(page 223)
On Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 12:45 PM, Wojtek S <wsoko52 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Government social spending as percent of the GDP:
> http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?datasetcode=SOCX_AGG
>
> Germany 26.7%
> Belgium 26.4%
> France 29.2%
> US 15.9%
> Mexico 7.4%
>
> The US is closer to Mexico (+8.5%) than to Germany (-10.8%). Need I say
> more?
>
> Wojtek
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 20, 2010 at 12:17 PM, Angelus Novus
> <fuerdenkommunismus at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Joanna wrote:
> >
> >> Angelus could do all of us a big favor by writing about the situation of
> >> the welfare state in Europe.
> >
> > I can really only talk about Germany, but since that seems to be the
> favorite example of North American Europhiles, it will probably do.
> >
> > Previously, there were three types of unemployment assistance.
> Arbeitslosengeld, for the recently unemployed, calculated as a percentage
> of one's previous wage, and payed for a duration depending upon how long one
> had worked. Then, Arbeitslosenhilfe, for the long-term unemployed, also
> calculated as a percentage of one's former wage, but a lower percentage, and
> payed long-term after one had fallen off Arbeitslosengeld. Finally,
> Sozialhilfe, mainly limited to those who had never worked and offering a
> baseline of social security, and often association with socially stigmatized
> groups (the disabled, drug addicts, etc.).
> >
> > Hartz IV is effectively an American "workfare" model. To obtain state
> assistance, one signs a so-called "Eingliederungsvereinbarung" ("Integration
> Agreement") in which one is obligated to fulfill certain tasks, such as
> writing so and so many job applications per month, etc., with "violations"
> of the agreement punished with up to 30% cut in services for the first
> "violation". Further "violations" can be punished with a cut of 100%. Your
> caseworker can slot you into senseless 1 Euro jobs picking trash in the
> park, etc.
> >
> > As mentioned previously, and what the smug idiots on this list who think
> they know better than somebody who lives here continue to ignore, is that
> Hartz IV recipients are also robbed of elementary civil rights, such as the
> right to leave town without notifying a caseworker, or change apartments
> without obtaining permission from the Jobcenter beforehand.
> >
> > Doug Henwood wrote:
> >
> >> And it'd be nice if he showed some understanding of why Americans might
> >> find Europe, or a fantasy of Europe, appealing
> >
> > What is this even supposed to suggest? I should continue to deny social
> reality so that pollyannas like Dennis Redmond can continue to nurture
> comforting illusions?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ___________________________________
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> >
>
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