basic income? That doesn't even exist in Berlin

Sometimes there is even hope for Berlin. Otherwise, as a rule, Blaise Pascal's spiteful question can be rephrased: "Do you know how to make God laugh?" Tell him about Berlin and its inhabitants,” the capital city dwellers are currently behaving as if they were reasonable.

Apparently, a majority of Berliners consider the referendum on unconditional land ownership to be what it is – namely gaga. There is no other way to explain why the organizers of the “Initiative Expedition Basic Income” only got around 122,000 signatures and thus missed the necessary quorum. Apparently, Berliners don't see why taxes should be raised sharply so that such a basic income can be financed. This would be the prerequisite for making such a monthly salary possible.

Perhaps the Berliners also remembered the taxpayer commemoration day. As every year, it is reached in mid-July. Up to this day, every working and money-making German has given his gross income for the helping, caring and prosperity-producing state. His income will not be freely available to him until mid-July. If there were a basic income, this day would have to be moved far into autumn.

Strange that there are no referendums to put the taxpayer memorial day on May 1st. This would actually be a “Labor Day”. Working people could spend all their money on themselves and their families a month and a half sooner. At the same time, the welfare state would pay more attention to those who are in need. Today it resembles a large development zoo.

Everywhere there is something, everywhere something is taken. And because no one knows for sure if they won't be the loser in this confused game, everyone strives to take everything they can get their hands on. In addition: A fat welfare state stifles people's social conscience. They learn that the state is responsible for everything social – so they are not.

The state would also be helped if referendums were only allowed in the future if the question to be voted on takes income and expenditure into account. So: "Do you want a new swimming pool and pay a percentage point more in municipal taxes for it?" But such an idea requires great common sense. In Berlin, however, everything is usually just a numma kleena.

"Kick-off Politics" is WELT's daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.