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Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

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Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#91

Post by buran77 »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #87
buran77 wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The healthcare and social service systems would not be able to function without the mandatory and voluntary unpaid 9 months work of the 17 - 19 year olds before they hit off for university. Interesting take. Is there any supporting official position on this or just personal opinion? If true I find it very scary that a country's health and social services systems would crumble were it not for the 3 months per year t…

> Is there any supporting official position on this or just personal opinion? The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. >If true I find it very scary that a country's health and social service systems would crumble were it not for the 3 months per year the teenagers of the country contribut 9 months not 3, and yes, that's…

> The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it.

I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. When critical systems would collapse were it not for teenagers being asked to work a job it calls into question both the competence of the leadership to lead and of the people to choose them. There's a reason most countries don't do this beyond basic apprenticeships on limited scale. What happens if this year teenagers start looking more towards the military following events like the war in Ukraine, do those civil services come tumbling down? You and the government make this sound like a country being driven at the edge of collapse.

> You don't need too long training to be qualified to drive an ambulance or perform CPR.

Right? Who could be more qualified to operate a critical emergency vehicle or bring someone back to life than a person who until yesterday wasn't allowed even to vote. What a thing to say...

> The military service is forced nation-wide

Mandatory military conscription is an act of desperation in the face of potential national annihilation. Most countries abolished it and even the ones who kept it start at 18. Is the Austrian civil service conscription an equally desperate move? Or an attempt to raise a "working generation" from as young an age as possible while giving those kids the alternatives "this or the military"?

> and for many it's the camaraderie and opportunity to meet other young people from other parts of the country/city and make life long friends or meet future spouses.

Sure, except literally not because they'd get the very same by going to school or university. They don't need to be forced into a job they don't want because the country will fail otherwise unless it's the only way they'd do it. The only incontestable reason is because it's mandatory, everything else is rationalizing and looking for a silver lining.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#92

Post by qwytw »

buran77 wrote: post #91
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is there any supporting official position on this or just personal opinion? The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. >If true I find it very scary that a country's health and social service systems would crumble were it not for the 3 months per year the teenagers of the country contribut 9 months not 3, and yes, that's…

> The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. When critical systems would collapse were it not for teenagers being asked to work a job it calls into question both the competence of the leadership to lead and of the p…

> Mandatory military conscription is an act of desperation in the face of potential national annihilation

Most neutral European countries like Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria have maintained it to one degree or another. I don't think it's generally viewed as 'an act of desperation' by most people in those countries or even that unpopular.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#93

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

buran77 wrote: post #91
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Is there any supporting official position on this or just personal opinion? The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. >If true I find it very scary that a country's health and social service systems would crumble were it not for the 3 months per year the teenagers of the country contribut 9 months not 3, and yes, that's…

> The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. When critical systems would collapse were it not for teenagers being asked to work a job it calls into question both the competence of the leadership to lead and of the p…

>I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support.

I am not supporting this, I only said it's how it works here.

>Right? Who could be more qualified to operate a critical emergency vehicle or bring someone back to life than a person who until yesterday wasn't allowed even to vote.

And yet at their age they seem qualified enough for the US to send them to war in the Middle East or give them access to TOP-SECRET military intelligence[1] before they're even allowed to drink beer. You're needlessly discrediting youths for a cheap shot at an argument. Those people who barely got to vote, as you call them, are functioning members of society, who were vetted beforehand and given 3+ months of full time training and supervision by licensed and more experienced personnel before they get to perform CPR. Also, CPR isn't that difficult or risky, especially when you don't live in a society of ambulance chasing lawyers where everyone sues everyone for the slightest inconvenience.

> What a thing to say...

I'm not saying this, the facts are. Austrian healthcare and social system, with all its flaws, does a far better job serving the majority of the population, especially the poor and the vulnerable, than the American one does. But let's not get into that right now.

>Sure, except literally not because they'd get the very same by going to school or university.

They go to school and university anyway except with social work there's no grades or exams you need to study for making the time served there less stressful and more focused on the social and practical experience. Plus it's a more diverse setting than university where you mostly meet people with shared domains and interests as you.

>Mandatory military conscription is an act of desperation in the face of potential national annihilation.

You're false again. I don't support mandatory conscription but it's how neutral non-NATO EU nations get to defend their neutrality and provide a detergent against aggressors. The military also has plenty of uses even in peace times, such as natural disasters and what not.

[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/27/politics/jack-teixeira-de...

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#94

Post by [deleted] »

3D30497420 wrote: post #63
bahnkenner wrote: post #43

The biggest advantage of the new Germany-wide ticket is not the price, but rather that it simplifies things. This is a map of German public transit companies: [0]. I've heard the current fractured system be compared to the Holy Roman Empire. Every little region has its own ticketing system. If you arrive in a new city, you have to figure out how to buy local transit tickets, often with quite complicated rules (e.g.,…

A good example of this complexity is Berlin. Many people have monthly passes for just A and B zones, which comprise the bulk of central Berlin. However, the new airport is just over the border in zone C, which requires an additional ticket. The transit authority knows this and will catch and fine people who neglected or forgot to buy a B to C ticket.

[deleted]

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#95

Post by buran77 »

qwytw wrote: post #92
buran77 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. When critical systems would collapse were it not for teenagers being asked to work a job it calls into question both the competence of the leadership to lead and of the p…

> Mandatory military conscription is an act of desperation in the face of potential national annihilation Most neutral European countries like Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria have maintained it to one degree or another. I don't think it's generally viewed as 'an act of desperation' by most people in those countries or even that unpopular.

Agreed but but that's exactly the point. Sweden and Finland have Russia even pushing them out of neutrality and towards NATO. Switzerland is a big repository of mostly illegal fortunes from all over the world and has to stay neutral to maintain this status, so it makes sense to extend its own defensive capabilities as much as it can. In Norway it's debatable, the obligativity is not enforced. You also have Greece where the conflict with Turkey drives mandatory conscription.

For these countries mandatory military service is very much an act of desperation. Maybe the word doesn't ring the right note in people's heads but it's accurate. If avoiding scenarios like in Ukraine doesn't call for desperate decisions I don't know what does.

But discussing the popularity is moot. The people of those countries understand the necessity driven by external factors. They chose neutrality, not their neighbors, so they have to compromise somewhere out of practical need and the desperation of the alternative. This being said you can only assess the popularity of something when it becomes a free choice rather than obligation.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#96

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

buran77 wrote: post #95
qwytw wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mandatory military conscription is an act of desperation in the face of potential national annihilation Most neutral European countries like Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Austria have maintained it to one degree or another. I don't think it's generally viewed as 'an act of desperation' by most people in those countries or even that unpopular.

Agreed but but that's exactly the point. Sweden and Finland have Russia even pushing them out of neutrality and towards NATO. Switzerland is a big repository of mostly illegal fortunes from all over the world and has to stay neutral to maintain this status, so it makes sense to extend its own defensive capabilities as much as it can. In Norway it's debatable, the obligativity is not enforced. You also have Greece whe…

> you can only assess the popularity of something when it becomes a free choice rather than obligation.

Democratic elections and referendums have assessed this and the majority of the population has voted in favor of this system. For better or worse, that's democracy for ya'.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#97

Post by kingofpandora »

bahnkenner wrote: post #43

The biggest advantage of the new Germany-wide ticket is not the price, but rather that it simplifies things. This is a map of German public transit companies: [0]. I've heard the current fractured system be compared to the Holy Roman Empire. Every little region has its own ticketing system. If you arrive in a new city, you have to figure out how to buy local transit tickets, often with quite complicated rules (e.g.,…

This is typical in most countries that aren't very small. I'm struggling to think of a moderately-sized country that doesn't work have regional transit authorities with their own ticketing systems. I haven't been everywhere in the world so I bet they do exist, but I've yet to see one.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#98

Post by buran77 »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #93
buran77 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The government figures and claims are supporting this opinion. In fact, it's been the government's opinion, not mine. I'm just quoting it. I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. When critical systems would collapse were it not for teenagers being asked to work a job it calls into question both the competence of the leadership to lead and of the p…

>I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. I am not supporting this, I only said it's how it works here. >Right? Who could be more qualified to operate a critical emergency vehicle or bring someone back to life than a person who until yesterday wasn't allowed even to vote. And yet at their age they seem qualified enough for the US to send them to war…

> I am not supporting this

Ugh, "in support" of the veracity of the statement. You wrote that "the healthcare and social service systems would not be able to function" without the work of teenagers. I just wanted to know if you have any solid evidence of this. I will assume not, suspect that this is the usual political bamboozle people fall for when an explanation is needed, and move on.

> And yet at their age they seem qualified enough for the US

I'm not sure why you'd bring this into the discussion. It's devoid of value as far as whataboutism goes but indeed, I agree that it's very wrong in that case too. How about this: some of the US also considers child marriage and subsequent sexual relations, or hard agricultural work legal starting the age of 12. Hitching your wagon to the "others do it too" argument can backfire.

I'm sure those teenagers are functioning members of society but their function isn't to be forced into adult jobs at that age. If they want to pursue a career in this have them watch and learn, like any other teenager is expected in school or university.

> I'm not saying this, the facts are.

Just follow what I'm quoting. You are saying that "You don't need too long training to be qualified to drive an ambulance or perform CPR". You're being dismissive of an entire profession as "a child can do it with a bit of training". It's not helping your argument. You actually need more than a bit of experience before driving any car safely, let alone an emergency vehicle in a critical situation. A teenager shouldn't be pushed in this kind of job. They have 40-50 years to do exactly that once they're just a bit older.

> Austrian healthcare and social system [...] does a far better job [...] than the American one does.

That's great. And again I have to say, how does this comparison help? When is it ever useful to compare to someone not doing a good job? This just says you can do worse. Focus on how to do better.

> You're false again.

And yet you go on to confirm that it's how they defend against aggressors, an indisputably desperate situation. That's exactly what desperation means, doing something to prevent/mitigate one of the worst situations a country can be in.

Now I sense that you made some assumptions about me, given the repeated US references. I'm European, my opinion about what the US is doing on internal social aspects, or external military/political aspects could be better. And I lived and worked in Austria for years many eons ago. I hope that helps you put in context what I said. Let me boil it down: let children be children; at the edge of adulthood let them choose where they go and guide them, don't force them, unless there is a desperate situation; use your critical thinking and don't believe (or worse, promote) the vagaries your government sells you when they want something their way.

Anyway, enlightening talk.

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#99

Post by [deleted] »

buran77 wrote: post #98
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I believe you but since you're passing this on then you/they must also have more than some words in support. I am not supporting this, I only said it's how it works here. >Right? Who could be more qualified to operate a critical emergency vehicle or bring someone back to life than a person who until yesterday wasn't allowed even to vote. And yet at their age they seem qualified enough for the US to send them to war…

> I am not supporting this Ugh, "in support" of the veracity of the statement. You wrote that "the healthcare and social service systems would not be able to function" without the work of teenagers. I just wanted to know if you have any solid evidence of this. I will assume not, suspect that this is the usual political bamboozle people fall for when an explanation is needed, and move on. > And yet at their age they s…

[deleted]

Re: Millions snap up new Germany-wide public transit ticket

#100

Post by areyousure »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #50
qwytw wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The tax burden is already so high It will only get higher if we try to intentionally decrease worker productivity by forcing them to 'serve a year of their life for public services'.

>It will only get higher if we try to intentionally decrease worker productivity by forcing them to 'serve a year of their life for public services'. That's blatantly false. It works in Austria quite well. The healthcare and social service systems would not be able to function without the mandatory and voluntary unpaid 9 months work of the 17 - 19 year olds before they hit off for university. What worker productivity…

> It works in Austria quite well. The healthcare and social service systems would not be able to function without the mandatory and voluntary unpaid 9 months work of the 17 - 19 year olds before they hit off for university.

In case anyone is curious, this appears to refer to the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zivildienst_in_Austria which is an alternative to conscription in the Austrian Armed Forces. Conscription applies to men (but not women), and this alternative civil service option is chosen by ~40% of these young men.

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