Brainstorming: What I would do if I were the chancellor of Germany

A freestyle attempt to share my ideas and thoughts about governing Germany and how I would face the challenges ahead of the country I am living in at the moment. Some of the aspects can be transfered into a broader context (e.g. Europe). This article does definitely not cover all aspects of governing a country but as from my point of view the the most relevant for the future:

Economic stimulus packages for new technologies and upcoming industries. Think about internet and data infrustructure across Germany. High speed data networks and hotspots all over. State of the art computers, servers and software for educational institutions. As well as conventional roadworks and (electric) power station network to serve the new generation of mobility (e-car, hybrids, f-cell) and sustainable architecture of public buildings as role models for housing of the future. Wouldn`t it make much more sense to invest in these areas than keeping the coal mines alive and rescuing dead industries? If you ask me this would be the right way for future economic growth in areas which really matter.

Besides that I would set up creative work spaces for early stage entrepreneurs to work on and grow new ideas and innovations till they reach a certain maturity level with their products and services. Think of open plug and play-centers in every major city where the office space and infrastructure can be used for startups and upcoming businees at no or low costs. This would be an innovation booster. I think back to the times where we tried to get something started and off the ground with some friends. Good ideas and a big dream but no place and support to go any further. It would also make sense to give some basic business support and consulting at such innovation “labs”.

I would also re-mix our energy mix towards alternative energy replacing more and more nuclear power stations with solar, wind, geothermal and other solutions over the next 15 years. In order to get there I would keep up the subsidies of the new energies slowly decreasing over time and rewarding the players who make the most efforts and improvements in terms of efficiency and costs with further tax reductions.

By the way tax reduction could be also used as a reward system for social responsibility and sustainable business practices and good cititzenship. Think of a point system evaluating the efforts and performance of businesses and individuals and rewarding the ones who do the most and have the best results. The more you do the less you pay! Naturally, this would need rules and standards and evaluation systems and processes. However, this is not the final plan in detail. The chancellor would delegate the detailed work to his/her ministers and experts and I will do the same with you now: Feel free to make your adjustments and further develop the concept I mention. My government is open innovation place and we love crowdsourcing;)

Another crucial point to focus on would be education. And if I say education I mean it from A-Z. Not only do we need completely new content structure and programme for schools/universities but whole new methods of learning. We have to re-think the training and recruiting of teachers as well. No need to say that some new tools and methods are already there and that we only need to be put them into place. Education should be a mash up of old and new approaches allowing people to become eternal learners. Learning does not stop after school or university! Society has changed, technology has changed and education will change. On lesson at a time. (Short notice: From today everybody can start his own school and simply create his own social learning network. Where? At http://www.supercoolschool.com/)

Last but not least I would concentrate on health matters. An idea would be to reward healthy lifestyles from nutritional aspects to excercising. Why not allowing people to set off costs for healthy products and gym from their tax liabilities? If one can send in bills for business dinners or office space at their home, why not sending in bills for renewing their bodies and for health improving measures? Think a little bit about this! By being healthy, you get rewarded and by rewarding you the government and especially the compulsive health insurance funds (supported by government) are released from a lot of “heavy weight”, right?!

I believe that Germany can play a leading role in the further development of this world. It has been a role model in the past in various industries and still is a leading country in Europe and the world. If we want to stay on top of the world we need to take bold decisions and thereby influence the development in the emerging and developing countries as well. Never underestimate the influence we still have with our western lifestyles on people in areas like upcoming economies like India, China, Russia, etc… If we establish being green as cool they will adopt. If we renew education they will do. If we set new standards in sustainable mobility they will follow. So what are we waiting for then?!

Feel free to comment, join the conversation and further elaborate my thoughts and ideas;)

If I were the chancellor...

Tags: alternative energy, brainstorming, Change, education, government, Green, Ideas, Society