“...........both Aretha Franklin & John McCain passing at roughly the same time.”...…
Oh, did those two pass away recently? Nothing in the news (SARC)
Yeah, you're right.
Here's the larger story, though. The illegal immigration problems in the US have an analog with the whole migration crisis in Europe. (In part caused by Mutti.)
What makes things in Germany downright crazy is what used to be East Germany. Their leaders taught them for years they were superior socialists, and the untermenschen from the decadent West had no business running things. For example, the NVA kept as many of the Prussian military traditions as the Soviets felt comfortable with. The State went on its own language binge, determined to keep Western influences out of German.
Perhaps the largest concern the German government needs to address in the former East Germany are the memories the people have of their government lying to them. Remember, the GDR really was supposed to be the "Socialist Workers Paradise." Instead, the New Class cheerfully wreaked environmental disasters, exploited the workers, and kept comfy estates for themselves. All of this helped to bring down the Communists circa 1990. Many Ossis today have those memories, and do not trust Berlin to do what's right.
One last thing. Socialism as a type of government needs to go into the trash can of history, sooner rather than later. Even Germans cannot make it work.