One thing that the liberal media and politicians are very good at doing is framing the argument. Their intent is to create an extreme emotional reaction in the voter base. Normally it's based upon fear because that is what gets somebody's attention most quickly. It also motivates them to act in a way that the politicians desire. The media in America is participating in a scare campaign from Europe regarding the recent election in Germany. That might seem unusual but it's not.
The Alternative for Germany party, AfD, won the equivalent of a state election in the United States. They won 39 of the 83 seats available in what we would call their state legislature. They narrowly missed an absolute majority. Many new sources in Europe, echoed by our corporate propaganda media, call it a shocking victory. The typical narrative is that people woke up to find that a right-wing extremist party has now taken control of Saxony-Anhalt. This has dealt a major blow to the current ruling party in Germany because of the right-wing extremism that is suddenly becoming popular. Many of the news outlets have drawn strong comparisons to the success of the Nazis in the 1930s. Of course, that sounds alarm bells in the minds of many people because who would want to support a Nazi party?
So I did a little digging which is not hard but apparently most people won't take the time to do it. The party was formed in 2013 in response to Germany and every other member of the European Union losing their sovereignty. Much like the Tea Party was formed in the United States in response to high taxation and loss of control of the federal government by the American people. They didn't like the idea that an unelected body was telling them what to do. That sounds reasonable. Nothing particularly extreme about that position.
I visited their website and found their core principles, which are as follows:
Migration and Identity: Advocates for "remigration" (mass deportations of immigrants), strict border controls, and a return to blood-based citizenship. The party asserts that "Islam does not belong to Germany" and supports banning mosque construction, the burqa, and the public call to prayer.
Euroscepticism: Opposes further European integration, demands the repatriation of powers from Brussels to national governments, and rejects the EU's shared asylum and security policies.
Social Conservatism: Promotes traditional nuclear family values, opposes LGBTQ+ rights advancements and same-sex marriage, and is anti-abortion.
Economy and Environment: Pursues a neoliberal, economically liberal agenda with tax reductions and deregulation, while opposing climate change mitigation policies, the energy transition (Energiewende), and renewable energy expansion in favor of nuclear power and lignite.
Foreign Policy: Maintains a pro-Russia stance, calling for the lifting of sanctions against Russia and opposing weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
I think there's quite a bit in this statement of principles that mirrors much how we feel about our government. A quick perusal of their more detailed manifesto, especially economically, environmentally, and with regards to immigration policies finds that their positions are quite reasonable. They want control back in the hands of the people who will have the ability to make decisions about what is best for Germany and their local community. They want to give the free market the opportunity to thrive which improves the economic position of the individual. They don't want to give their country over to Islamic extremists. And despite leading the way in the so-called green, renewable energy movement, they experience consistent and frequent rolling blackouts and the highest electricity costs in Europe.
I'll admit that I have to look closer at their stance with regards to Russia and the Ukraine, but there is some reason to be concerned about the Ukraine. And I can't tell you if their position with regards to the LGBTQ community is similar to what most of us believe, e.g. treat them as anyone else would be treated without any special privileges, or are they as "tolerant" of that community as the Islamists are?
Nevertheless, they are certainly being branded as right-wing extremists because the liberals have no way to convince people that they're policies will work based upon the merits of those policies. Because they clearly are not working. So, they must create fear in the mind of the ignorant electorate in order to remain in power. Right wing extremism and the Nazi party are both phrases that create very vivid images in the minds of most people. Not in a good way. Those images motivate people to get involved in opposing the AfD. Sadly, it doesn't get most of them involved to learn more about the party before making a decision. And that is exactly what the true extremists are counting on.
They use the same tactics here in the United States and our own county. The brouhaha over the data center that might be built in the southern part of Grant County is based upon false information. Is based upon misrepresentation of facts. From the environmental impact to the number of jobs or lack thereof, that would be created by the construction of the data center. Because they know creating fear will motivate people to vote for them. But that's a topic for another column.
So do your own research. It's not difficult these days. Then reach your own conclusion based upon more accurate information. Which by the way, you should share with other people.
