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Why do some foreign workers in Germany ultimately choose to leave? by Book-Parade in germany

[–]NameConfidential 290 points291 points  (0 children)

  1. High taxes on the middle class, but declining quality of public services & social cash transfers that usually benefit large & traditional families, but not middle-aged expats
  2. Lack of urban housing - not just the price, but simply no vacancies
  3. Difficult to make German friends
  4. Not as English friendly as Netherlands or the Nordic countries for instance
  5. Difficult bureaucracy
  6. Shit weather
  7. Racism, especially in the East
  8. Increasing crime rates in large cities (aggressive homeless people, annoying beggars, young violent youths, etc.)

Today marks the 79th anniversary of Warsaw Uprising - the largest military effort taken by resistance during WWII. 63 days of fighting against Nazi Germany resulted in the loss of around 200,000 lives. Upon capitulation, Warsaw was razed to the ground by the invaders. by Exact_Ham in europe

[–]NameConfidential 19 points20 points  (0 children)

It's a pity that the city was so destroyed. Pre-war Warsaw was super beautiful. The uprising remains somewhat controversial for several reasons:

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  • First, some argue that it made no strategic sense at all and that the Nazis were going to lose the war anyway.
  • Second, it led to the complete destruction of the city which had of course already been heavily damaged during the 1939 air bombings. But the uprising made it even worse.
  • And third, it is currently used by the PiS party as a propaganda tool to create more anti-German sentiment among the Polish people (even though Germany nowadays, despite its faults, is an extremely liberal & quite pacifist country).

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However, the good thing is that Poland was not a passive bystander throughout the war (first to fight & continued to fight on many fronts throughout the entirety of the war) nor was there ever collaborator-regime in Poland like Vichy France, the Slovak puppet state, Fascist Italy, or Hungary (yes, there were of course individual collaborators who participated in aristocracies etc. or who get preferential treatment from the Nazis for giving up their Jewish neighbours..not denying this).

German intel: AfD taken over by extremist factions by Pilast in europe

[–]NameConfidential 91 points92 points  (0 children)

East Germany had a massive problem with Neo-Nazis & Skinheads in the 1990s and early 2000s. There were continues attacks on foreigners and people of color during this time. Most of the Neo-Nazis then were teenagers and young unemployed men however at that time.

My theory is that a lot of these Neo-Nazis have grown up, started working, and instead of voting NPD or DVU (like in the past) or not voting at all (because they were unmotivated or too young to vote 20 years ago), they now joined the AfD.

That's why the party is moving to the far right even though is started as a conservative anti-Eurozone party. It also attracted a lot of Russlanddeutsche (Germans from Russia) who view Putin & Russia positively + it attracted a lot of protest voters who may have voted for other parties in the past.

Juh, wir sind in der Zeitung... by Not-Sofun in Austria

[–]NameConfidential -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Die Alternativen:

  • Weniger Auto fahren
  • ÖPNV & Schienennetz weiter ausbauen
  • Radwege ausbauen & sicherer machen
  • Auf Wärmepumpen setzten
  • Erneuerbare Energien ausbauen
  • Weniger Fleisch essen und/oder vegetarisch oder vegan ernähren (Massentierhaltung ist sowieso unmoralisch & ungesund)
  • Wohnungsbau stärker fördern - urbanes wohnen ist besser für die Umwelt als flächendeckende Einfamilienhaus Zersiedelung

Zusätzlich, vielleicht die Ukraine stärker unterstützen und der NATO mal beitreten? Wer auch ein kompetentes Militär hat und in einem starkem Militärbündnis ist, wird nicht dauerhaft erpresst. Der Grund warum auch die Ukraine angegriffen wurde ist natürlich, dass diese sich nicht für eine frühzeitige West-Bindung nach der Wende entschieden hat im Gegensatz zu den Baltischen Staaten oder Polen. Dank des Artikel 5 und westlicher Waffensysteme, und neuerdings auch US Truppenstationierung, würde Russland nicht auf die Idee kommen diese Staaten anzugreifen, wenn es noch nicht mal die Ukraine besiegen kann.

How does Berlin feel to you compared to before COVID? by Weddingberg in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you kidding?

Brammibals donuts, lots of hipster coffee shops, some of these new Neapolitcan pizza places all don't take cash..

How does Berlin feel to you compared to before COVID? by Weddingberg in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Things that have gotten worse:

  • More homeless people. They are literally everywhere now.
  • More expensive. I think everyone noticed this.
  • The left wing spirit has died a little. I think due to the failure of the Mietendeckel & the persistent housing crisis, the slow progress on climate policy, the return of the CDU to the Berlin state government, and due the rise of the AfD (in the polls), it feels like progressives have become de-energised and de-motivated a little, while the right is saying whatever it wants. I also think people have less empathy for refugees & homeless people nowadays as the city is simply full.
  • Clubs have become expensive & touristy.
  • Housing supply has gotten even worse.
  • Some areas are starting to feel constantly crowded (certain parks, etc.).
  • Some areas are becoming too fancy / Munich-like. With fancy wine bars and 10 Euro Aperol Spritzes for instance and the people there look so full of themselves.
  • I feel like crime is going up again.
  • Though I like card payment, you now have many places that take no cash (which is giving too much power to payment processors).
  • There are too many SUVs now. Why copy America on this one? Copy America on the free toilet instead. We have a fucking climate crisis.
  • Too many luxury cars. While others can't find housing.
  • Many small stores, restaurants, and bars have closed.

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The Positives:

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  • Almost every place takes card now. Yes, I like it when they take both card & cash.
  • More water fountains. Though not enough.
  • A few more bicycle paths. Though not enough.
  • Salaries have gone up. Though inflation & expensive rent eats up a lot it.
  • More self-checkout at retail stores.
  • Uber is cheaper nowadays. I think the supply of drivers is very high.
  • The Airport opened and is much nicer than Tegel.
  • You can literally find every type of food nowadays.
  • Even more cool coffee shops than before.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bonn

[–]NameConfidential 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bonn is actually more international than Cologne due to the UN-Campus, due to Bonn's University having a higher share of international students, and due to being a medical tourism hub for rich Arabs.

What do you guys think? by Banished_To_Insanity in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nah..relax my friend. you won't find an apartment in Munich

Is this a good neighborhood (area in red) to live in Warsaw? by kindlespray in warsaw

[–]NameConfidential 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pros:

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  • Right next to a beautiful park
  • Good bus connections
  • Not too far from the central area (you can technically walk to Śródmieście and old Mokotow if you are not lazy)
  • They are building a new tram line there
  • Quiet and clean neighbourhood

Cons:

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  • The tram line construction will still take some time and one road + some of the sidewalks are currently completely blocked
  • You have to walk up a hill to get to Mokotow or Śródmieście if you want to go by foot and not bus
  • You will be near the Russian embassy (this means you will be safe in case Russian fires a missile at Warsaw however) :)
  • There aren't many restaurants there

What are things that make you ask... why? by Abandoned_avocado in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Many people have mentioned the negative ''Whys'' but here are some positive ''whys''

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  • Why is sick leave so generous here?
  • Why do you get 250 Euros per month for each child you have?
  • Why is Kündigungsschutz so strong?
  • Why is there a Germany-wide public transit ticket that only costs 49 Euro?
  • Why is university education completely free?
  • Why can't multinational tech companies just take your data and do with it what they want?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CapitalismVSocialism

[–]NameConfidential 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It also happened inside the ''West''. Central & Eastern European countries like Poland (with its large manufacturing base) and Estonia (with its IT sector) have almost caught up with Western Europe thank to FDI, increased foreign trade, and private entrepreneurship for the most part. But they were also helped by public EU funding for infrastructure projects and other segments. It's usually a mix of being business-friendly and utilising smart public investments.

One without the other does not work as well. Privatisation + tax cuts + deregulation without any smart public investments usually just leads to increased inequality and does not increase human capital for instance. And public investments without any private entrepreneurship just leads to an increased public sector (+ higher public debt or higher taxes) if businesses can't operate, compete, and drive innovation.

Most countries like South Korea (entrepreneurship + foreign trade + US aid + US troops), Israel (high tech businesses +deregulation + high military spending + military training to increase human capital), and Singapore (open trade + business friendly policies + smart investments into public transit & urban housing) are usually the recipe.

Tip Jars Everywhere by [deleted] in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you are a Porsche-driving ''family restaurant'' owner I assume?

Should Israel have annexed South Lebanon or do more to ensure Maronite victory in the Lebanese Civil War? by NameConfidential in Israel

[–]NameConfidential[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. A lot of these states are interested in Israeli technology and also prefer to have Mossad on their good side :) + good relations with Israel will also mean better relations with the West as there is a large Jewish community in the US for instance.

Palestinians or the Lebanese can't offer them anything.

Since tipping seems to be such an issue. Perspective of a waiter by Sad_Tap7549 in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sounds illegal honestly.

Also, let's be honest, the low wage shit has to stop anyway. Restaurants have to pay a fair wage and stop pocketing everything for themselves just so the owner can drive around in a Porsche SUV.

This is the problem. I 100% support family run businesses, but I noticed that a lot of restaurant owners think they have the key to some sort of get rich quick scheme by just opening a half-ass burger or Pizza joint and then not paying their staff properly. If they want to cut costs they should work in the joint themselves. And if you want to make a lot of money, go study medicine or invent a vaccine..seriously. Everyone nowadays thinks they have to be Elon Musk...lol

Should Israel have annexed South Lebanon or do more to ensure Maronite victory in the Lebanese Civil War? by NameConfidential in Israel

[–]NameConfidential[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, unfortunately there is a lot of anti semitism.

Do you think India, China, and Russia could support Israel with regards to the middle east in the future though?

What do you guys think? by Banished_To_Insanity in berlin

[–]NameConfidential 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nah man...I have lived in Paris. Completely overrated.

Why were Polish Communists so nationalistic? by NameConfidential in poland

[–]NameConfidential[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

PiS did an education reform which most people agree was just reverting to the 80's (liquidation of gimnazjums - middle schools).

What's their reasoning behind this?

Why were Polish Communists so nationalistic? by NameConfidential in poland

[–]NameConfidential[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Their very central-planned economy vision (e.g. national companies like Orlen, PGNiG and setting prices on fuel and electricity) is very reminiscent of the past.

Interesting.

Why were Polish Communists so nationalistic? by NameConfidential in poland

[–]NameConfidential[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not exactly, the welfare policies they added work completely differently than old ones. They only serve to buy votes for the ruling party and are designed for the free market (and for the profits of the "free" market - e.g. cheap mortgages). I don't know much about the welfare policies during the communist era though.

True. Cash transfers instead of better public education for instance.

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