Nice thread on German assistance to their neighbours. It's fascinating, good chunk of pundits doesn't seem aware of it but comments a lot on how 'German doesn't rush to help'. Reminds me on an interesting exchange by @AaronGBurnett and one of those 'commenters'. /1 https://twitter.com/hhesterm/status/1249069472234659840

I actually don't mind if you criticise German policies, but I do expect that people actually know them. If you don't, just do yourself a favour and don't comment on it. /2

Same with the Guardian piece on European Union not being a federal state, well, EU isn't a federal state and is unlikely to become one anytime soon - with a bit of knowledge on the treaties and how they are developed and change you. would know that. /3

You can perfectly criticise the Corona-bonds policy too. Fair enough, but again, familiarise yourself with locations and decision making mechanism before you actually criticise decision makings. /4

And while people are on it, it would be helpful do google 'consensus systems' and 'veto player theorem'. I promise, for FPTP-primed journos and pundits this is probably a revelation. If EU would be majoritarian, it wouldn't exist for long. /5

Long story in short: If you criticise something without knowing the subject matter - or the context or the framework it operates in, please avoid writing op-eds, columns or any kind of public comment. 6/6