seven young Irish found sleeping rough under Kilburn railway bridge

[danger here]

Some people in Germany work 40 hours a week for 100 euro per week.

There are some doing €1 per hour jobs thanks to Hartz IV.I'm was a great believer in the state helping out those who need in most in society but a year in Berlin-Brandenburg really makes you think that the welfare state badly needs a shakeup.

I know recent history makes this place unique but it is completely counter productive for a German to work here,20 hours a week minijob for €400 doesn't sound so bad but if you try and supplement that you get your ass taxed to high heaven and not to mention manditory health insurance that can bankrupt you alone.

The thing about Germany that I find Irish people often forget is that it is a federal republic and similar to the US in some ways.Someone from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has absolutely nothing in common with a person from Ruhr region who has nothing in common with a person from Bayern.

It's a great country in many ways that Ireland is not.To the poster that said it's more unequal than Ireland I would disagree with that;it's less affluent than Ireland(using the D4 SUV index ) but more equitable,there is no money related snobbery,people live within their means and still treat themselves from time to time.Germany invests in public transport and thinks long term and also importantly German politicians put the interests of the country first,even if they may disagree within the system.

[beamish2010]

What I've heard about the situation in Germany,Ireland is not so bad after all...