I'm not overly concerned about the rise of the far right in Germany; 7% sounds like a reasonable figure for the kook factor.

But I do find certain comments here disturbing.  Petry wants to ban minarets, for goodness sake.  Tightening immigration laws is one thing; subverting religious freedom quite another.

I won't succumb to the temptation of bringing Germany's sordid past into the discussion, but really, it is quite possible to be a social and fiscal conservative without embracing hatred.