The children’s basic security is coming. I was initially cautiously optimistic: Sounds good, a basic security for children! But the more details I learn now, the more my optimism turns into anger. In Germany, it is easier to get a subsidy for a car than for a child. Children cannot be fueled, and as long as they do not work, they are cost factors. So why invest more money in children, especially in children from poverty-stricken families?
The German government spends 2.4 billion on it. The Federal Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, claims that there is no more money available. For comparison, the government incurs a tax loss of 8.2 billion euros per year due to the tax benefits for diesel fuel. Additionally, it loses three billion euros due to the privilege of company cars. Money for military upgrades is also considered more important than children, as seen in the 100 billion special fund. Furthermore, there is money allocated for businesses under the Growth Opportunities Act, which costs seven billion euros per year.
Ich weiß nicht, ob es Ignoranz, Klassismus oder einfach nur Realitätsferne ist, die die meisten unserer Regierenden so entscheiden lassen. Kaum jemand dort war jemals armutsbetroffen oder macht sich die Mühe, sich intensiv mit dem Thema Armut in Deutschland zu beschäftigen. Warum auch, es bringt keinen finanziellen Profit.
Kindergrundsicherung und Bürgergeld
There we are again, 17.3 million people affected by poverty, who are still not considered important enough. But: There are improvements at least. The child support for single parents is not counted as heavily, they can keep up to 55 percent of the support (currently it is 20 percent). Children aged zero to five, whose parents receive basic income, will receive an additional 8 euros per month. Wow! At least it is more than the daily basic income rate of 4.54 euros for food, which I am supposed to use to feed my child every day.
Can we please talk about privileges? Almost all rulers had the privilege of growing up in a family unaffected by poverty. With other children who also had money. Poverty is something they only know from hearsay. The motto is: Don’t play with the dirty kids. How must it be to grow up in a household where money hardly matters, where there is enough money for food, clothing, and participation? Is the upbringing of rulers critically questioned?
The FDP is a party that primarily serves the interests of the affluent, with support from the automotive industry. They cater to the upper class, to put it bluntly. Their neoliberal-capitalist ideology leaves little regard for those affected by poverty, as evidenced by terms like „culture of entitlement“ (Christian Lindner) and further fueled by FDP member Frank Schäffler, who is pleased that all this „social nonsense“ is now over.
Where is the respect of Olaf Scholz?
I wonder: Where is the SPD? Where is the decisive word from Chancellor Scholz, if he is truly as social as the election posters with slogans like „Respect for you“ and „Scholz, tackle it“ have advertised? Why is such a respectful chancellor not able to negotiate a larger sum for child basic security? The SPD obviously does not prioritize making policies for the 17.3 million people affected by poverty.
I used to vote for the SPD for a long time and gave up hope years ago. However, I want to express my respect for Lisa Paus from the Greens, who is truly dedicated. Some Green politicians are now doing the social policy that I had hoped for from the SPD. Mr. Hubertus Heil is standing alone in the SPD.
Ob und wie viel Geld meine Maus durch die Kindergrundsicherung mehr haben wird, ist noch unklar, der Gesetzentwurf wurde noch nicht im Detail vorgestellt. Wir werden sehen, ob die neue Zahlung am Ende das Gleiche ist wie Kindergeld, und wie viel den Bürgergeld- und Grundsicherungsempfängern auf ihren Satz angerechnet wird – spätestens im Januar 2025 sehen wir das auf unseren Konten.
But now, the disappointing feeling of once again not being properly acknowledged remains. Do not misunderstand me, I am grateful for anything that eases my financial situation. However, this decision, which was once associated with cautious hope, feels like a blow to the face.
Janina Lütt experiences poverty and supports herself and her daughter with a disability pension at the level of basic income. In her regular column, she shares her experiences of living with insufficient funds, discusses social policy from a grassroots perspective, talks about managing her depression, and highlights the empowerment she gains from the #ichbinarmutsbetroffen network: @armutsbetroffen.