Merkel has starved the Bundeswehr of resources relying on assumptions that have revealed themselves to be false. Historical alliances can be unreliable (Trump) and historical rivalries can be reignited (Russia). I fully support this move by Scholz.
The lack of reliability regarding the relationships between nations is truly the most significant sign of a changing (changed?), unstable, world.
They were power structures forged in quid pro quo deals that continuously benefited the parties.
As the cold war, uh, thawed to room temperature and China became the new focus the old alliance deals started to make no sense. Now that suddenly the kleptocratic gas station attendant feels insecure the old alliance starts to make sense again, but the underlying deals might need a bit of tweaking.
Germany has so many social issues, we honestly should spend more money to get people off the street and have affordable housing. Not spending another 100bn on weapons and destructive activities.
Thus, spending money on the military has no relation, as to why other things aren't being done.
Therefore, complaining about those other things, in reference to this thing, is not logical.
They are separate.
Now take a step back. Look at history. Don't be fooled into thinking humans have somehow inexplicably changed in a few decades.
Now, should a country be able to defend itself? Should it prepare?
If not, why?
We are taking on debt to do this.
Germany is a very rich country. It can walk and chew gum at the same time.
And no. Our leaders (especially Olaf Scholz) decided to put Nordstream 2 on hold, Putin didn't change anything regarding Russia's gas export.
I see it like this: Russia gets the eastern Ukraine, the US gets to export more expensive fracking gas, and the Europeans are on the losing side in both cases.