More Germans Vote for Economic Freedom

Posted September 28th, 2009 at 12.45pm in American Leadership.

The dramatic surge in support for Germany’s pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which received “a record 14.6% of the vote” according to the Wall Street Journal in elections on Sunday, September 27, has given Angela Merkel a second term as German Chancellor via the center-right coalition that the FDP will form with Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and its Bavarian sister party (the CSU). The center-left Social Democrats suffered their worst defeat in 60 years.

FDP supporters want to create the lasting prosperity that comes from empowering the individual and promoting dynamic entrepreneurial activity. They voted for the FDP platform, which aims advocates limited government, for example by reducing outlays for taxpayer-funded health care and by reforming Germany’s rigid labor laws. These principles—a persistent commitment to low tax rates, a stable currency, limited government, strong private property rights, openness to global trade and financial flows, and sensible regulation—are at the heart of the 2009 Index of Economic Freedom.

Although the election also demonstrated that a discouragingly large number of Germans voted for increasingly extremist parties on the left, the showing by the center-right coalition and the mandate given to the FDP to push for significant free-market reforms is encouraging. However, Chancellor Merkel will have to break her habit of splitting the difference with the left—a habit to which she became accustomed during her coalition government with the Social Democrats that came a cropper over the weekend. Merkel ran in 2005 on an economic reform platform. If she has the courage, Merkel now has the opportunity to cut taxes and reduce the regulatory burden on Germany’s private sector in the next few years.

Author: Jim Roberts
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Index of Economic Freedom

6 Comments

September 28, 2009 Jeff Dore, California writes:

Is this a precursor to the 2010 U.S. midterm elections?? We can only hope.

September 28, 2009 Bill San Antonio TX writes:

It took germany decades for the average folk to FINALLY wakeup. They are just plain tired and disgusted.

Meanwhile, we appear to be going in the opposite direction on a scale the Germans could have never attained. Socialism was a really great deal, nicht?

The engine of the world economy is still the U.S.

Why is Lord’s name would we not want the U.S. dollar to lead?

Why would we want to destroy capitalism that ensures our way of life - the envy of the world?
It is telling that countries are trying to establish capitalism because it does generate revenues and fortunes. What are we doing?

If you weaken enough support structures, any sytem will fall. Do you really want less freedoms so that government can take care of you?

They will seep into every aspect of your life, until like a weed around a flower, you are strangled. No? It’s happening already.

September 28, 2009 Bobbie Jay writes:

Center-right= half wrong by choice.
Limited government works. Freedom to the people, works. Eliminate all you can!

September 29, 2009 Lynn B. DeSpain writes:

As the rest of the “Civilized” World turns to Freedom, Americans are being sold by their new Masser Obama!
Hozro

September 29, 2009 Dave, Florida writes:

What is the world coming to when we will be looking to France and Germany for guidance in the future of what a free country looks like and governs like.

September 29, 2009 W. Weide Colorado writes:

Lived and worked in Germany for many years. Much preferred life back here in the USA until the far-left took control after being voted in by well-meaning but delusional people. 2010 is it, either we correct our mistake, or be happy little socialists dependent on the federal government for ever after.

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