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Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

bbc.com

121–130 of 465 posts

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#121
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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Not sure about refugees, but we are for sure in dire need of migration from skilled workers - health care sector is an example. It's still too complicated to migrate and on the other hand it's to still to difficult to remove criminals. The former government improved the situation, but did not fully solve the problem.

What percentage of immigrants coming from those regions would you consider to be skilled migrants?

Many parts of Africa have below 80% literacy rates[1] and that's in their respective language; coming to Europe would likely mean learning a new language as well as learning a completely foreign country. If we're speaking about Germany specifically, Germany didn't colonize as many places as the British, Dutch or French so they are unlikely to speak German.

If you want skilled workers, why not simply train those workers locally?

[1]: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/literacy-...

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#122
post #28

To offer a bit of context, the same government just voted to raise current pensions at the expense of steep taxation hikes for current workers, made massive cuts to social services, and is now discussing military service. This generation is rightfully feeling like they're getting a sore deal.

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Slowly realizing what is really happening to Europe.

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No skilled worker in their right mind will go to Europe/ Germany

Why?

High taxes, low salary and the future will have even higher taxes to finance the pensions.

But even before that, everyone I know didn't even consider Germany as a potential place. It's either UK, USA, china or even Malaysia.

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#124
post #28

To offer a bit of context, the same government just voted to raise current pensions at the expense of steep taxation hikes for current workers, made massive cuts to social services, and is now discussing military service. This generation is rightfully feeling like they're getting a sore deal.

Classic move: make the kids struggle, then offer them a lifeline if they just put on a uniform. The GI bill is great, but you shouldn't have to step on an IED to go to college.

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Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#127

> "We don't want to spend half a year of our lives locked up in barracks, being trained in drill and obedience and learning to kill," the organisers of the protests wrote in a statement posted on social media. "War offers no prospects for the future and destroys our livelihoods." Is the idea that it’s better for your livelihood to just start learning how speak Russian now?

But that they learn how to speak English is not an issue for you, is it?

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#128

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For anyone wondering just over 84% of the German population is ethnically German, so the commenter above was probably spectacularly unlucky. They are right though in that it is an aging population with only around 13% under 16.

Holy population pyramid Batman!!

87% of the overall population, yet only 13% of the child. That’s a stark difference.

But the comment reminds me of an observation in SE Asia - go to Singapore and very few kids and tons of senior citizens.

Then go to Vietnam and its most people in their 20’s and younger. It’s a difference you can’t help but notice.

And since Singapore is extremely selective about who they give citizenship too, they’re really struggling with the age pyramid. I believe the estimate is it will be 2 workers for every retired person by 2030.

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#129

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Something tells me that the only people wandering the streets at 2:00 PM on a weekday are vacationing from other countries. Next you'll tell me that whi- I mean, "good, old-fashioned Americans" are disappearing because you went to Times Square and couldn't hear any English. Please don't do this here.

Do you always see the racial boogeyman in every shadow?

Re: Germany votes to bring in voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

#130
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You probably have no idea what you're talking about. Mandatory conscription (which I have personally served) is for a fixed term, so your livelihood is not tied to the army paying your salary. It's more of a semi-unpleasant mandatory intermission in your life plans. Also, if you have decades of mandatory conscription then there is no slope to slip. Germany on the other hand is now on a slope, since they regress from…

> Mandatory conscription Active != mandatory. > Mandatory conscription (which I have personally served) is for a fixed term, so your livelihood is not tied to the army paying your salary You're seriously arguing that countries with mandatory conscription are less militarised than those with active (but not mandatory) conscription?

I mean Singapore has mandatory conscription (for men), and I wouldn’t call it militarized. Especially not in comparison to some countries that are in the latter category.
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