The German chancellor has called for a welfare reform, putting him on course for a possible clash with the SPD.

  • UpperBroccoli@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 hours ago

    All this while systematically crippling our tax investigation departments.

    If I ever meet Merz or someone like him, I will have choice words to say.

  • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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    4 hours ago

    there you go, they finally said it out loud. austerity it is.

  • Øπ3ŕ@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    5 hours ago

    So… The Germans are kicking all the wealthy leeches off their generational welfare suckholes, then?

    That’s the real “welfare state”, NGL… 🖕🏽

    • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      5 hours ago

      My partner and I almost moved to Germany last year and I am so glad we didn’t. If we’re going to be in a fascist country, I’d prefer to be a citizen since white fascists tend to frown extra hard on us brown immigrants.

        • SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          58 minutes ago

          Good enough to be understood but not good enough to not use idioms incorrectly. For example, I spent a solid five minutes trying to remember if “así así” or “ni fu ni fa” can apply to competency before throwing my hands up.

          Mediocre. Mi español es mediocre.

          I just need practice.

  • gusgalarnyk@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    Merz is predictable and a traitor to the German people. He will usher in the fascist power grab through conservative policies - the AFD will grow in popularity as conservatives protect the 1%.

    Die Linke’s tax plan would have paid for the yearly debt of the government and then some; their secret - tax the wealthy.

    We can afford all of our costs, we can improve society, we can provide a thriving economy for all Germans if we simply tax the ultra wealthy out of existence. No one should have a billion euro net worth, nor 100 million nor 50 million. No one need own 3 houses while others go without even a flat.

    We have enough wealth in this country, it’s just in the hands of the hoarders. Don’t look towards conservatives or the right for change, look towards those that address the root problem!

  • kibiz0r@midwest.social
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    9 hours ago
    • Print 1bn in welfare
    • Welfare ultimately gets spent into rich folks’ coffers
    • Tax that 1bn back out of the rich
    • Net cost: zero

    What’s “unaffordable” here?

    • Øπ3ŕ@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      5 hours ago

      If only “tax” meant “tap” as in “tap a sugar maple for its sweet sweet amber sap” and the freshly gutted 1% could also be used as fertilizer afterward.

      Win/win! Poverty and hunger in one fell slash? I’m in.

    • fluxion@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      It’s unaffordable to greedy corporations and billionaires who would not afford the working to have a single dime in their pocket if they had it their way.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    7 hours ago

    COUNTRY welfare state can no longer be supported

    Change COUNTRY for any west European country and this has been said while it CAN be supported but the rich want to get more rich

  • sadTruth@lemmy.hogru.ch
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    11 hours ago

    Creating 1500B € out of thin air to build killing machines: Whatever it takes to protect the country!

    Spending 50B € to actually protect the people from poverty/malnutrition/starvation: Nooooo we can’t afford that.

    Humanity at it’s best: Limitless effort to create suffering, 0 effort to reduce suffering.

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      9 hours ago

      I suspect there will be many, many ‘I didn’t think they’d do this to ME’ posts coming from German people in the coming months.

      • BakerBagel@midwest.social
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        9 hours ago

        Oh no! Did you “progressive” liberal parties take away all your entitlements to appease their corporate overlords? Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to blame all of the German people when AfD becomes the dominant party in Germany next election

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          9 hours ago

          It depends on the country, I suppose.

          I don’t know enough about German politics to be able to place blame on anyone. I just know from observing US and UK politics that there is always a percentage of people who vote fascist thinking that it won’t adversely affect their own lives personally.

          • cecilkorik@lemmy.ca
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            9 hours ago

            The problem is the fascists have figured out how to win: rig the game so all the viable choices are at least somewhat fascist. Picking the lesser of several evils will never protect you from fascism.

  • NochMehrG@feddit.org
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    10 hours ago

    And this is how you further damage democracy and strengthen the far right. Because a lot of the people who don’t vote or vote for the far right are people who feel left behind who are of the impression that the system is broken and they don’t benefit from it. Social welfare is a way to directly show everyone what a democratic state is good for. Policies that benefit the poor, the working class and the middle class make a strong society. But Merz and others simply don’t seem to get it or care and stare in wonder at the ever rising numbers of people who want to see the world burn.

    • slaacaa@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      The capitalist elite has less problem with fascism than socialism. Only one of those threatens their wealth

      • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
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        2 hours ago

        In the short term. Both threaten their wealth in the long run. Fascism still wins out.

    • Petr Janda@gonzo.markets
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      9 hours ago

      Fully agree. The big problem is Germany industry is in the shits and can’t afford to finance the welfare state anymore. Military spending is all debt.

  • Fred die Flunder@feddit.org
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    11 hours ago

    Im ashamed for who has become our chancellor. Flying around in his private “middle-class” jet while taxing the poor. Jfc Friedrich, step back

  • RedstoneValley@sh.itjust.works
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    10 hours ago

    Always has been. “We cannot afford x any more” has been their standard argument for dismantling social security and lining up their own pockets for decades now.

  • altphoto@lemmy.today
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    7 hours ago

    What if the homeless and poor go to war for your rich ass?

    Then there’s plenty of money for the weapons. So maybe buy less of that and more shelter, clothes, food and education?