Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

science.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

131–140 of 314 posts

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#131

Post by sva_ »

anigbrowl wrote: post #34

Black_13 appears to be shadowbanned so I'm reproducing their comment here: black_13 11 minutes ago [dead] | parent | context | unvouch | favorite | on: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for res... The cynicism in these comments is telling, but misses crucial realities about Germany's capabilities and social achievements. Yes, Germany creates bureaucracies. Yes, Dorothee Bär's digital infrastructure record is…

> Their dual education system creates exceptional technical competence without requiring college degrees.

Unless you do your Ausbildung in a job where you can learn mostly all the skills within a couple months, after which you'll just be shamelessly exploited by your employer for the remaining duration of it.

> Germans enjoy comprehensive public transportation infrastructure,

Yeah, our train systems are pretty cool (can reach most places.) But if your expectation is anything more than 'hopefully arrive by the end of day', you'll regularly be disappointed.

> and don't suffer from the manufactured scarcity that plagues American housing

Have you tried renting in any bigger city in the past 10 or so years?

> Critically, Germany isn't now teetering on becoming a police state. While America expands surveillance powers, militarizes police forces, and faces growing authoritarianism, Germany's post-war constitutional framework continues to prioritize civil liberties, privacy protections, and democratic norms.

I disagree with the claim that Germany is currently on a path strictly "prioritiz[ing] civil liberties, privacy protections, and democratic norms."

Not only did German politicians in 2021 broaden the scope of §188 StGB to include insults against politicians, even at the local level[1], the new coalition contract also has some pretty dystopian views on how to approach opinions/statements they categorize as 'disinformation'[2] (ministry of truth anyone? - ah nevermind, they sidestep that by letting NGOs do the dirty work for them.)

Pair that with the fact that they plan to (again) try to introduce data retention laws without cause[3], I do not personally believe that claiming we strictly prioritize civil liberties etc is a correct assessment of the overall situation here in Germany.

Overall I suspect the post has been written with the aid of LLM, I wonder who/why would do such a thing though. There's just something off about the tone.

1. https://www.buzer.de/gesetz/6165/al144303-0.htm

2. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/kampf-g...

3. http://golem.de/news/koalitionsvertrag-bundesdigitalminister...

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#132

Post by ernst_klim »

mk89 wrote: post #126
ernst_klim wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany is actively killing innovation. I propose to stop for starters. Tho when the median voter is 55 and national motto is "that's how it was always done" and "Pensions are secure" - I don't put much hope. I still remember the outcry when the digital health cards were introduced.

Not sure how Germany is actively killing innovation to be honest. Your other points are more or less true, I just like to think that people complain a lot and media obviously makes it worse. Digital health cards, online tax declaration, etc. These things did happen. People complained, but these decisions were not reverted. That's the most important.

> Not sure how Germany is actively killing innovation to be honest

By many things at once: Datenschutz, (over- and premature) regulations, bureaucracy, laws favoring old ways (e.g. broadcasting licenses for streamers), active sabotage from workers who don't want to learn things (and can't be fired) etc.

But all stems from risk averseness and active unwillingness to learn new ways.

As you say, (some) things did happened, but way too slow and way too little. Compared to its peers or especially developing countries German Digitalisierung is a joke, a not so funny one.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#133

Post by selfmodruntime »

ndr42 wrote: post #118
selfmodruntime wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This ministry will not be lead by any of these people. Their replacement isn't that much better competency wise, but there is no corruption case yet. Your source 3 is not saying what you think it does. State government can apply for federal funding. Söder and his ilk have mastered this. There is nothing corrupt here.

I read a commemt in this discussion that Dorothee Bär has a case of corruption where she was employing her husband. „Source 3“: Well, if you are a minister for infrastructure in germany it is not part of our job description to bring money to bavaria. Maybe my definition of corruption is of but the minister has some saying in how to use its funds and if your home state benefits more than other parts of germany… I woul…

> Dorothee Bär has a case of corruption where she was employing her husband

That is an unfortunate case of nepotism that happens in the entire political spectrum. I was especially disappointed of the Greens setting up cozy positions for friends and family at the end of their term. I really thought they'd do better..

> Well, if you are a minister for infrastructure in germany it is not part of our job description to bring money to bavaria

Why not? If you think Bavaria is the largest net benefactor of this measure you might as well do so. It's one out of many possible strategies.

> Maybe my definition of corruption is of

I think it's something else but I can't think of a word.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#134

Post by selfmodruntime »

eli_gottlieb wrote: post #93
selfmodruntime wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We should stop treating any kind of patriotism and German culture like it is from the devil.

Sounds like you kinda just want an excuse to vote AfD without pointing to an element of their policy platform you think the rest of us should support too.

Q.E.D

(Just for the record I don't vote AfD. I do like being German and I like what little culture we have left. You can be patriotic and at the same time left leaning.)

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#135

Post by [deleted] »

eli_gottlieb wrote: post #93
selfmodruntime wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We should stop treating any kind of patriotism and German culture like it is from the devil.

Sounds like you kinda just want an excuse to vote AfD without pointing to an element of their policy platform you think the rest of us should support too.

[deleted]

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#136

Post by selfmodruntime »

ernst_klim wrote: post #80
selfmodruntime wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This can't be further from the truth. This is probably written by an American, and US is a very car-centric, but German infrastructure is a shitshow. I just know that this is a comment from a German person who has little experience with public transport in any non-top-class country. Yeah, it could be better, but it could also be so much worse . > Also healthcare is absolutely stiffled by bureaucracy This I agree wi…

I lived in Russia, Georgia, few European countries. Even in Georgia trains are way more punctual, than in Germany. Moscow metro works like a Swiss-clock compared to U-Bahn/S-Bahn. Maybe what you are talking about is true for some very pour Asian/African countries, but many middle-income countries have more reliable public transportation, than Berlin. Not to mention developed ones and China.

> I lived in Russia, Georgia, few European countries

I've been to Central America, Egypt, Istanbul, Sicily, Spain and many more candidates that take a more lax attitude to daily life. Their public transport could certainly be better.

> but many middle-income countries have more reliable public transportation, than Berlin

Berlin is not Germany. Berlin is badly run, constantly out of money (especially for infrastructure) and very different than the rest. Still, inner city public transport is generally reliable, if dirty and sometimes full of questionable people.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#137

Post by selfmodruntime »

calmoo wrote: post #50
anigbrowl wrote: post #34

Black_13 appears to be shadowbanned so I'm reproducing their comment here: black_13 11 minutes ago [dead] | parent | context | unvouch | favorite | on: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for res... The cynicism in these comments is telling, but misses crucial realities about Germany's capabilities and social achievements. Yes, Germany creates bureaucracies. Yes, Dorothee Bär's digital infrastructure record is…

Having no gun violence and having a higher life expectancy than America is not something to be proud of and not a useful benchmark. This comment is a prime example of Germany's inability to take external criticism - it nearly always devolves into comparison with America. You know many non-americans also criticise the state of Germany currently?

> You know many non-americans also criticise the state of Germany currently

Germans are also masters at criticising Germany. You just read more defence online than what happens in real life.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#138

Post by selfmodruntime »

sva_ wrote: post #131
anigbrowl wrote: post #34

Black_13 appears to be shadowbanned so I'm reproducing their comment here: black_13 11 minutes ago [dead] | parent | context | unvouch | favorite | on: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for res... The cynicism in these comments is telling, but misses crucial realities about Germany's capabilities and social achievements. Yes, Germany creates bureaucracies. Yes, Dorothee Bär's digital infrastructure record is…

> Their dual education system creates exceptional technical competence without requiring college degrees. Unless you do your Ausbildung in a job where you can learn mostly all the skills within a couple months, after which you'll just be shamelessly exploited by your employer for the remaining duration of it. > Germans enjoy comprehensive public transportation infrastructure, Yeah, our train systems are pretty cool (…

> Have you tried renting in any bigger city in the past 10 or so years?

I am German myself and I get where you're coming from, but there are worlds between German rent prices and American or even London, Amsterdam or Dublin rent prices.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#139

Post by selfmodruntime »

Ridius wrote: post #108
holowoodman wrote: post #106

> “Our goal is that the world’s first fusion reactor should be realized in Germany,” This will never happen. At some point they will notice that fusion is something with "nuclear" and "atoms" and they will immediately jump to "scary", "dangerous" and "verboten".

Germany is home to one of the most promising Fusion projects - "Wendelstein 7-X "

They are also a large supporter of ITER.

Re: Germany creates 'super–high-tech ministry' for research, technology, aerospace

#140

Post by selfmodruntime »

holowoodman wrote: post #113
Ridius wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany is home to one of the most promising Fusion projects - "Wendelstein 7-X "

Germany also was home to some of the most cutting edge fission research. Otto Hahn (the ship, not the guy), THTR-300, EPR, SNR-300, ... All gone now.

Of course, there is more fusion research now.
Post reply on HN