Summary

German lawmakers are debating whether to pursue a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), but many fear the move could backfire ahead of the Feb. 23 national election.

The proposal, backed by 124 lawmakers, seeks a court review of whether the AfD is unconstitutional.

Critics, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, warn a failed attempt could strengthen the party, which is polling at 20%.

The debate underscores concerns over the AfD’s extremism but also the risks of fueling its anti-establishment narrative.

  • @FooBarrington
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    57 days ago

    So we should just do away with definitions, and go with whatever people think a word means the first time they hear it? Why?

    • @[email protected]
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      16 days ago

      If one person or a few people have a definition wrong, that’s a thing that can be corrected.

      If the majority of people think that’s the definition, and it’s been that way for decades, then you have the definition wrong.

      • @FooBarrington
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        16 days ago

        Do you have data to show that a majority of people have been missing “technocracy” for decades?

    • Ogmios
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      7 days ago

      The point is that you have to make a good faith effort for communication to be possible, which you are not doing here. Language evolves organically, not by the dictate of a legally mandated authority.

      • @FooBarrington
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        26 days ago

        When the “good faith effort” requires changing definitions, it’s not a good faith effort from the other side.

        • Ogmios
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          6 days ago

          That’s exactly my point. If you come into a conversation and start declaring the definitions have to be different from how the speaker uses their own words, because people they’ve never even met said so, that’s not a good faith effort.