lowered?

yes

13. Should the common European defense policy be expanded on?

yes

14. Should there be continued subsidies for German anthracite coalmining?

no

15. Should it be made easier to use the German army internally?

yes

16. Should MPs be forced to publish all their sources of income?

yes

17. Should every child have to pass a language proficiency test before starting first grade?

yes

18. Should there be no fees for universities (for the student's first degree)

No

19. Should education policy be the exclusive province of the states?

no

20. Should student grants be given independently of parents' income?

no

21. If you take a year off work after the birth of your child, should the government pay you a wage?

yes

22. Should abortions during the first trimester without the currently mandatory counselling be legalized?

no

23. Should the DNA of all felons be collected and saved?

yes

24. Should the draft be abolished?

yes

25. Should there be more surveillance cameras in public places?

no

26. Should gay "marriages" be made equal to marriage in all legal respects?

no

27. Should the voting age for federal elections be lowered to 16?

no

28. Should biometrical data such as a fingerprint become part of the federal ID card?

yes

29. Should cannabis be legalised?

yes

30. Should there be referenda on the federal level?

yes

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[minionofmidas]

DemoHawk, I didn't check below, but you forgot a point for the Greens on the very first question.
Here's Goldie:
CDU 41 - FDP 41 - SPD 29 - Greens 27 - Left 20 
 

[Democratic Hawk]

DemoHawk, I didn't check below, but you forgot a point for the Greens on the very first question.
Here's Goldie:
CDU 41 - FDP 41 - SPD 29 - Greens 27 - Left 20 
 

Thanks, doesn't make much difference though. Still, SPD just. I was actually leaning CDU - but since Merkel's somewhat modelling herself on Thatcher, that's just turned me right off

Dave

[Huckleberry Finn]

Answer agree, neutral, or disagree to all questions. Then, read the second post in this thread and score it.

1. Should there be a general speed limit on freeways?

2. Should the laws that make firing employees more difficult be loosened?

3. Should we stick to the previously agreed deal on phasing out nuclear power?

4. Should taxes on petrol be lowered?

5. Should it be possible for Turkey to become a full member of the EU?

6. Should sales taxes be increased?

7. Should there be a minimum wage?

8. Should top earners be made to pay more in income tax?

9. Should the deposit on soft drink cans be abolished?

10. Should all citizens have to be members of the gesetzliche health insurance cooperatives? (Rather than the "private" health insurance companies - don't ask, it's rather complex.)

11. Should Germans living abroad pay taxes in Germany?

12. Should the EU agricultural subsidies be lowered?

13. Should the common European defense policy be expanded on?

14. Should there be continued subsidies for German anthracite coalmining?

15. Should it be made easier to use the German army internally?

16. Should MPs be forced to publish all their sources of income?

17. Should every child have to pass a language proficiency test before starting first grade?

18. Should there be no fees for universities (for the student's first degree)

19. Should education policy be the exclusive province of the states?

20. Should student grants be given independently of parents' income?

21. If you take a year off work after the birth of your child, should the government pay you a wage?

22. Should abortions during the first trimester without the currently mandatory counselling be legalized?

23. Should the DNS of all felons be collected and saved?

24. Should the draft be abolished?

25. Should there be more surveillance cameras in public places?

26. Should gay "marriages" be made equal to marriage in all legal respects?

27. Should the voting age for federal elections be lowered to 16?

28. Should biometrical data such as a fingerprint become part of the federal ID card?

29. Should cannabis be legalised?

30. Should there be referenda on the federal level?

1. Should there be a general speed limit on freeways? Yes

2. Should the laws that make firing employees more difficult be loosened? Yes

3. Should we stick to the previously agreed deal on phasing out nuclear power? No

4. Should taxes on petrol be lowered? No

5. Should it be possible for Turkey to become a full member of the EU? No

6. Should sales taxes be increased? No

7. Should there be a minimum wage? Yes

8. Should top earners be made to pay more in income tax? No

9. Should the deposit on soft drink cans be abolished? Yes

10. Should all citizens have to be members of the gesetzliche health insurance cooperatives? (Rather than the "private" health insurance companies - don't ask, it's rather complex.) No

11. Should Germans living abroad pay taxes in Germany? No

12. Should the EU agricultural subsidies be lowered? YES!

13. Should the common European defense policy be expanded on? Depends....

14. Should there be continued subsidies for German anthracite coalmining? No

15. Should it be made easier to use the German army internally? Yes

16. Should MPs be forced to publish all their sources of income? Yes

17. Should every child have to pass a language proficiency test before starting first grade? Yes

18. Should there be no fees for universities (for the student's first degree) Yes

19. Should education policy be the exclusive province of the states? I don't know

20. Should student grants be given independently of parents' income? Yes

21. If you take a year off work after the birth of your child, should the government pay you a wage? No whole wage , but part of it. In Finland
employers pay. I think it's better that government does it.
 
22. Should abortions during the first trimester without the currently mandatory counselling be legalized? No.

23. Should the DNS of all felons be collected and saved? Yes

24. Should the draft be abolished? No

25. Should there be more surveillance cameras in public places? Yes

26. Should gay "marriages" be made equal to marriage in all legal respects? No

27. Should the voting age for federal elections be lowered to 16? No

28. Should biometrical data such as a fingerprint become part of the federal ID card? Yes

29. Should cannabis be legalised? No

30. Should there be referenda on the federal level? Yes

[minionofmidas]

Huck:
CDU 36
SPD 31
FDP 31
Greens 24
Left 24...and I gotta say, sounds like one of the most accurate results so far.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What exactly are EU agricultural subsidies like?