IMHO the SPD just claims to be social, but is not. The left wing partys talk what people want to hear. All reforms they made (like Hartz IV) have one serious flaw: they still support the lazy ass and punish diligence. Who cares to build up an existence if the state takes it all away from you? If you have nothing, you lose nothinig.
And a fact which noone wants to hear: Buerocracy and labor unions have made Germany unattractive for industries. There can't be any socialism before the industry is back on track - all the promises the current government has made for 7 years can't be realised because it's utopy. Give them another 4 years and our industry and commerce will be completely ruined. Don't they have done enough damage?
The problem with Merkel is: she may be a good politician, but is a bad entertainer. Schröder has tremendous carisma, and that already won him the 2002 election. Only after the election, people will realise they have been fooled again by his charme. Even worse with Lafontaine: he's all showman, talks what people want to hear, but with no concepts that can bring any good.
Without a strong economy, there can be no ecology or socialism - that's what most people don't want to hear, but it's a fact.
And what has the SPD done for families? Made full-time-schools? Sorry this is not pro-family IMO, au contraire. What is a family if both parents have to work to get around, and the kids are in the State's care the whole day - not what I call a family life.
I'm not a great fan of CDU either, but the left wing has done about everything wrong what could be done wrong. That's why my vote goes with CDU or FDP, if the current government stays on, everything will get much much worse.
Sorry for the political rant, but it pains me to see how people are blinded by our chancellor's charme again and forget all the crap he and his government have caused in the past years.
Right now Vosla might need better social welfare, but actually he needs a job! And he's not going to get one if the current gov stays on. If this keeps on, there will be no jobs and money left for any welfare at all.
My humble opinion.
Anyway Vosla, I really hope your situation improves soonish!
- Markus
