Now this is not about a new or an old underground train track in Munich. Instead, we are talking Stuttgart Central Station. In the “Süddeutsche” of today, I read the heading in bold print on page one:
“Merkel fighting for new railway station in Stuttgart”
What makes her do this? Nobody wants the railway station, except a few investors who are unwilling to relinquish an (allegedly) lucrative real estate business. S21 is a huge project not fit for modern times, with no chance of ever being profitable and, above all, not up to the standards of our future lives after individual mobility will have ceased to exist.
Basically, it is a scandal. Above all, however, it costs votes for those who speak up in favour of it.
Consequently, there is only one explanation:
The lobbyists have now succeeded in making use of the Federal Chancellor for their own ends.
That would, indeed, be a remarkable feat. Two conclusions are possible:
Now lobbyism wins over the desire to retain power.
or
If you want to retain power, you no longer need votes. All you need is powerful interest groups for partners.
Both alternatives give me pause. Yet, other political decisions – and particularly the way how they are made – indicate that it is really true (see the longer running times for nuclear reactors without consulting the responsible ministries or the senate, or the added value tax for hotels, etc.).
By the way:
Even if huge projects and investments end in chaos, there are always some who profit hugely by them. Basically, we are talking the initiators, organizers and financial service providers. And, of course, those who have received compensation for “small favours”.
RMD
(Translated by EG)
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