Sehr Gut !!!: A victory for social welfare in Germany

[marmar]

via Truthdig:



German High Court Outlines Profound Welfare Rights
Posted on Mar 22, 2010


Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has rejected cuts to the welfare state, ruling that all citizens, even the poor, have a right to a “minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life.” That’s a much higher standard than providing for food and other basic needs.

Christian Science Monitor:

Last month, the federal constitutional court said that a sweeping reform established five years ago to reduce what was then seen as an overburdened welfare system was unconstitutional. The reason: It failed to ensure its 6.7 million recipients, especially children, “a dignified minimum income” and give less privileged citizens a “minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life.”

The court gave Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition until year’s end to create a better model. And it unleashed heated debate over the future of Germany’s social model at a time when, from France to Greece, social unrest in Europe is widespread.

“The court said that it’s not enough to have food, clothes, and a roof – people also have to be able to participate in society, otherwise they become outcasts,” says Christoph Butterwegge, a poverty expert at the University of Cologne. “For the constitutional court to define social participation as a right, that’s unprecedented.”

Read more

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/german_high_court_outlines_profound_welfare_rights_20100322/

[CTyankee]

1. There you go with that socialism! How awful! Those poor, white Germans.

How they suffer...

[marmar]

2. I know.....Daimler-Mercedes Benz Welfare Queens.

:)

[comrade snarky]

3. This and Sarkozy's party getting trounced by socialists

In the French local elections.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/world/europe/13iht-france.html

Europe's looking good, that rightward turn we heard so much about doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended, good for the Germans.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.:thumbsup:

[CTyankee]

5. What is the matter with us? Why are we so backward?

I am ready to scream...can't stand this whole "socialist" thing going on in my country...I am so ashamed..

[Uncle Joe]

7. I believe it's because our "superpower" status has led us to be entrapped

in a web of pride, greed, arrogance and disdain for the non-wealthy/non-powerful.

In turn this has led many in our nation to believe we have all the answers losing the ability to learn the best lessons and experiences from other nations.

I also believe there is major disconnect between empire headquarters and the vast majority of American People.

Mega-Corporations, oligarchs and corporate media courtesans are the buffer forming the bubble between what political leaders consider to be important and what really matters to the nation as whole.

To this end I believe even political leaders can succumb to the peer pressure of Washington and influence of group brain washing from the corporate media.

If the corporate controlled media continually promote the idea to a young President that a particular bill must be passed do or die to make or break his/her Presidency, I believe that creates a false premise in the Chief Executive's mind's limiting their ability to adapt or push aggressively for quality substance instead of just pushing to pass a bill.

[malaise]

6. Great news

Rec