'The Laptop-and-Latte Generation Has Found Its Party'

[marmar]

from Der Spiegel:



The German Pirate Party won 8.9 percent in the Berlin election to gain its first-ever seats in a state parliament. It could become a political force at the national level, say observers, arguing that the party represents a generation of Internet users who have been ignored by the web-phobic mainstream parties.

The Pirate Party stunned Germany's political establishment -- and itself -- on Sunday by coming from nowhere to win 8.9 percent of the vote in the Berlin regional election.

It now plans to win seats in the national parliament in the 2013 general election. And it may well achieve that -- the party embodies a fresh new political force that represents a whole generation of Web users, say observers.

The buccaneers appeal to people who have grown up with the Internet and for whom the mainstream parties have little to offer. Many are yearning for a new, more approachable, honest style of politics that embraces the zeitgeist of the Internet. They see the Web as a positive force in their lives, whereas the suit-clad mainstream politicians, in their opinion, view it as a threat that needs to be monitored and controlled. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,787295,00.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Interesting.

[bullwinkle428]

2. K & AAAAARRRRRRRRRR!

Can't believe I was the first to think of that one! :)

[Fumesucker]

3. Umm.. The ones I know are more "Tats-and-Jagermeister" n/t

[disillusioned73]

4. Oh my, that sure sounds eerily familiar..

"grown up with the Internet and for whom the mainstream parties have little to offer. Many are yearning for a new, more approachable, honest style of politics that embraces the zeitgeist of the Internet. They see the Web as a positive force in their lives, whereas the suit-clad mainstream politicians, in their opinion, view it as a threat that needs to be monitored and controlled."

[formercia]

5. "the suit-clad mainstream politicians" have good reason to be worried

since they are having more and more difficulty controlling the message.