The former General Secretary of Caritas, Georg Cremer, has criticized how the debate surrounding social justice is being conducted in Germany. Speaking to the Spiegel, Cremer argued that a mindset driven too heavily by consumer interests has become prevalent in politics. He asserted that many citizens expect politicians to grant their personal wishes, viewing it as just if the policies benefit them directly. “We are not customers of a Deliveroo state,” he challenged. Instead, he maintained that citizens are the pillars of the democratic state, a role which also includes “responsibility for the greater whole.”
Cremer pointed out that tremendous difficulty exists in determining priorities, especially given the limited financial resources due to the current military threat environment and deficient infrastructure. He observed that virtually anything that serves a perceived good cause is labeled as legitimate and deemed indispensable. However, he stressed that this perception alone cannot terminate the debate over priorities. While the Mothers’ pension could legitimately be seen as a measure promoting greater fairness, the critical question remains: “What other things could be funded with the five billion euros per year required, which might be more effective?”
Cremer previously served as the General Secretary of the German Caritas Association and was recently a member of the Pension Commission, which released its recommendations in June. He is the author of the book, “Is Everything Dreadfully Unjust? Myths, Half-Truths, and Facts about the German Social State,” and this week he was appointed Co-Chairman of the new Commission for Structural Reforms in the Pension Insurance.
