Posted on 12/31/2010 9:10:27 AM PST by Gamecock
Two politicians have caused outrage in Berlin by demanding that recipients of the unemployment benefit known as Hartz IV not waste their money on fireworks.
Germans usually spend over €100 million on fireworks in the three days leading up to the New Year. Although there are no statistics on how much of this cash is unemployment benefit, two Berlin politicians decided to give those on welfare some end-of-year advice.
"Unemployment benefit, which is paid by the state, should not be blown on rockets and bangers," Cornelia Seibeld of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) told Berlin newspaper B.Z..
This came in reaction to reports from shopkeepers that some welfare recipients were spending up to €150 on fireworks, nearly half of the monthly Hartz IV payment of €359.
Björn Jotzo of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) told the spendthrifts, "It would make more sense if they invested in a balanced diet, instead of bangers," before adding, "But some Hartz IV recipients are spending a lot of money on fireworks, even though they should be more frugal."
But the pair stopped short of calling for a ban on unemployed people buying fireworks. "Such a ban would not be enforceable, the bureaucratic complexity would be too big," said Seibeld. "A voluntary abstention would make more sense."
Benefit recipients interviewed by the paper were unimpressed by the suggestion they should let those with a job have all the fun. "I saved the money ahead of time," said 18-year-old Mostafa Khodr, who spent €80 on fireworks this year. "And I'm not going to let anyone tell me what to spend it on."
Single mum Sylvia Demski agreed, "My sons deserve a bit of New Year's fun, and they shouldn't have to go without just because I'm unemployed."
bookmarked
Bunch of amateurs...those fireworks are for beginners.
You mean that Germans buy fireworks with their unemployment money, as opposed to booze and cigarettes. How un-American!!
Last year I lived in Germany, in a rather small town.
The amount of fireworks that were launched by the townsfolk at midnight rivaled many organized firework shows I have attended.
Hilarious!
I’m sure that the unemployed will heed the advice. /s
How very entitled of you, Mostafa.
When you attempt to help people by giving them something for nothing in return they come to resent you.
That’s just the way it works anyone serving in the Salvation Army can explain to you in more detail.
Isn't that what started WWII?
Those wacky Germans. What's next? Are they going to tell unemployed they can't spend their checks at casinos?
And the winner of today’s Satirical Questions Game is................................................
Hmmm.. German unemployed buying explosives...
Isn’t that what started WWII?
9 posted on Fri 31 Dec 2010 11:17:14 AM CST by Fido969
Why don’t they just burn cars, like the yutes in France do?
I can hear the area residents blowing off some fireworks.
I just shake my head and grin at them.
Hookers, yes. Dope, no problem. But don’t you spend any unemployment money on fireworks. Why, that could be dangerous!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.