The Children First

Presentation on the Allensbach survey sponsored by the "Forum to Strengthen the Family" on the relationship between the generations in Germany

Intercambio de participantes del simposio sobre las relaciones de las generaciones, en Mainz Participants of the sympision on generation relations in Mainz continue their discusión Austausch zwischen Teilnehmern des Symposiums zu Generationenbeziehungen in Mainz Foto: POS Fischer © 2005
Las generaciones juntas – un equipo ganador United generations – a winning team Generationen gemeinsam – ein Siegerteam
Jesus llamó a un niño.. He called a child over… Da rief Jesus ein Kind herbei...
...lo puso en medio de ellos... ...placed it in their midst ...und stellte es in ihre Mitte Fotos: Busse © 2005

GERMANY, mkf. "He called a child and placed it in their midst." Silence. With this phrase taken from Matthew 18, Cardinal Karl Lehman from Mainz closed the passionate debate on the relationship between the generations, family politics, retirement, parental income and old age in Germany – thus giving this debate an unexpected turn. It was more than a good ending: to place the child in their midst, to place the child in the center. The debate was part of the symposium of the Forum to Strengthen the Family: "Relationship between the generations in the family and in society: revolution? evolution? It took place on November 29^th in Mainz and where the so-called "generations barometer" was presented.

Many present-day political questions can be found in the so-called "generational justice." The question arises: can one generation be at a disadvantage to other generations? Must the blame (in Germany) be placed in a different way on a collapsed system of social security and on a retirement system where a generation of workers pays with its contributions for the retirement of the older generation which continues to grow in numbers? Professor Renate Kocher, director of the Allensbach Demographic Institute, informed at the symposium on Nov. 29^th and aired live on the TV channel "Phoenix", on the results of the first and brief survey on the topic of generational justice motivated by the presentation of the "generation barometer." Professor Dr. Hubertus Branzen – who is a member of the Schoenstatt Family and is, among other things, behind the organization of the "Search for footprints" and the "SMS – Text Messages – from God" (links) – is the initiator of the FORUM TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY. He began by presenting the project "Relationship between the generations" created by the forum, and asked: How does the climate change between generations? Is there a "war between the generations" in the face of the demographic change brought on by the increasing life expectancy and the decreasing number of births?

In public debate: generational conflicts; in the family: generational solidarity

The disturbances caused by the actual demographic change are grave, said Professor Renate Kocher. A transformation of the majority comes about: for the first time, the young generation is the minority among the total population. The interrelationship among the generations, which before was common, is lessened. Again and again, there are more persons who only connect with their own generation. Removing the state from the systems of security causes many people to have to return to their personal initiative and to family solidarity. But this no longer exists for everyone, especially for the great number of persons who are childless. Equivalently modified are the traditional models of inferiority and superiority. The young generation no longer learns it automatically from the seniors. In place of that traditional model, there are experts on topics which need a long life experience and experts in innovations….. in the best case in a complementary relationship of which all benefit.

The survey data on generational justice was obtained in November of 2005 through a survey by a representative population. According to the data, many suppose that in the near future, the solidarity between the generations is in danger: 41% of the people believe that in a short time there will be great conflicts between the generations regarding the great number of retirements or on the efficacy of official health insurance. It is more common with a relative majority of 48% that it is feared by the people who have low salaries.

In any case, it is evident, according to Dr. Renate Kocher, that admitting of a growing danger for the solidarity between the generations, is more a general opinion than a genuine personal observation. In spite of the fears and estimates, neither generation feels until now gravely damaged. Only 12% of the total population and only 25% of the young see a fundamental advantage of the older generation. A scarce one fourth of the population, 23%, believes that the younger ones are at an advantage. An absolute majority in all of the generations, 56% of the total population, nevertheless explains: "The elderly and the young both win equally from each other. The seniors did much for the young, and the young today do much for the elderly."

Also, the question on which generation has to make the greater sacrifices due to the pending reforms, does not cause any mutual complaints on the burdens. It is seldom mentioned about a burden from the retiree generation; in general, there is no difference between the young and the old on the answers to the question as to whether one generation has major burdens beyond the average. 51% of those who say that there is no injustice in what the generations have to contribute give a clear response: the population supposes that all have to contribute and support their own.

Mutual help between the young and the old within the family

The panorama expressed in the surveys is based, according to Professor Renate Kocher, especially in the mutual help which is offered between the young and the seniors in the bosom of the family. There also, the adults frequently contribute significantly to the material support of the younger generations. Only a minority - 16% - express somewhat provocative ideas, for example: "the younger people pay too much for the seniors due to the growing number of retirees. The seniors live at the expense of the younger generation." 68% views it differently. As a matter of fact, rejecting such accusations has increased in recent years. Data from the survey speaks against the possibility of seriously severing the good intergenerational relationship due to the pending reform of the social state.

In particular, the parents have a high mark of rejecting resentment against the other generations: 66% of the young parents reject the idea that the seniors live at the expense of the young. "Only" 46% of young adults of the same age, without children, are against that affirmation. In summary, 27% of those who have no children believe that the seniors live at the expense of the young.

Such results suppose, from the point of view of the FORUM TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY, that the experience of a good intergenerational relationship in the family also readily leads to a positive evaluation of the intergenerational encounter in society in general. It is then empirically proven what the "sympathizers" for marriage and the family as the germinating cell of society always supposed and always experienced. The strengthening of the family fosters solidarity between the generations was Dr. Brantzen’s summary. The more people experience solidarity of a family, the less anxiety will come forth…..the fear and the jealousy of receiving less than others in life.

In order to track at length what is relative to "the familial and generational climate" in Germany, the idea of the generational barometer arose in the FORUM TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY. The generational Barometer was designed as a long-term social-scientific study. It should periodically track – best would be every three years – the variations of the climate between the generations and turn about comparable empirical data. With questions and investigations regarding the complex theme of the generations in society and in the family, the generational barometer has as a point of departure the challenges of the demographic changes and reflects the treatment of the people with said changes. The aim of the generational barometer is to supply empirical data to stimulate the discussions on the topic. Almost simultaneously, President Horst Kohler in the Forum of Demographic Change has also come face to face with this topic. These discussions should open the way for resources and should show new perspectives.

Social politics, question of demand or of private initiative to strengthen the family?

At the round table moderated with friendliness and competence by Gundula Gause, Cardinal Karl Lehman of Mainz and president of the German Episcopal Conference; Dr. Jurgen Borchert, tribunal judge for social security of Hesse; Professor Dr. Renate Kocher and Professor Dr. Marc Szydlik, director of the Sociology Institute of the University of Zurich addressed the topic of intergenerational relationships. The somewhat lively discussion in which the public also participated, above all leaned toward questioning if many legislative and administrative measures could and should be effective and on what topics does one try to strengthen families and family relationships. "We have to have children once again," retorted Dr. Borchert.

The cause for aging, seen as a social phantom, is no longer the high life expectation, but the extremely low birth rate. This not only generates a critical demographic situation but leads to the regression of the population. The subsidy for parents proposed by the new federal government was widely discussed as were the diverse principles to create conditions in which can be fulfilled the desire to have one or more children. Could there not be, as in France, the possibility to give something like a credit card for families with children so they could obtain a 10% discount on their purchases? This was proposed by a participant from the public. It is also important, said Cardinal Lehman, that one is not only responsible for oneself but is also responsible for others: for the other generations including those to come. In conclusion, Gundula Gause said that in the end it has to do with showing that children are not the problem but a great joy.

By what was seen and heard on the television station ZDF, nothing would make you think that this debate took place during the time of Advent, on the way to Christmas…..there was something of Christmas here: God comes to the world on Christmas…..like a child. From the first Christmas then, one cannot overlook the "yes" to the child.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA