Hartz

For all those--like myself--who haven't kept up with what this whole Hartz thing is all about in Germany, this NYT article is a good overview.

"The government saved the hardest steps for last. The so-called Hartz IV measures, which take effect in January, are intended to force the chronically unemployed back into the labor force.
Rather than drawing long-term unemployment compensation, which can be up to 60 percent of a recipient's original salary, they would receive only basic welfare after 12 months out of work."

Sounds about right to me! Now they'll need to work on the 120 state holidays and 6 weeks of vacation, the 35 hour work-week, and child-birth dole.