> You really need to build up empathy and open your eyes to the world, look at them, listen to their stories and you'll hear the struggle
I do and I have empathy. Everyone has their own struggles. I see no reason why welfare should reduce struggle to zero.
> the constant fear of being sanctioned because they did something deemed “wrong” by the administration, is one easy example.
Bürgergeld was introduced to deal with these restrictions and even if it's now appended form is still less restrictive than Hartz IV ever was.
> The contradictory requirements they need to meet.
I'm afraid this is just German inefficiency and beurocracy in disguise.
> you need to comply with rules in order to get your benefits, but one day your old car break and you cannot afford to repair it, but you also cannot comply anymore without it and risk losing money
I would be very interested in these rules, because last time I googled, the Arbeitsamt supplies a car if you need it with up to 15k Eur in value.
> It's about having no food left in the fridge 3 days before you get your benefits and cannot buy new before it comes in.
Again, we have food and soup kitchens. I've been there myself. You just have to get over your internal self inflicted shame. There is nothing to be ashamed of when you're going there and the staff there were nothing but friendly, if a little stressed last time I went.
> Everyone has their story, and they are depressing. But to accept that those struggles are real, you need to make the effort of looking at it.
I know those struggles are real. But more often enough, we do have ways to deal with them.
> You are the one asking “how are those people struggling?”, it's easy to assume people don't struggle when it's not directly visible.
As I see it, most of those struggles are either self inflicted due to shame or rise from missing knowledge on how to navigate the system when you're in need.
> In a way you are telling me that the people I've witnessed, don't exist!
They certainly do exist. But there are solutions for almost every one of their problems. You just have to work together with the people at the Arbeitsamt, which many don't.
No one has to go hungry or cold in Germany and I stand by this firmly.
> Bürgergeld was introduced to deal with these restrictions and even if it's now appended form is still less restrictive than Hartz IV ever was.
How is that supposed to go in favor of your argument?
> I'm afraid this is just German inefficiency and beurocracy in disguise.
It is, but it's not just Germany. I know Germans love to complain about their bureaucracy like they love to complain about Deutsche Bahn, but it just shows their lack of foreign experience…
> Again, we have food and soup kitchens.
I address that in the other thread: only if you're lucky to have one nearby.
> I know those struggles are real.
You suggested the opposite in the previous comment so which is it?
> As I see it, most of those struggles are either self inflicted due to shame or
“Lazy poor people who can't just hire a layer like anyone else”
> No one has to go hungry or cold in Germany and I stand by this firmly.
“They just happen to chose to go hungry or cold because they are dumb”
I do and I have empathy. Everyone has their own struggles. I see no reason why welfare should reduce struggle to zero.
> the constant fear of being sanctioned because they did something deemed “wrong” by the administration, is one easy example.
Bürgergeld was introduced to deal with these restrictions and even if it's now appended form is still less restrictive than Hartz IV ever was.
> The contradictory requirements they need to meet.
I'm afraid this is just German inefficiency and beurocracy in disguise.
> you need to comply with rules in order to get your benefits, but one day your old car break and you cannot afford to repair it, but you also cannot comply anymore without it and risk losing money
I would be very interested in these rules, because last time I googled, the Arbeitsamt supplies a car if you need it with up to 15k Eur in value.
> It's about having no food left in the fridge 3 days before you get your benefits and cannot buy new before it comes in.
Again, we have food and soup kitchens. I've been there myself. You just have to get over your internal self inflicted shame. There is nothing to be ashamed of when you're going there and the staff there were nothing but friendly, if a little stressed last time I went.
> Everyone has their story, and they are depressing. But to accept that those struggles are real, you need to make the effort of looking at it.
I know those struggles are real. But more often enough, we do have ways to deal with them.
> You are the one asking “how are those people struggling?”, it's easy to assume people don't struggle when it's not directly visible.
As I see it, most of those struggles are either self inflicted due to shame or rise from missing knowledge on how to navigate the system when you're in need.
> In a way you are telling me that the people I've witnessed, don't exist!
They certainly do exist. But there are solutions for almost every one of their problems. You just have to work together with the people at the Arbeitsamt, which many don't.
No one has to go hungry or cold in Germany and I stand by this firmly.