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Semaphortoday at 6:52 AM2 repliesview on HN

As a German I'll say that even acknowledging there is a corruption problem (while still being unwilling to change it and not voting for the parties that let corruption fester) puts them a good step ahead of all those thinking there's no real corruption.

No studies, personal impressions, so I might well be wrong and maybe they all know but don't care. No majority that cares either way.


Replies

mschildtoday at 7:26 AM

As another German, I think there is different kinds of corruption. There is low-level and high-level.

Low-level is when you bribe individual cops, city clerks, etc so they let you go instead of writing a speeding ticket or approving your house building plan.

High-level is when people like Merz receive a political donation from McDonalds, do some self-promotion in one, and then keep/lower the Mwst (VAT) for restaurants.

Germany unfortunately has high-level corruption but as far as I know, very little low-level. I think thats partially why people don't care to vote to differently. Yes, it happens, but there is a large disconnect between what Merz does and how it impacts an individuals bottom line.

If people would have to constantly hand out bribes to anyone then maybe its a different story.

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EdwardDiegotoday at 7:05 AM

Yeah, I agree with that sentiment.