Political Shakeup in Germany

(Berlin, Germany) With campaign promises to legislate free Internet, free public transportation and a lowering of the voting age to 14, the youth-centered Pirate Party won nine percent of the vote in yesterday's regional parliamentary election.



Nine percent of the vote translates into a mere 15 seats in the Berlin-area 130-seat parliament but even so the results have been trumpeted as sensational, placing the obscure Pirate Party and its leader in headlines.

According to the leader of the Pirate Party, 33-year-old Andreas Baum, who incidentally was chosen by a process similar to drawing straws, "We're going to get to work ... people will hear from us, of that you can be sure."

Arguably, the Pirate Party platform is flawed. There is no such entity as a free lunch since someone has to pay for it. And giving suffrage to adolescents is dangerously shortsighted.

In any event, congratulations are in order. Good luck to the Pirate Party.