Note to readers: As GorT knows, but didn’t mention, the German political spectrum is much narrower than the American. Even the “conservative” CDU/CSU has historically favored an expansive welfare state of the type embraced mostly by Democrats in the U.S. The SPD is to their left—and indeed, played footsie with the Communist East German régime. The historically marginal FDP is the only party which American Republicans might recognize as holding classical liberal, free-market beliefs (though “social conservatives” are generally found within the parties whose name starts with “Christian.”). So it’s a hopeful sign for the German economy (and perhaps society) that the FDP did so well in this election.

Confucius, Œc. Vol.

Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu.