Bloody Germans

9. Social Welfare

Another area where the German is by far better off than their British counterpart, is within the social welfare schemes. Britain, and quite a number of its people, have been under the impression that their NHS (National Health Service) is by far the best and fairest system throughout the world -- it’s been a long-standing issue where hard political battles have been fought with slogans such as.., “The NHS is safe is our hands!”

There was much waving of arms and angry gnashing of teeth, when one it appeared as if the ruling Conservative Party of that time, looked like they were attempting to tear down the NHS and replace it with  private health schemes --

“It’ll be a ‘two-tier’ medical system!” Was the shout of the time. 

The National Health Service has become a British institution -- and one that has to be saved at all costs!

But why?

Most of the time it is run down and cannot cope. And no matter how much money or resources each political party claim to be putting into it within their term of office -- the system still has long queues waiting for medical treatment, lack of modern medical equipment in all hospitals, over worked doctors, a shortage of badly paid and overworked nurses. The list, once again -- goes on and on.

Government after government have done all they can to reduce the embarrassing long waiting lists -- but the only ‘medical’ advancements I have seen, is in the ‘doctoring’ of how the waiting list is accessed; now people have to queue up for longer on an ‘unaccountable’ well-hidden list called, ‘Waiting to See the Consultant’!

Britain’s NHS is a system that proves time and time again -- that it just does not work! And those who are able -- through drastic measures such as fund-raising, selling their house or maybe, they can simply afford it, will jubilantly limp away from the NHS and go to private medical care.

It seems as if the politicians in Britain are all telling us there are only ‘two’ choices open to us; a National Health Service, where everybody has a certain amount of money deducted from their regular pay-packet to go into a State NHS fund -- along with other State projects such as, Pensions and Social Security. Or we can belong to a private scheme, to not only cover all medical costs, but also to guarantee a better quality of service and without having to join a long patient queue. It is also worth noting here, that those joining the private scheme will still have to contribute in full to the NHS plan.

Those two choices now operate in Great Britain; those who can afford the private schemes, are getting better treated in private hospitals, and those who cannot, are having to queue up for the under-funded second rate National Health scheme.

There is without a doubt, a ‘two-tier’ medical system already going on in Great Britain.

Britain’s National Health System, is by far -- not the best State medical system throughout the world, and it is definitely not one to feel proud about either, or defend with so much vigour. And neither is the private medical system the only other option left open to all. There is another system right bang in the centre of it all -- one that has been operating quite well for many years and is here for all British politicians to openly see..,

I refer of course, to the Health programme out here in Germany.

The German Health System

The Germans have what many in Britain might consider as a private medical scheme. But on closer examination, one can quite easily see that it is not that the idea is not far away from Britain’s own National Health system -- except for one thing; although the plan is fully supported by -- it is not run by the German State.

Like the British, the Germans also have to pay regularly into a compulsory scheme which is deducted from their regular pay. Over ninety percent of Germany’s residents receive their medical health-care though money paid into statuary, no-profit making, health insurance schemes. Others, not insured by these funds; mostly civil servants and the self-employed, are covered by various other but albeit, profit-making private insurance organisations. The remainder of the population, which includes the very rich, who have no need of any of these schemes -- and of course the poor, who will receive their medical help through social assistance.

But the main thing is, everybody -- no matter what scheme they are on, will all use the same health care facilities, and no one in need of care will, or can be turned away without running a risk of violating the code of medical ethics or Land hospital laws.

The right to health care in Germany,  is regarded as ‘sacrosanct’.

Employers and employees, each pay half of the premiums that are set only against their earnings, and not the condition of their health, marital status or how many children they have. And all working members within one family, will pay the same amount into the one particular fund. Those who become unemployed, remain with their insurance fund; their contributions are now paid for by the government social assistance offices. Pensioners contributions are paid for by their pension fund.

The insurance schemes also take in most dentist care, except for the more expensive treatments, like new dentures or caps, where the  insured patients will pay for half of the cost.

Germany enjoys it’s own kind of ‘National Health Scheme’ where everybody can feel safely insured; from the very rich to the poor, the young to the old, and the healthy to the chronically sick.

The Health Care providers consists of physicians and dentist, plus three different kinds of hospitals; public, private non-profit and private for profit. Also included within the frame, are the ambulance services, the large pharmaceutical companies and the manufactures of medical equipment and supplies. The administration of these health care providers is independent from the state; each hospital negotiates a contract with the regional sickness-fund insurance organisations, to cover such costs as hospital services and care. The hospital investments and equipment costs are met by the normal revenues of the Land.

During my time in Germany, I had to go into hospital for a week

Despite my ailments, I found my stay quite comfortable; I shared a room with only one other and next to my bed was a telephone, that also operated the television high above in the corner of the room. I found the service wonderful and I certainly had the feeling I was in safe hands.

For me, it was like being in a private hospital -- which I suppose, in someway it was.

The only two problems I did encounter, was in fully comprehending what all the doctors were uttering about me and my condition when they did their morning rounds. But enough was explained to me afterwards by my own medical consultant in a ‘half-English -- half-Deutsch’ way. The other difficulty was in trying to have my beloved cornflakes for breakfast -- though the product is on sale in all the German shops, for some quirky reason, it wasn’t on the hospital breakfast menu. But this minor problem was easily resolved, when instead of requesting flowers, fruit or grapes from my visitors -- I asked them to instead, bring me in a nice big box of cornflakes.

I thought, isn’t it strange how quickly one can get used to being poked around by so many strangers; the medical doctors and nurses, whilst in hospital -- and at anytime of the day or night. I suppose we just get to trust them so much whilst in hospital -- we simply hand over our bodies to them on a plate. Yet curiously enough, we don’t appear to exhibit that same loss of our inhibitions when we visit our General Practitioner at their surgery -- no matter how many times we venture there, or even, how well we get to know them..,

Why is that so, I wonder?

It also appears, that we humans are so strange when it comes to medical problems within certain provinces of our bodies.

If  we had a pain in our arm or leg, it wouldn’t cause us any real concern whatsoever to mention this to another person, or even to talk about it amongst a large group of colleagues, whilst having lunch in the works canteen..,

‘... You know.., I got this pain right under my elbow and its been tormenting me for days now -- do you think I should make an appointment to see my Doctor?’

The conversation would then spread around the dining table, maybe even go over to another distant table..,

“Mary! You remember when you had a pain under your elbow -- what did the Doctor say to you about what caused it?”

And Mary would come over to our table and join in the debate, with everybody around offering loads and heaps of advice about our ailments.

But supposing our indisposition concerned our more nether regions -- what if we feared we had haemorrhoids?

“... You know, I got this pain right up my backside and it’s giving me jib -- do you think I should make an appointment to see my Doctor?”

“ ‘Ere Mary! You remember when you had a piles -- what did the Doctor say to you about how you could get rid of it -- did it work?”

Poor Mary, would be red-faced and out the canteen door quick!

Why is this so?

It’s the same thing when we visit our own Doctor; no problem there about seeking help and advice concerning a twinge in our neck or back -- but a same twinge in our nether regions would certainly cause us some distress.

Here is my nightmare scenario...,

“I’d like to make an appointment to see the Doctor please!”

“And what is your problem -- is it an emergency?”

“Well it could be -- that is why I want to see the Doctor -- to find out if its serious or not!”

“Well the Doctor is quite busy all this week, and what with today’s appointments, he is well in arrears. His work load just seems to come in piles and piles and he has hardly had an opportunity to sit down. I am pretty much all behind myself.  I could put you on the bottom of his work-pile -- I don’t as a rule bend over backwards for patients, but if you had of allowed me to get more to the seat of your problem, maybe I could have pulled a few strings and got the Doctor to look you up straightaway. If you could just take a seat over there -- by the way, are you from Australia, you do sound a bit down-under to me?”

So now, we have managed to get past the first embarrassing hurdle of the Doctor’s receptionist, and await to be called in to see the Doctor himself..,

“Good morning.., and how are you feeling today?”

“Oh not too bad thank-you Doctor Peeper, but I just have one slight niggly problem -- it’s probably nothing for me to worry about, I think I may be just wasting your time?”

“Well, let me be the judge of that -- what kind of problems are you experiencing -- can you take off your coat and roll up your sleeve?”

“No, it’s not my arm this time Doc., I am getting this slight irritation at my rear!”

“Oh I thought that back problem of yours had gone away long ago -- perhaps I should prescribe you another course of Backa-hurtsme-alot”

“No Doctor -- it’s not my back.., the problems are much further down.., and up, this time!”

“Not the old knee problem playing you up again --  let me have a look at it!”

“No Doctor! The problem is with my backside!”

“Your posterior -- oh that makes a change -- undo your lower clothing and let me have a good look!”

“I have been getting a bit of pain there for some weeks now and I wondered..,”

“Well, I can’t seem to see any bruising of any kind -- where about on your posterior are you feeling the pain?”

“Doctor.., the pain is not on my backside -- it’s up it!”

“Oh I see -- why didn’t you say so in the first place? Take your clothes off completely so that I can have a proper look!”

“How’s this Doctor?”

“No, you’d better take off your lower undergarments as well -- and then lean over this table with the tip of your nose touching my blotter-pad!”

“How’s this Doctor?”

“That’s fine...., Hmmmmm.., I cannot seem to see any immediate problems -- I will need to look into the area further -- can you put both your hands on each cheek, and then pull them aside a bit while I put on my torch magnifying glass?”

“Like this Doctor?”

“Yes.., but can you stretch it open a little further please -- I had better put on my large black rubber gloves!”

“Uhhhh! This is far as I can stretch it Doc...,"

“I still cannot see any problem there -- are you feeling the pain more from the outer regions or do they come from much deeper?”

“I don’t really know Doctor -- I have not put too much thought into it -- all I know is that something up there is giving me jib!”

“I’ll have to look into this further -- can you remain as you are.., but take away your hands so that I can attach this mechanical posterior stretcher apparatus onto you!”

“Will it be painful Doctor..,”

“No.., not a bit, but it might be for you -- just hold still while I turn the handle around a few times to allow me a good view!”

“Ooooommmphhhh!!! I do hope that this is for real Doctor and your not from Candid Camera!”

“Don’t be silly -- I wouldn’t do such a nasty thing like that to you.., problems like this are run-of-the-mill stuff for us Doctors -- you have no reason to feel embarrassed!"

“I guess so Doc -- but you must admit, it must have been very difficult for you when you first began as a Doctor?”

“I can’t remember that far back -- why don’t you ask one of the fifty student Doctors that have been watching us from up there in the balcony!”

Medical Practitioners

Another big difference between the way the two countries run their medical system, is in how much more freedom the Germans have over the British when it comes to choosing which Medical Practitioner they choose to visit.

In Britain, the choice is quite limited; one can only sign on with a General Practitioner who runs a surgery within their allotted catchment area; a radius of three miles from where the patient resides. The rules stipulate quite categorically that if a patient should move out of the catchment area -- no matter how long they may have been a patient of a doctor, or their medical centre, the person must re-register with another practitioner at a centre or surgery that lies within their new district boundaries.  This rule can be broken, if a doctor so wishes, and I have known this to be the case, but it is very rare and in all cases, the choice lies only in the hands of the General Practitioner. A patient is only allowed to register with one medical practice and they must continue to go to that centre unless they sign-off and re-register with another, but within in the same catchment area.

In Germany, the choice is always with the patient over which doctor they prefer to receive their treatment from -- no matter where live, or where the medical practice is located. Once a person belongs to a health insurance scheme, the organisation will issue the insured with a plastic smart-card that will include all the patients membership details. When a patient decides to visit a doctor or dentist -- any doctor or dentist that they wish, the smart-card is first handed over to the medical receptionist. From there, the receptionist will automatically obtain all details of the insured and the costs will be both covered and paid for by the medical insurance company.

On top of this, an insured person can choose or change their preferences over where they go and who they see, at anytime and for as many times as they wish.

The freedom of choice is far greater in Germany, than it has ever been in Britain -- when it comes to choosing your own doctor or dentist.

Collecting Revenues

In Britain, whenever an employee is paid, they will have money deducted for their contributions towards the National Health, Social Security and Pension funds; an employer will also pay a part of this fund. On top of this, an employee will also pay tax, set against their wages.

In Germany, an employee will do much the same, with their deductions for separate funds like, Tax, Pension, Health and Unemployment Insurance -- contribution costs, are also shared by their employer. On top of this, a German will pay other contributions towards Long-term Care, a Solidarity Fund; a small fund to meet the costs of German reunification, and if they belong to a church organisation, they will also pay regularly towards a Church Fund.

But from what I can see, although the regular contributions appear fairly similar within each country, the big difference between them both, is that in Germany -- each contribution that is collected for an individual fund -- will go directly into that specific fund and is not directed towards any other. In Britain, all the money that is collected in from the various State Fund Contributions, seems to end up in one big Government pot -- and then it gets dished-out to the separate entities by what ever amount the Government or Chancellor of the day sees fit in their Budget Speech.

This allocation of funds is where the whole system must fall down; under this knotty device, money that is paid into a health fund, could go towards building a motorway extension, or the same money collected from drivers paying for their road tax, could end up helping towards balancing the books on the Pension Fund -- and so on.

If it wasn’t so ludicrous, it would be hilarious --  no wonder many things like Britain’s hospitals, pensions and even roads, are in such a chaotic mess with such a disorganised way of paying for it all. I mean, this is basic home-management here -- what do they do each year.., hold a raffle?

The Germans seem to have got it all down to a fine art -- everything is organised with each concern collecting its own revenue -- and should any one operation begin to fall short of its demands, then the revenue will be put up on that particular fund to help maintain it more. In Britain, it is so nonsensical and confusing with their system; a government, trying to please the voters, will announce big income tax-cuts or rises in pension allowances, to the rejoices of everybody -- which is why they do it! But to balance the books to pay for this gift -- they will have to put up one or more of the other fund contributions; it’s nothing more than a borrow from Peter to pay back Paul system!

Britain seems to do the very same with every revenue it collects -- it all gets thrown into one giant government pot, that goes towards paying for all.

Britain once had a local revenue fund that every householder had to pay -- it was called Local Rates. The revenue was to help pay for things like the local emergency services, refuge collections, libraries and other town and city costs. But it was really no more than an add-on to the usual Income Tax, cunningly disguised under a new name to keep the people sweet. A few years down the line, when the Government realised they needed more income to pay for all their schemes -- instead of falling foul to the voting populous, they once again created a new local tax system, and called it -- A Local Council Tax. This was a replacement plan for the old Rates Tax, in which all householders had to pay. Now everybody in the household, who was over 18 and not attending any education, had to pay their bit towards it. They announced to the populus, that the reason they changed the scheme, was because it was fairer to everybody all round. Some people bought this; they sat around the dinner table, with the husband proudly saying to his wife and working kids --

“Why should I have to pay for it all -- now you lot have to contribute as well!”

But it was all just more money that was being sneakily taken away from the family budget -- just another way of raising the whole family income tax, but in a new guise; the more money the local councils could rake-up -- the less the Government have to give them from their big pot!

German residents do not have to pay for local rates or for anything like Britain’s Council Tax; all their expenditures are more honest and upfront -- it is all covered by one State Tax.

Everybody in Britain knows for sure, that for whatever reason revenue is collected to supposedly improve on one particular scheme -- all the proceeds are directed to, and then diverted, from one large State Fund -- A Big Government Pot!

Pensions

Other significant differences between the two countries, is in the retirement age; in Britain, it is 60 for woman and 65 for men. In Germany, it is 65 for both men and women, with an option of either retiring at the age of 60, where they would incur a small reduction on their pension. The pension itself, in Britain they have an allowance for single or married couple. In Germany, each are entitled to their own separate state pension, accounting for all the time they had both worked, and the amount of subscriptions they individually paid in.

On average, the state pensions in Germany is at least forty per cent more than in Great Britain.

Unemployment in Britain

In this, as in all cases of extreme pain, there always lies a simple but significant fact; to become ‘unemployed’ one must first obtain the sack!

Getting the sack can come to us all in many a variable degree; it can derive from redundancy, or being, ‘laid off’ because there is not enough work coming in, going out or being done!  An early retirement, is also what they sometimes call it -- another word is, ‘cutbacks’ or ‘streamlining’ -- new words that are being created all the time by management to try and dilute, or at least allow you to see that the demise of you and your post, are just a very sensible and reasonable company decisions. But for you, no matter how it is described, it all means the same thing --

“You’re Fired!!”

To some, this can come as a deep shock and one is so often swayed to drink. But deep thought must be given to your main priorities; one must remain stable in themselves and their emotions. Besides, this is no right time to be having a party!

In Britain, the first thing that the unemployed have to do is, ‘Sign-on at the Labour’.

 

‘The Job Centre’ and it’s accomplice ‘The Department of Social Security’ will become our new bosses. This system relies solely on the strength of one’s backbone..,  to be able to stand up all day in one of their many queues. I feel sure that The ‘British Queuing System’ was first originated at one of these departments and is still undergoing severe test; even as I write.

I once saw a sign that read, ‘To avoid the delay in queuing, please go to entrance D and make an appointment.’ I rushed straight round there -- but there was a long queue! 

They have queues to tell where to queue and queues to tell you where not to queue. They’ve got queues going up, queues going down and queues that run around in complete circles. There’s a queue for a form, a queue for a pen and another queue to tell how you to fill it.  Then there’s a queue for an envelope and yet, another queue to tell you where you have to queue - to find out when you’ve got to come back again to find the queue, that tells you which queue you have to queue in! And at the end of that queue -- you find you're in another queue, and that tells you -- you are in the wrong queue!

Believe me, queuing up at any one of the many Social Security buildings is a skill that can take up several years of training to fully master. Old veterans should run a crash course -- maybe they do! If you any of you want to find out more about this, just pop down to your local office and look for the right queue -- if you cannot find it, then ask at ‘Enquiries’ -- but I warn you, ‘Enquiries’ is the longest queue of all as most of the Social Security staff are in it!

The next problem that being unemployed has to encounter, is in the seeking of future employment.

Even Parliament haven’t yet worked out that --  ‘The far more people that become unemployed -- the far less employment is created’ And this is what really causes unemployment --

People not working! 

Bosses become inundated with it all and find it extremely hard to cope with -- they haven’t enough chairs!  My suggestion is, nip down for the interviews while everybody else is stuck in one of them queues. And if this good idea gets spread about too much -- then nip back again sharply to Social Security, and get first in-line in the queue. Even if you do end up in the wrong queue -- at least you might get sorted out before teatime!

It is a pure fact, that going for a job interview requires a great deal of experience. The gift or talent has been recognised my many of the big companies. Often, I notice that their job advertisement demand, ‘Only the experienced need apply’. Myself, I am  getting so good at interviews, that I have decided to give up looking for a job and go to interviews instead.

I often wonder, what boss in his right mind wants to spend hour upon hour talking to hundreds of people? Either he is extremely lonely or he’s got no work to do -- so, in which case, he should be made redundant!

And as for all those forms and letters I used to write and send off -- I bet by now, the whole world knows all about me now. The times I’ve sat there and wrote page upon page about how wonderful I am -- and all to a complete stranger.  If I write anymore of those letters, I’ll become so egotistical and self-indulgent -- I’ll wind up in a 'loony bin’ kissing mirrors all day!

And then what happens after I have spent weeks, money, time and effort on an interview?

They will just look at me with a glint in their eye and say, ‘We’ll let you know!’ And then they grin at me inanely as I walk out the door, go home and spend the next ten days sleeping under my letter box.

I think I got it figured out; if all the unemployed were to fill all the forms and write all the letters for every job that is advertised -- then somewhere along that line, there’s just gotta be a few more vacancies up at the Post Office.

You see, you just gotta be one step ahead of them all the time!

At first, after I had received my initial one hundred and fifty six rejections, I started to take it all so very personal. I started to have serious doubts about myself. I was becoming so nervous, I even had to ‘psych’ myself up to go outside to my dustbin. I thought, maybe I need a nose job!  I went so low within myself, I said ‘Hello’ to all my ancestors. I even checked up with everybody from my hairdresser to my foot specialist, and I made two further appointments, one was with a ‘Faith Healer’ and the other, a ‘Medium’. But none of them could find anything that was really wrong with me.

But then I saw it -- it wasn’t me, it was them -- they were the ones at fault!

Did you know, when you go for an interview, the very last thing you let them imagine is that you want the job --  it’s true I tell you! And the worse thing you can do is let them know that you are desperate. The more they know about  how you truly feel -- the more fun they’ll have in watching you squirm in that hot sticky purposely designed but imitation plastic chair that’s been swivelled down to its lowest notch to make you look even ‘squirmier’ And even then, that chair has been placed in an ‘off-position’ so that when you try to move it and face your interviewer head on -- you can’t.  Because it has once again, been ‘purposely’ nailed to the floor!

You just don’t realise what tricks these people get up to.  Sometimes, I feel sure that one day I am going to walk into an office and find that the chair has been firmly fixed to the floor, in front of his desk -- but placed the wrong way around! These office types, they don’t muck about with them silver ball office toys anymore -- no, they’re into human torture, it’s more fun!

No.., I’m onto their little game. I make them really believe that I don’t want their rotten job. I go out of my way to make them think I am having a wonderful time on the jolly ol’ ‘King Cole’ (Dole). I ask them to hurry up with the interview as I am meeting some friends afterwards for a picnic on the beach. They get so jealous and upset when I do that.  They try to spoil it all by offering me the job! But then, this is where I sometimes go wrong, I hit the ceiling with joy and  he looms in at me with big eyes that say, ‘kill’ and gives me one of his, ‘however’s’ --  and I finish up being forced out of his office whilst demanding a retrial.

We spend so much time running around, trying to figure out all these people and their departments -- we could do with a job just to have a blimmin’ rest.

Once I went into my local ‘Job Centre’ and told them that I had been seriously thinking about getting involved with some Charity or Community Work, I enquired about information or literature.. The guy behind the desk just smiled at me and then continued to fill out his lottery card.

 

“You know?” I  said, “Like home-care for the elderly or the sick and disabled -- it may not pay me any wages -- but at least it would give me lots of satisfaction in knowing that I am doing something for my fellow man, and in turn, it’ll make me feel a worthy part of the community or society as a whole!” 

He told where I could join a queue to obtain information on how to find a good psychiatrist!

This is just a tiny fraction of what it’s like being daubed with the ‘unemployment scar’ in Great Britain’ -- we spend most of our time being plagued by a lot of people, in lots of suits, behind even more, lots of desks -- and all situated in a colourful array of lots n’ lots of offices -- or even, to visit us at our home. We’ve got one telling us that we can’t have anymore money, another telling us that they want more money and a third asking us why we haven’t got any money!

We just sit there in the middle wondering, ‘Why don’t they just get together and leave me out of the argument?’

If the first one gave me some more money, then the third would be happy about it long enough until the second came along, and took it all away again.

When we’re working and earning, we have to become an expert in handling our money but when we become  unemployed -- we have to become a better expert in how to ‘not handle money’ -- and an even better expert in dealing with people who want money when we haven’t got any.

Being unemployed in Britain is an absolute nightmare, simply because of the system they have set up to deal with it.

Unemployment in Germany

The system for the unemployed is quite different in Germany.

 

In Britain, once a claimant has registered themselves as unemployed, they have to report each fortnight to a Benefits Claimant Office, established within a local Job-centre. Every fortnight, the unemployed have to sign a legal testament to further their claim of being still unemployed and have done no work (even unpaid), since their last visit to the office, two weeks prior. In Britain, they call this, signing-on. After having signed-on, claimants will receive a Benefit cheque for the two week period. A separate, but practically repeat form-filling claim has to be made for their housing costs, in which they receive yet another fortnightly benefit cheque.

However, in Germany, the unemployed are paid either by cash or cheque each month. That money will include payment for their rent. The German unemployed, once they have been registered as unemployed, never have to periodically call in at the office to sign-on, as is the procedure in Great Britain. Instead, they may receive letters from the unemployment office, giving them lists of jobs that are on offer, that they must apply for. If after a time, a claimant still remains unemployed, they could possibly receive yet another letter to call in at their local Job-centre office.

Unemployment Benefit in Britain, is set at a standard rate and lasts up to only six months, after that, if the person still remains unemployed, they go on to a separate Income Support; given several names over the past years -- right now, it’s called Jobseekers Allowance, but it amounts to the same thing --  Social Security Income Support.

In Germany, Unemployment Benefit last for 12 months, and is set against 70 per cent of the claimants previous wage.

The payment and treatment of the unemployed in Germany, is many times fairer than in UK. For one thing, the German claimants are not made to feel less of themselves, due to their unfortunate predicament. Unlike it has been in Britain for many years, in Germany, there appears to be no standard set of psychological procedures that merely set out to humiliate or remove the dignity from the unemployed. Knocking a guy when he is already down, is open-season on the unemployed in UK; I suppose some Government authorities believe that unemployment is a thing of choice, and so to induce humiliation as much as possible onto a claimant, is one sure good method to change their point of view.

Hitting the unemployed becomes a favourite political sport, especially come Election and Party Political Conference time --

“The world would be a wonderful place to live in -- if it wasn’t for them nasty lowlife unemployed!!!”

But in saying this, Germany does have its own methods for those who think it’s easier to remain unemployed; anytime, after the full entitlement of Unemployment Benefit has passed, an unemployment office, who considers an applicant  to be trying to pull the wool over their eyes -- they could be called into the office and be given a period of up to six weeks, to work on local community tasks. No matter what their previous occupation status was, all will be assigned the same type of manual work.  But this procedure is not designed to bring on any shame to the unemployed -- everybody is issued the standard overalls or uniform for the job, and when they are at work, they will blend in with the other regular workers who are doing the same job. The temporary unemployed worker is also paid the same going rate as the regular permanent workers. In Britain, such a scheme similar to this, has the unemployed worker earning a mere ten pounds above his dole. This is regarded by most as, cheap labour -- which indeed it is.

The whole German idea of putting long-term unemployed to work, is to prevent them from falling into a rut and feeling on the outside of any future employment -- many times, the scheme has an opposite effect to which it was first designed; the unemployed are suddenly forced to seek that extra incentive to find work -- to save them from being called upon to do community work.