New Powers for Brussels: Germany's Schäuble Presents Master Plan for Euro

Der Spiegel ^ | 10/16/2012

[Olog-hai]

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is determined to end the euro crisis once and for all. On Sunday he effectively ruled out a Greek bankruptcy, and is now proposing far-reaching reforms to stabilize the currency union. Under his plan, Brussels would be granted far greater powers over national budgets. …

• The European commissioner for economic and currency affairs is to become equally powerful as the commissioner for competition. The competition commissioner is entitled to make decisions independently and does not require the agreement of the other commissioners in making those decisions. If the currency affairs commissioner were truly independent when it came to decision-making, it would depoliticize that office holder's position. That would enable the commissioner to make decisions based on content rather than interests.
  
  
• In order to strengthen the position of the currency affairs commissioner, individual member states would have to hand over part of their budget sovereignty to Brussels. Under Schäuble's proposal, the currency affairs commissioner, by now one of the most powerful positions in the EU, would be equipped with veto power over national budgets. …

[Paladin2]

Is Brussels a German hand puppet?

[Lurker]

That would enable the commissioner to make decisions based on content rather than interests.

Riiiiiggggghhhht.

[Olog-hai]

Yes. Always has been.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Back in the EU
Back in the EU
Back in the EUSSR

Well, those great debts really knock me out
They kick the West’s behind
See Angela’s blubbery cellulite hanging out
That EU troika is always on my mi, mi, mi, mi, mind

[jdsteel]

Calling Ayn Rand. Sheesh!

[BfloGuy]

Is Brussels a German hand puppet?

Or, perhaps, vice versa.

[Olog-hai]

Not vice versa, especially not in light of what currency the euro is a copy of, and why the treaties dictate the “social market economy” (which grew out of Adenauer’s government) to be imposed on the whole EU.

[Viennacon]

Will anyone speak out against this blatant attempt to create a dictatorship? Anyone?

[Olog-hai]

Only Nigel Farage, thus far.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Olog-hai. Sprouting new powers.

[BfloGuy]

Not vice versa, especially not in light of what currency the euro is a copy of, and why the treaties dictate the “social market economy” (which grew out of Adenauer’s government) to be imposed on the whole EU.

The Euro is no longer a "copy" of the Deutchmark. I agree that it was intended to be so; in fact, I've said that many times here on FR.

I don't think any of the Europeans had to be compelled to implement social welfare states. They ran toward socialism with their arms [and wallets] wide open.

My point is that, month by month, the Germans are caving on every principle they've stood for. The ECB, rather than functioning like the Bundesbank, is now -- intentionally -- much closer to the Fed.

Germany is becoming the puppet. The bread-earning puppet. Though that'll end, too, once inflation takes hold.

[Olog-hai]

There is nobody for Germany to become a puppet to. They are still very much in control of the EU, as they always have been. All these proposals to “save” the euro all come out of that country.

And what principles do you think Germany stood for? They’ve never stood for anything the USA stood for, even and especially post-WWII. They were the inventors of the social market economy, from Adenauer down to the present day. West Germany was allowed to create a copy of the previous failed Weimar Republic, with the USA propping it up (and I can’t figure out why).

The euro was meant to cause this financial crisis for the purpose of driving the EU’s member states to accept giving up their sovereignty. That and the fact that there is no EU treasury are the only differences between it and the Deutsche mark.