[muawiyah]

This is stupid. Anyone who's ever studied the problem knows that keeping government employees on the clock longer leads to a proportionate but geometric increase in next year's budget!

Sending them home early is the only way to truly cut costs.

[Gumdrop]

Interesting how the German populace became so lazy with all the welfare benefits. Up until about 1980 they were among the most industrious workers in Europe, hence their prosperity. The uniting with the eastern sector in 1990 dealt a sever blow to the economy, bacause of having to absorb all those socialists into the western system. Unfortunately the western politicians capitulated to union demands.

Interesting too the Bavaria has alread instituted longer hours for civil servants. That's why Bavaria is the most prosperous of the states and usually votes more conservative.

[NovemberCharlie]

Germany's budget deficit, about half of which stems from federal government funding shortfalls,

Isn't a budget deficit by definition a funding shortfall?

[Moonman62]

Why don't they just raise taxes instead? Did the rich finally run out of money, or did they leave the country?