Discussion of the Day: Integration

German news channel Phoenix invited current Minister of the Interior Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble and other to speak about all things called integration of immigrants.

Place of the TV political talk show was again the rotunda of the Dresdner Bank building next Brandenburger Tor. Visibly trying to win favours, Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble¹ faced the questions asked by moderator Christoph Minhoff and a selected audience⁶. Other guests were Cem Özdemir², Nihat Sorgec³, Prof. Arnulf Baring⁴ and Ulrich Reitz⁵.

Five well-off men discussed how to integrate foreigners (above all foreign youths) and how to offer them a vision. In a mainly capitalistic society that vision undoubtedly means at education aiming on beginning an occupational career. All panelists quickly ascertained the same. Though, against the backdrop of beautified labour market statistics, the educational system falling behind (PISA), low wages paid everywhere, a disappearing middle class and a still missing integration of even German fellow countrymen (f.e. East Germany, former GDR) such a discussion about how to integrate foreigners better seems to be out of touch with reality, a bit. Unfortunately the debate was almost only about immigrants of Turkish and no other origin.

I cannot understand Schäuble’s statement “immigrants are leaving their home to come to Germany because here it is so wonderfully tidy, clean and arranged (controlled?)”. Africans surely don’t set off to cross the extremely dangerous Sahara due to Germany having clean streets and glittering facades. They leave their home since there’s no sufficient financial income and no guaranteed survival anymore; but Germany’s conservative party CDU was always a bit behind in such affairs. Not before the late 80s the CDU finally recognised that Federal Republic of Germany is a country of immigration.

If Schäuble’s counterpart from Brunei is happy that Berlin is such a nice and friendly city, then it’s because of Berlin being a unique microcosm in whole Germany; a microcosm full of creativity, atmosphere and groove, but not friendly place due to CDU politics. CDU politics like: spying on lefty thinking people, delegates and Afghan secretaries as well as secretly training Libyan policemen; declining nation-wide minimum wages plus sacrificing climate protection for the benefits of industry, rising returns and dividends.
Further Links in German language:

• Two years ago: 44th Forum Pariser Platz debate with German Secretary of State Frank-Walter Steinmeier
• http://phoenix.de/56_forum_pariser_platz/182150.htm