The financial aid that was decided to get the economy through the Corona crisis as well as possible has caused the national debt to rise rapidly. “Many people now worry about the future,” says Wilhelm Menke. During the welcome to the round of talks with member of the Bundestag Katrin Staffler, the vice-chairman of the CSU local association in Egenhofen asked the question: “Will there be a debt crisis after the corona crisis?”
The direct candidate of the constituency of Fürstenfeldbruck / Dachau does not see Germany in an imbalance like other countries, but in a passable situation that enables “forward-looking political decisions” to regain the state before the crisis and to stimulate economic growth. To save rigorously or even to want to reduce the debt burden with tax increases, Staffler considers the wrong approach. “What we need are targeted investments in future technologies, in digitization and climate protection,” she demands. This is the only way to regain momentum in the economy and generate growth. However, this must be preceded by a comprehensive slump at all levels from the federal government to the social security funds to the municipalities. In addition, a reorganization of federal financial aid with a focus on positive effects for the future is required.
“It is also about intergenerational equity”
“It is also about intergenerational equity,” emphasized the politician. Germany must become a pioneer in the development of new technologies. Just as the automotive industry has been the driving force behind the economy for decades, the development of new climate protection technologies, for example, could become a permanent motor, said Staffler.
Most of the almost 40 interested people who discussed in the courtyard of the Furthmühle in the Corona distance came from the surrounding local associations. The CSU chairman from Pfaffenhofen, Michael Lampl, also described the “mountain of debt, which is insanely high with 100 billion in addition,” as a fear-maker in his welcoming address. Staffler, however, spread confidence that Germany will find its way back to economic growth, as it did after the financial crisis about ten years ago. With the plus in taxes, one could then pay off the national debt. Even if the fear of debt was the main topic, it did not take long before Staffler also had to comment on questions that the CSU students are burning on the nails. Dachau’s deputy district administrator Helmut Zech warned to revise the inheritance law so that houses can still be bequeathed tax-free in the expensive metropolitan region of Munich. “400,000 euros tax-free for a child are still appropriate in the country, but if someone inherits a house in the far vicinity of Munich, he often has to sell it in order to be able to pay inheritance tax for the amount over 400,000 euros,” said Zech. He also called for a higher participation of the municipalities in the tax revenue and relief in housing construction. “If 80 percent of the municipalities in Bavaria can only stay afloat with key assignments, then something is wrong.” The words met with approval from Staffler. The lack of skilled workers and the fact that young people would rather study than learn a trade were discussed as a major problem, compounded by the pandemic. “Because they earn more,” said one visitor. Academic and craft education must be treated equally and both paths must be made more permeable.