Older Germans Being Pressured on Benefits

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Nov. 28, 2003

Older Germans Being Pressured on Benefits
GEIR MOULSON
Associated Press

BERLIN - As part of the generation that rebuilt Germany from the ruins of World War II, Annelies Fiedler never thought she'd see the day her old-age comforts would be questioned.

But as Germany struggles to reduce public spending, generous retirement benefits long taken for granted are being openly debated - even crudely when a member of the Christian Democrat youth organization this summer publicly said taxpayers should not have to pay for hip replacements for the elderly.

While governments in France, Austria and Italy also are discussing ways to curb pension spending, in Germany the debate is becoming a battle of the generations: Worried youth challenging older generations to abandon some benefits now to keep the system from collapsing. (snip)

(snip) "I don't agree with 85-year-olds getting artificial hips at the cost of the community," Missfelder said. "It sounds harsh but that's the way it is: People used to go around with crutches." (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/

[NJCher]

1. that's disgraceful

Old people should go back to crutches?

Maybe it's not only the USA whose citizens have lost their hearts.




Cher

[ze_dscherman]

2. Missfelder got bashed badly ...

from all parties, and (somehow) retracted what he said. Like not really meaning it and wanting to put the item into public discussion.

He's the leader of Junge Union, the German equivalent to Young Republicans.

Compassionate conservatism, anyone?

[Malva Zebrina]

3. Sadly

More than once or twice, I have heard the same in this country coming from the younger generation.

[Noordam]

4. You are going to hear it more and more

and the number on Medicare goes up and the $$$ goes up