I live in Germany as a regular citizen. That means, i am not an political activist (at the moment) or otherwise involved in political processes.
In my opinion, the German politicians are going in the completely wrong direction/doing many "wrong" things.
For instance:
- At the moment, public officials don't pay taxes for the tax-financed pension system or for the national health insurance. I think that would be a really good idea.
- Germany is heading towards a police state with the recent legislative changes to the police laws. (Source. For instance, they do threaten already privacy advocates, even if they are just witnesses. The police also recently received the right to install a "Bundestrojaner" onto the devices of criminals, even when the criminals are just accused of selling with drugs. However, I'm not sure if that's also part of these new police laws.
- I totally don't understand, why the SPD appointed a Goldman Sachs guy as finance minister, as I think he acts based on the interests of the industry and not in the interests of the citizens. He is not neutral.
Of course, that is highly subjective, but I feel I have to express this opinion somehow (based on facts). I feel I have the democratic responsibility to tell the government/politicians what and why I think they are doing the wrong things, and what would be better.
However, I don't know what the most effective way to do that is. I feel like participating in demonstrations (and I have) is not a good solution. If I remember correctly, Herbert Reuss has recently said (as response to the criticism of the police laws in NRW), that he expected already to receive complaints from left-wing citizens. Of course, I am one of those left-wing citizens; so how can I make Herbert Reuss understand that his solution is wrong?
At the moment, my response as a democratic citizen is to fund organisations who fight juridically against those police laws. I feel that this is democratically more effective compared to the participation in demonstrations, but that doesn't change the believes/understanding of the involved politicians.
I'm also not sure whether it would be effective to write a letter, explaining why I think the police laws are the wrong approach. I guess he wouldn't take me seriously, as I'm left-wing. And I'm also not sure whether my letter would even reach him, as it would first be read by his secretary.
Would it be effective to talk to my local politician in his office about these issues?