Political opponents Rich, Klingbeil, Merz, and Pistorius at odds with the public?
In a world where fear and hunger often dominate, it's essential to foster a social state with backbone, not just a Leopard on tracks. This sentiment echoes as the German government plans to increase military spending to a staggering 162 billion euros per year by 2029, a figure almost double the current Citizen's Basic Income.
While the needy rely on food donations, Germany stocks up on ammunition. The cost of a single Leopard 2A8 tank, approximately €29 million, could instead fund roughly 100 to 300 affordable housing units for refugees. This stark contrast highlights the political imbalance favoring military spending over social infrastructure.
The reasons for this imbalance are manifold. Individualism and consumerism shift political focus away from collective social responsibilities, diminishing support for socialism and public welfare expansions. Military investment, driven by national security imperatives and geopolitical strategies, commands significant political and public support. Social infrastructure projects like affordable housing are frequently less visible, harder to rapidly implement, and suffer from ideological fragmentation.
Moreover, there is a cultural prioritization in many countries on defense as a symbol of sovereignty and immediate protection, whereas social investments like refugee housing are seen as longer-term, less urgent priorities.
In 2024, around 72 billion euros were spent on German defense, a sum that exceeds the Citizen's Basic Income. By contrast, the total expenditure on Citizen's Basic Income was approximately 46.9 billion euros, an increase of about 4 billion euros compared to the previous year.
As we grapple with the consequences of this imbalance, it's crucial to remember that no tank creates integration, no rocket provides education, and no arms deal replaces a safe home. Hundreds of thousands of children in Germany live in poverty, while social housing in the country is falling apart, and resources are invested in military modernization.
Instead of investing in weapons that primarily serve symbolic politics, the same money could be used to create real security - through humane housing, education, and participation. By prioritizing social infrastructure, we can build a society that truly supports its most vulnerable members, fostering a social state with backbone that will endure for generations to come.
| Aspect | Approximate Cost | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Leopard 2A8 tank (unit cost) | ~€29 million | | Affordable housing unit | ~€100,000 to €300,000 | | Housing units funded per tank | ~100 to 300 units |
- Despite the rise in military spending, there are concerns about the lack of investment in social infrastructure, such as affordable housing for refugees, which remains a critical need.
- In comparison to the cost of a single Leopard 2A8 tank (approximately €29 million), funding for 100 to 300 affordable housing units could be provided, providing shelter for refugees.
- The imbalance in political priorities is evident, as military spending exceeds the Citizen's Basic Income, with a significant portion of resources invested in defense rather than education-and-self-development and social-media efforts aimed at fostering integration.
- To build a society with a strong social backbone, it's essential to redirect funds from military modernization towards social infrastructure projects, such as education, housing, and public welfare expansions, to create a safer, more just, and equitable world.
