You really think that there is no savings potential for the German government? I think there is lots and lots.

And BER is costing money every day. It might be cheaper to tear it down and start again from scratch.

I think there is publication by the "society of tax payers" listing all the wasted tax payer money. Too few people read it though.

https://www.schwarzbuch.de/ - I see it is even free. And I have never read it, either. Will order a copy now :-)

I think as long as people are reasonably pampered (enough money left after taxes), they don't care enough.

In my opinion it is also the way the system is set up: taxes for employees are deducted before people even receive their money. So they have less feel for how much is being deducted. Self employed people see it differently.

I had an employed person deny this recently, but I am not convinced.