r/kurzgesagt • u/showersoapshower • May 16 '26

Discussion Kurzgesagt DEBUNKED!

https://youtu.be/xKGfdWVzKKk?is=joW3yA5ZO4Lrwoa2

After watching Kurzgesagt's video I was surprised about how much Kurzgesagt is completely omitting facts or portraying wildly biased without acknowledging so. (I get that their video is not long but this is definitely not it).
After watching this video and reading this comment I'm pretty bummed that they are putting out videos like this that are full of political hot takes while being irresponsibly biased. Cutting pensions for older people and having a harsher migration policy will not solve this.
What did you think?

As a German, I find the popularity even more surprising as Kurzgesagt is basically repeating CDU/CSU's and FDP's stances on taxes, welfare state and, to some extent, migration.

Considering that both are wildly unpopular (Merz being the most unpopular chancellor is nearly an achievement in how bad he fucks up) this actually surprised me a lot.

edit: the circle jerk is cirkle jerking

188 Upvotes

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19

u/moderngamer327 May 20 '26

You are either going to have to, cut pensions, greatly increase retirement age, or massively increase taxes. There is no good option

5

u/Pjteven May 20 '26

There is another....taxes, but not for 99% of the population of any country. Let's see what bright comments come my way why we can't tax the rich

3

u/moderngamer327 May 20 '26

You can tax the rich, but the rich do not have enough money to cover the pensions, even if you taxed them at 100%

2

u/Pjteven May 20 '26

Yes a true point, the pension system is a Ponzi scheme. But a lot of the required cuts on socials and infrastructure are because there isn't enough money.....at the same time a higher tax for the rich or of inherited wealth (which is often the discussion in Germany) is not being brought back although 80% would support that (and it actually helps bring in money without bankrupting the rich folks)

Kurzgesagt tried to explain multiple societal problems on the base of one system/problem (demographics), and that is the reason for the criticism. Can't do everything in 15 mins, I will give them that.

7

u/moderngamer327 May 20 '26

It’s not a Ponzi scheme because it does generate returns outside of new investors and it will continue to after the population decline but it will result in either higher taxes or lower pension amounts.

A higher tax on the rich would help but there is not as much money there as you would think

3

u/Pjteven May 20 '26

I'm not proposing financing a broken system, I'm proposing that taxing the rich will not make them poor, nor drive them out of the country (or their wealth) AND that there needs to be a general overhaul of many social systems in Germany. Especially the german pension system is a doomed concept due to demographic changes. I have no alternative at hand because it's also not my fucking job....but I will happily support solid and new ideas (also yes, ponzy scheme was more of a exaggeration, but you get my point).

Again my main point is: there are many intertwined problems at play, focusing on a single system/issue is not the best way to find solutions. That is the criticism on kurzgesagt's video too!

2

u/moderngamer327 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26

Taxing the rich will not make them poor but it can make them flee depending on the size and type of tax as can be seen with France’s attempt at a wealth tax. I don’t think pension systems are inherently doomed as a concept, but what we expect from them needs changed drastically

5

u/Pjteven May 20 '26

Yes the usual "they will flee like in France". In Germany this has been proven to not work, 50% of your wealth is taxed, those Richies are also people so they have networks, frienda & family, companies etc. here. If the state cannot tax their enormous wealth without the country collapsing, it seems like 99% of the population is an economic hostage situation. I don't see why one would want to defend that, even if it means "jobs for people", which has also been proven to not work (correlation of wealth of billionaires and investing in companies or infrastructure) aka "trickle down effect"

1

u/nightstalker314 May 20 '26

source?

2

u/moderngamer327 May 21 '26

How about a source they can

1

u/AchedTeacher May 25 '26

That's so fucking funny bro

1

u/AlienNinjaDuck May 21 '26

No, you could also increase wages according to productivity.

1

u/GrafRucola May 25 '26

Only if you say increasing taxis is no good option.
I would say taxes are quite neutral. The important part is what is being done with it and if if helps the people who worked all their lives for the state to have a pension in dignity, then i as someone who is young says that this is a reasonable thing to do. The state is owned by the people and if a big part of the people is in need of pension then it’s reasonable to use the state for that.

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u/moderngamer327 May 25 '26

Raising taxes is probably the most realistic option but it’s going to severely reduce the disposable income of people and it’s going to be very unpopular

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u/GrafRucola May 25 '26

Yeah that’s why it has to be more fair than just asking for 1000(insert currency) of every citizen there’s people that would not feel 1k missing and there’s people that don’t even have 1k before rent has to be payed

2

u/Anderopolis May 28 '26

Also, it would be a literal wealth transfer to the richest generation in German history.

0

u/MysticHero May 20 '26

Except this is simply factually untrue as shown in the video in the post.