Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Man Refuses Food Over Welfare Cuts (Germany)
The Local ^ | 19 Nov 12

Posted on 11/22/2012 9:48:51 PM PST by nickcarraway

An unemployed Berlin man who had his state welfare cut to nearly nothing is refusing to eat, in an attempt to make the government consider introducing a basic income.

Ralph Boes, 54, has not eaten since November 1 and, he told the Stuttgarter Zeitung on Monday he would not stop his protest until his demands are heard. Until then the occasional cup of vegetable stock will have to do.

Boes refuses to label his protest as a hunger strike, preferring the idea that the government has punished him with starvation. The job centre recently cut his monthly jobseeker's payment to €37.50 – a tenth of what it was. It still pays his rent.

He denies bringing the situation upon himself by turning down multiple job offers, saying that as a trained and experienced occupational therapist, it would be unthinkable to work in a badly paid, unskilled job.

He turned down shifts at a call centre for €7 an hour, calling it “slave labour”, while a job in the office of a temping agency would make Boes what he called a “slave master” both of which were, morally, not options for him.

Instead, he wants an unconditional basic income paid by the government for everyone. In the fight for this, it was time that someone trying to be heard, “replaced their voice with their life.”

“I'm being punished to the point of death,” he added. “But I will not die, I will win.”

Boes told the paper he believed a basic income should be available to everyone from the government to fund them to do what they consider right, important and sensible.

Until then, he said he was recording his daily activities and weight loss in a blog - he has lost nearly seven kilos in the last nearly three weeks.

To the critics who have labelled him a parasite, Boes said “I asked them what they think of bankers; whether they too are not parasites?”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

1 posted on 11/22/2012 9:48:56 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Ralph sounds like he might not be playing with a full deck.


2 posted on 11/22/2012 9:52:11 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Amnesty - Obama's bailout of Mexico. Barry sticks it to America again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Boes told the paper he believed a basic income should be available to everyone from the government to fund them to do what they consider right, important and sensible.

Like retirement.

3 posted on 11/22/2012 9:55:03 PM PST by sphinx ([)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Sluggards should die of hunger.


4 posted on 11/22/2012 9:56:02 PM PST by Freelance Warrior (A Russian.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

It’s too bad the solution to this problem takes so long.


5 posted on 11/22/2012 10:00:38 PM PST by muir_redwoods (Don't fire until you see the blue of their helmets)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Hilarious article!! My favorite part:

…he wants an unconditional basic income paid by the government for everyone.

Coming soon to Americant.

6 posted on 11/22/2012 10:00:53 PM PST by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi, Mister Prez.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Crowds should gather around him eating hamburgers, brats and fries, talking about how good it all is and occasionally offering him some.


7 posted on 11/22/2012 10:08:11 PM PST by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slump Tester

So if I refuse food, you’ll offer me all that? I’m in.


8 posted on 11/22/2012 10:11:37 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

This is a great idea, and I hope it spreads to the US.
Every Democrat moocher should go on a hunger strike until the Democrat parasite nests (”cities”) look like Biafra.


9 posted on 11/22/2012 10:16:11 PM PST by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

You aren’t sane when you act like the government is your parents, and demand they act like your parents.


10 posted on 11/22/2012 10:19:37 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Wow seven whole Kilos in three weeks... That is like fifteen pounds. I am not sure of his beginning weight, but that isn’t a great deal for an adult male who has given up ALL food.


11 posted on 11/22/2012 10:50:47 PM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lancey Howard
This is a great idea, and I hope it spreads to the US. Every Democrat moocher should go on a hunger strike until the Democrat parasite nests (”cities”) look like Biafra.

A variant already has. Hostess union refused to take a pay cut and would rather give up their jobs.

These leftists will keep going further and further. However at some point the welfare socialist state morphs into a full-blown communist state which will make all slaves work to their ability in order for the state to provide to each according to their need. Brave new world.

12 posted on 11/22/2012 11:03:09 PM PST by plain talk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
“I'm being punished to the point of death,” he added.

Well_bye

"Well, bye"

13 posted on 11/22/2012 11:04:36 PM PST by A Formerly Proud Canadian (I once was lost but now I'm found; blind but now I see.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Let him starve


14 posted on 11/22/2012 11:27:44 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

He’s been “protesting” for this basic income/thievery since at least 2008.


15 posted on 11/23/2012 12:39:30 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (Bathhouse Barry wants YOU to bend over for another four years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

We demands our rights.


16 posted on 11/23/2012 4:10:34 AM PST by QBFimi (When gunpowder speaks, beasts listen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plain talk

Hostess union refused to take a pay cut and would rather give up their jobs.

Hostess will be followed by many more companies that refuse to allow union bosses run their country.


17 posted on 11/23/2012 5:02:11 AM PST by chainsaw ("Two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by Obama")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer
Instead, he wants an unconditional basic income paid by the government for everyone.

Hey, worthless freeloader, there is no such thing as government money, only taxpayer's money. What Mr. entitlement wants is for the working people to pay him just for being alive so he can sit on his ass all day long and do nothing. Won't be long before the left wing idiots of this country will start demanding the same thing and Bozo will want to give it to them.

18 posted on 11/23/2012 5:23:59 AM PST by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

One less bell to answer; one less egg to fry, one less mouth to feed now.....They could almost make a song from the story.


19 posted on 11/23/2012 5:33:15 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

His lower Welfare bennies will go a lot further since he gave up food. He’s got ingenuity ;)


20 posted on 11/23/2012 6:23:12 AM PST by libertarian27 (Check my profile page for the FReeper Online Cookbook 2011)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson