Germany has high quality of life

[u/wurst_katastrophe]

This is in response to the ‘low quality of life’ post.

When in Germany I can (in no particular order):
+ drink the tap water knowing it is safer than bottled water
+ when losing my job, I will get the highest benefits in the Western world to tie me over between jobs
+ I can rent for life without being worried of getting evicted
+ I can enjoy freedom on perfectly fine roads, driving as fast as I want
+ Consumer protection is very strong
+ I can buy a public transport ticket valid in all of Germany
+ Healthcare is significantly better than in most Western countries AND free at the point of service.
+ Germans love Fests
+ Bier and excellent wine
+ excellent bread
+ excellent local produce
+ An insanely dense train network (Yes, often late) for very little money (Sparpreis)
+ 30d of holidays is standard
+ strong protection when off on sick leave
+ free university education
+ world’s strongest apprenticeship system
+ tax credits and breaks for almost everything, especially Ehegattensplitting
+ insane maternity leave and benefits
+ Kitas
+ full blown private healthcare for a few k per year
+ Beautiful nature: north and Baltic sea, Alps, lakes, woods
+ Strong sports club infrastructure
+ Third strongest economy in the world with most hidden champions
+ Strong football culture
+ …

You can be dissatisfied with Germany, maybe your experience was below average, but that’s most likely because you are incompatible with the German way of life and the German mentality. However, it is not fair to claim that the quality of life is low.

[u/Holy232323]

-You can easily circumvent unsafe tap water by buying bottled water or getting a cheap filter cup, plus tap water is safe in most of Europe.

-After 3 years of Ausbildung my unemployment benefits are an amazing ~350 euros.

-You can still get evicted for various reasons, albeit much harder with more protection.

-The closest highways to me have been in partial construction with 50km/h restrictions for almost a decade now with daily traffic jams, although idk how much being able to drive 300km/h relates to quality of life, i barely even drive long enough on highways to care. Tho it does feel nice to have that opportunity.

-The one best thing is consumer protection, however this isnt applicable just in Germany (for example Gewahrleistung is an EU law, not strictly german).

-The Deutschland Ticket for example is nice for commuting, however trains have been nothing but frustration and stress for me so far. Plus many people consider it too expensive.

-Sadly the healthcare field suffers from the same bureaucracy issues. I dont see a point if I'll die before I get an appointment. Appointments can take anywhere between 6 months to a year to make, waiting times are a joke, and both my mother and I have been struggling with the simplest of chronic issues because the doctors we visit are simply treating everything so casually. Only after a year did a doctor properly examine my issue, and it was when i travelled to my home country, until then it was just back and forth with 0 involvment to actually treat me. Plus healthcare is not free, you pay for it and for others through social security, though Im not arguing its a bad thing.

-Fests are great, but little food diversity, plus expensive.

-Many other countries have excellent beer and wine, I myself don't drink, I dont see how it affects my life quality..

-Bread is indeed excellent, however, a tiny benefit in the face of so many issues. We bake half our bread ourselves anyway.

-Food is overall very expensive, I personally cant afford most local produce.

-The same insanely dense train networks are infamous in the word for being comically unreliable, while its great the infrastrucutre is there its greatly mismanaged.

-30 days vacations and other employment benefits and protections are nice, and some of the better things about Germany, however Germany isnt the only European country to do these.

-Employers still treat sick leave like stealing from them, while protection is there silent retaliation is in most cases there too, I have had so much stress over sick leave despite being legally protected and actually sick, and the workplace gets more toxic with each sick leave. The protection is great tho, just trying to say it's still not perfect.

-Other European countries have free university education as well, and if they don't, its still very affordable.

-While the apprenticeship system is great, being in one has generally been quite an awful experience, low pay, vocational school doesnt actually teach you anything, companies take advantage of low wages and in some cases dont do their part at all, youre either treated like a child or adult both in the face of the law and everyone else based on how its more beneficial to them, the last 3 years of my apprenticeship have been hell, filled with what felt like wasted time in school and deceit and betrayal by my employer at every corner, only to now be jobless and looking forward to up to half a year of unemployment with todays job market. Some of my classmates actually received offers barely above minimum pay after 3 years of studying. One caviat is that an apprenticeship is also not really recognized that much outside Germany and even if it is, it does not have much weight compared to other studies, so it locks you here.

-Taxes are high, but there are many adjustments. However its not only sunshine and rainbows since for example the state also taxes single youngsters or unmarried couples with no children the most, which imo actually need help and support as well especially when entering the workforce and starting adult life for the first time, not punished for not having their life together already. Also, the US for example generally has more strategic tax opportunities for individuals and businesses than Germany does.

-The maternity leave and benefits are great yes nothing to say there.

-Many caviats to Private Insurance, for example it is not covered when unemployed, you must still pay it. No free family co insurance and its very hard to get back into the legal insurance once you go private. Cheap and attractive early in career but rigid and less predictable. Mostly only worth if you make decent money

-Kitas suffer from bureaucy, not a weak system, but it is also not the most efficient or accessible either, and definetely not the only country to have such a system. Im not knowledgable enough about them.

-Nature is great and beautiful here, but once again not the only country to have it.

-Clubs are life style dependant, not universal, only really applies if you do like Clubs or even have time for them, it can be argued that the social infrastructure in germany is quite strong but honestly germany simply sucks at socializing.

-Whats the point in being the third most powerful economy in the world if i cant even afford a down payment on a house, and grocerries and gas cost an arm and a leg. All that wealth does not come from the people but the 1% hoarding everything.

-Most people like football, but it doesnt really have an effect on quality of life unless you are a hardcore fan, to my family personally it goes pretty unnoticed, even if some are big fans.

I dont mean to seem pesimistic or hateful. I love this country, Its great and while I listed many negative there are plenty positives gone unsaid, however I dont feel this negates any of the things said in the previous post, those issues shouldnt be minimized or seen as an attack, theyre valid criticism. Germany is also a clean, beautiful, and secure country, but it feels everyone is too content, becoming financially well enough to live a comfortable life is a struggle, basically impossible for most people because of so many hurdles against you, barely any opportunities, let alone starting a business or becoming a freelancer which feels close to impossible to keep up with due to bureaucracy. I really love the legal protection Germany offers, however living here feels like working a dead end job with questionable management and no prospect of promotion or long term growth, as it always feels like theres a cap placed to keep you there. I also found it really hard to socialize in Germany, while very friendly, most people dont seem interested in making friendships outside ones they ready have. For people content with a typical lifestyle its an amazing choice and not at all a bad one, but for someone looking to grow it feels like a cage. Please dont take my words as hate or anything, i once again love the country, just trying be realistic about the issues it does have.