Sonntag, Dezember 11, 2005

4.5 Milliarden Euro Schulden

haben die Deutschen Haushalte. Mein Ex-Chef Stephan ist ziemlich schockiert darüber. Das kann man auch sein, wenn man die Progression beobachtet, mit der diese Zahl in den letzten Jahren gewachsen ist (1999: 250 Millionen). Er vermutet

There will be a lot of companies filing bankruptcy during next year. This is really sad news. Unfortunately I have no idea why this is happening, but really would like to know.

Ich denke, solche Dinge entwickeln sich nicht plötzlich und unvermittelt, sondern die Gründe dafür liegen irgendwo in der Vergangenheit. Dann gibt es einen davon eigentlich unabhängigen Event, der aber dummerweise die schon vorab verursachten Probleme eskaliert. Meiner Meinung nach ist die auf viel zu teure Weise umgesetzte Wiedervereinigung der Anlass und der Katalysator, der das Kartenhaus zum Einsturz brachte, war die Euro-Umstellung. Meine Antwort ist somit:

One reason is the Euro. I myself had no small salary at that time but nearly went bankrupt nine months after the change from D-Mark to Euro. I am settled now, but only because i do the math on everything i'm spending. You surely remember, that we went to cinema nearly every week, then? Now it's once per month. We wouldn't have gone to a cinema demanding 20 D-Mark for one movie back in 1999, right?
Second reason: The reunification costs. I remember, that short before Kohl rushed into it without really having a proper plan, lots of experts appelled for reason, because the currency change rate for DDR-Mark to D-Mark of 2:1 was sheer madness and would lead to state and personal debts beyond everything we had before. That is - of course - where we are right now, additionally accellerated into this progression by the Euro.
Third reason: The politicans, after blindly underestimating or ignoring the two points above, "reformed" the social system in panic-style. Means: They try to stop their expenditures by abolishing the solidarity system, germanys most successful value in the last 50 years. Instead of really reforming the core systems, e.g. the tax system. All this - and the contradicting plea to the consumers that it is a matter of patriotism to spend money, ignoring that they don't have some, leads to the situation, that people buy things without having any money.

von Jens Scholz   direct link