pull down to refresh

The silent revolution in Germany against the welfare state.
In the good old days, we would start a war over a tax increase. Revolutions were not rare. You want my money? Over my dead cold body!
Today tax increases are not rare. The average German pays about 48% of his salary in taxes.
If you are in the upper middle class, it is already 52%.
But people stopped fighting. Most just gave up.
Germany will increase social contributions next year by about 4%.
But where is the revolution, where is the indignation? It will mean that 50% will give half the money they earn to the state!
Are the Germans that retarded or hopeless?
Not really.
I would say that the Germans have found a "new way". If you cannot stop the robbery of the state, you just earn less, so they cannot rob as much.
There is no country that works less than Germany. Almost 30% of its population works in part-time jobs. Every 3rd of the workforce is not working full time anymore.
27% of part-time workers do not think it is worth working full-time. Another 37% value family time even more.
So more than half of part-time workers have no desire to work more.
If work does not pay what you think it is worth, you will learn to live with less and just enjoy your free time.
Of course, even the Germans want to keep the welfare state! But they just don't want to work for it anymore.
This silent revolution will hopefully lead to the collapse of the system because they cannot tax as much as they need to and people are not willing to work more.
Beautiful slow implosion of the system if you ask me.
i think places like Argentina show us that these things can continue in a state or rot for decades and people will just be remembering the good old days when Germany was something to be respected
reply
I sincerely hope you are wrong.
reply
i hope so too, but sadly seems like all of Europe is experiencing a similar controlled decline
reply
That's a sick Our World in Data graph: Americans working about the same hours, Germans just rushing away from the workplace.
27% of part-time workers do not think it is worth working full-time. Another 37% value family time even more. So more than half of part-time workers have no desire to work more.
One story about this has long been that "well, America has an unhealthy work ethic, and Europeans have better work-life balance, prioritizing leisure over extra income." But that "choice" isn't independent from the tax structure/work environment you're in. Maybe Germans under current shit system prefer to just opt out, but under a freer, fairer tax regime (i.e., zero) would work/earn/produce as much as people elsewhere?
This is my hope too:
This silent revolution will hopefully lead to the collapse of the system because they cannot tax as much as they need to and people are not willing to work more.
reply
10 sats \ 2 replies \ @flat24 20h
On this occasion I could say that the ethics of Americans stinks compared to that of Europeans... it is very true that in the US people work long hours or resort to having several jobs. Now this example of the Germans is fascinating and totally contrary to that of the Americans. Of course, working more sometimes implies greater progress depending on the perspective, but I consider that it is much more valuable to be able to appreciate and enjoy family time. Working part-time and dividing the rest of the time between family, interests and learning about bitcoin.
reply
Working less is one side, demanding more welfare because you get poorer with less work is the other side.
If you don't want to work and spend time with your family, I have no problem with that.
Me paying for you working less and getting compensation on the other hand I have big problems with.
reply
21 sats \ 0 replies \ @flat24 19h
Paying me for you working less and getting compensation on the other hand I have big problems with.
Totally agree with you.
reply
Damn:
Maybe Germans under current shit system prefer to just opt out, but under a freer, fairer tax regime (i.e., zero) would work/earn/produce as much as people elsewhere?
I know a lot of friends who work full time and would work overtime if the overtime was tax free and not 50% as it is now!
reply