Capitol Commentary concludes our Freedom Week series of articles by looking at that economic behemoth: Germany.

One can lose their freedom in many ways, most of them having to do with things that person has done to themselves such as not saved any money, had children they can’t afford, going into debt, committing a crime and going to jail, etc…

What if you were born into enslavement… not as we traditionally think but economic enslavement:

GERMANY is proposing to levy extra taxes on the young to pay for the costs of the country’s growing numbers of old people, under government plans for a ”demographic reserve” levy.

Germany’s population is not having enough children to replace themselves and thus, as people retire, their social security system is upside down… more collect than pay in. The situation there is worse than here because the “benefits” as so much more… generous.

And if you are 25 or older, you will pay:

Estimates from Germany’s federal employment agency predict that the workforce will be reduced by 7 million people by 2025.

”We have to consider the time after 2030 when the baby boomers of the ’50s and ’60s are retired and costing us more in health and care costs,” said Gunter Krings, who drafted the Christian Democrat position paper.

This problem exists in many nations such as Italy, Japan, and the U.S. (because of the Baby Boomers).

To make up the difference, the youth may be asked to pay as much as 1% of their income (in addition to all of the regular taxes they pay on income to the State, their municipality, the Value Added Tax, etc…).

Just an example as to the kind of taxes Germans have, just about anything they buy (excluding food) has 19% added to it (VAT).

Someone earning  €55,000.00 ($72,000.00) will pay 42% of their income to the State ( €23,100.00 or $30,245.00).

The U.S. rate is about 25% for comparison.

Everything is much more expensive in Germany.  A Honda Civic, for example, would be about 40% more expensive in Germany than in America (because the Government confiscates so much money in the form of taxes).

And yet, even with all of this money pouring into the State, there is still such a shortfall that the young are being taxed to pay for the old and, when they get to be of retirement age their benefits will not be as great.

Germany has had universal healthcare since the late-19th Century.  How generous is it?  If you’re feeling a little blue why not take a Prevention Holiday to some exotic locale and enjoy relaxation in spas, walks on the beach.  If that “treatment” didn’t cure you then take another.

It’s okay… the Government will pick up the tab!

If you lose your job why not collect a year’s unemployment from the State (plus housing expenses too).  If you’re still unemployed after a year collect a staggered subsidy.

If you have a child you can get an allowance good until Herr Junior is 27 (if he or she attends university).

The good life never stops and now Germany’s youth is going to be made to pay for them even though, if austerity measures that are being implemented across Europe continue, that means those paying into the system will never reap those benefits themselves.

Call them slaves to the Liberal State.

And think of the $2+ trillion Barack Obama has added to our debt and how will that be paid?

Here’s how much Germany spends on its population (2008):

Any wonder they're broke?

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