16 Things I HATE about Living in GERMANY

Summary

The video script candidly critiques various aspects of life in Germany, from the high taxes and outdated education system to the poor internet coverage and over-regulation. It also touches on the difficulties of entrepreneurship, the lack of equipped kitchens in apartments, and the challenges with the healthcare system. Despite its drawbacks, the speaker acknowledges Germany's decent quality of life for employees but laments the country's shift towards mediocrity and lack of innovation.

Takeaways

• 😋 The speaker initially praises Germany for its amazing bread and beer.
• 😤 However, they express dissatisfaction with high taxes and the feeling of getting little in return for their work.
• 🏫 The German school system is criticized for being outdated and lacking updates for decades, leading to poor performance in international studies like PISA.
• 🌐 The speaker laments the poor internet coverage in Germany, especially outside of cities and on trains.
• 📚 Germany is described as being over-regulated, with many rules and licenses required for various activities, which can be a deterrent for entrepreneurship.
• 🚽 The script highlights dissatisfaction with traditional toilets in Germany, contrasting them with more modern and hygienic systems found in Asia.
• 🕊️ The speaker criticizes the German Security Agency (BND) for new laws that allow mass surveillance, similar to the NSA's practices revealed by Snowden.
• 🚂 The train system in Germany is criticized for being expensive, unreliable, and having a poor booking system.
• 🏥 There is a shortage of doctors in Germany, leading to long waiting times for appointments, especially for specialists.
• 🏆 Germany is described as a country of mediocrity, with a lack of innovative political parties and slow progress in areas like digitalization.
• 💼 The script notes that while Germany offers strong employee protection and benefits, it is not as supportive for entrepreneurs and freelancers due to bureaucracy.

Q & A

What is the speaker's initial impression of Germany's food and taxes?

The speaker initially praises Germany's bread and beer but expresses dissatisfaction with the high taxes, feeling that after working all year, the amount they get to keep is minimal.

What does the speaker criticize about Germany's education system?

The speaker criticizes the German education system for being outdated, with teaching methods that have not been significantly updated in decades, leading to poor performance in international studies like the PISA rankings.

How does the speaker describe the internet coverage in Germany compared to third-world countries?

The speaker describes Germany's internet coverage as worse than that of third-world countries, even referring to it as 'fourth-world,' with connectivity issues especially outside of cities.

What is the main issue with Germany's school system according to the speaker?

The main issue with Germany's school system, as stated by the speaker, is that it is regulated by federal states, making it difficult for the central government to implement changes, which results in an inconsistent and outdated education system.

Why does the speaker say it is difficult for teachers to move and teach in different federal states in Germany?

The speaker explains that due to different regulations and rules in each federal state, it is almost impossible for teachers to move and teach in a different state without facing significant challenges.

What is the speaker's view on Germany's bureaucracy?

The speaker views Germany's bureaucracy as excessive and burdensome, with too many rules and regulations affecting almost every aspect of life, from building houses to starting businesses.

Why does the speaker dislike Germany's toilets?

The speaker dislikes Germany's toilets because they are not equipped with modern cleaning systems like those found in Asia or Japan, and still rely on toilet paper, which the speaker considers unhygienic and outdated.

What is the speaker's opinion on the German Security Agency BND's new surveillance law?

The speaker is critical of the new surveillance law, which allows the BND to legally hack internet providers and eavesdrop on citizens, comparing it to the NSA's mass surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden.

How does the speaker describe the train system in Germany?

The speaker describes the German train system as having poor handling, with an expensive and inefficient booking system, frequent delays, and a general decline in service quality over the years.

What is the issue with accessing specialist doctors in Germany according to the speaker?

The speaker points out that accessing specialist doctors in Germany is difficult for those with normal health insurance, with wait times of three to six months for appointments, indicating a shortage of doctors.

What is the speaker's view on Germany's political landscape?

The speaker views Germany's political landscape as lacking innovation and vision, with many conservative parties that are similar in their approaches and focus on maintaining the status quo rather than driving change.

Why does the speaker believe Germany is becoming a country of mediocrity?

The speaker believes Germany is becoming a country of mediocrity due to excessive regulations and bureaucracy that stifle innovation and ambition, leading to a decline in areas such as Nobel Prize wins and a general sense of dissatisfaction among the population.