The Parity Association Criticizes Union Plans to Abolish Basic Income after the Federal Election
The Parity Association criticizes the Union’s plans to abolish the basic income after the federal election, saying it would be a step back for everyone, said Joachim Rock, the association’s main executive, to the Bayern Media Group.
The discussion about cutting the basic income leads to the “bitter realization that important debates are being conducted without differentiation and often fact-free” Rock said. The living conditions of the disadvantaged and the connections between them are being neglected, instead, distorted images are being produced. “The thousands of times reported job refusal in the political debate does not exist” Rock said, pointing out that there are more employed people than ever before in the post-war period, despite the basic income.
Rock warns of the political risks of significant cuts in the social sector, which could only be achieved at the expense of broad population groups. There is a threat of significant benefit cuts for pensioners, for those in need of care, and in the health insurance system. “Produced social insecurity and forced distribution battles will benefit, in particular, extreme right-wing democrats” Rock said, adding that the expenses for the basic income only account for about four percent of social expenditures and that the claims are moving towards the constitutional lower limit of the protected minimum of existence.
The Parity Association also fears that “massive cuts in social initiatives will destroy networks in which people engage voluntarily and strengthen social cohesion.” This would weaken civil society.