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

bbc.com

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

#151
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.

Yes and the question is who does the German state really target to enroll in their "new" army. Because "This generation" has a lot of clearly distinct groups. So it could be: - the native young population who are now flocking in the AfD - the people fighting the AfD in the street - the second generation immigrants born there - the very recent immigrants - a mix of all Because the alchemy of creating a working army an…

I'm in the "recent" immigrants group. I qualify for citizenship since a few years, but this Wehrpflicht nonsense is why I haven't sent my application yet.

I don't think that the social situation is as bad as you describe. I just think that people generally don't feel keen to put their life on the line for Germany.

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

#152
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

The large majority, since the requirements for non-refugees are basically to pay taxes and support themselves. Immigration is my job. If you want to be curious rather than judgemental we can talk about it.

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

#153
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

This is wrong. I used to work in cafes when I still lived in the city and two locations where close to hospitals and everyone I talked to complained about the risk of employing people with huge language barriers (mostly Ukrainians and Syrians from what I heard) in health related jobs because it has dire consequences if something gets lost in translation. No one of the higher ups cared and they just had to deal with w…

There just isn't enough people who are local and want to do this job for this pay. This happens in Germany but also in my home country.

In Germany there is a whole industry around recruiting foreign nurses. I work in immigration and a few of my colleagues specialise in that. There are websites and initiatives just for that.

It will get worse. This population is aging.

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

#154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think Russians have a better quality of life than Germans?

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Maybe you should look for other sources than random YouTube videos of people shopping in central Moscow.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/04/02/indoor-plumbing-st...

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

#156
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you'd rather read Russian propaganda? Weird choice.

So in your experience there is only one or the other and there's no room for nuance and neutral assessments of both positions? Guess who has been propagandized.

There is nuance and neutral assessments, but your comment provides absolutely none of that.

The state of Russia are very well documented you know, by countless of neutral observers. Yet you dismiss it all as "mainstream media propaganda".

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

#157

> "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?

> your livelihood to just start learning how speak Russian now?

that was a thing in East Germany not that long ago

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

#158
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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So you'd rather read Russian propaganda? Weird choice.

> So you'd rather read Russian propaganda?

Propaganda happens on both sides during a war. You just need to be aware of it.

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