Markus Lanz and Helene Bubrowski have to act on Saskia Esken for a long time before she recognizes a mistake. The discussion about work provides a word of power.
Hamburg – It has probably been the case since the dawn of mankind that one person complains about the next generation. A historical testimony offers the following quote: "The youth of today loves luxury, has bad manners, and despises authority. They contradict their parents, cross their legs and bully their teachers." Those who have never heard this phrase before may be shocked that it is attributed to Socrates. The Greek philosopher lived from 470 - 399 B.C.
In his show on Thursday evening, Markus Lanz gives the impression that young people are very different from their parents. However, the moderator relates this to the attitude towards work. While people used to define themselves through their work, today the topic of work-life balance is on everyone's lips. "Are you still working, or are you already alive?" Lanz asks his group. A group "that is more colorful than ever before" catches the attention of the presenter: The four women in the studio wear pink, light green and twice red. Perhaps Lanz will take this as a model.
Markus Lanz – These guests will join the discussion on 8 June:
- Saskia Esken (SPD) – Party Chairwoman
- Helene Bubrowski, "FAZ" editor
- Ronja Ebeling, Management Consultant
- Laura Bornmann, economist and expert in human resource management
Lanz wrinkles his forehead and seems to ponder: "The work somehow has a strange image." He sees a conflict coming to our society because Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is confronting the demanding generation of parents with an invitation to relax. "Is Generation Z really as thin-skinned and demanding as many critics assume?" asks Lanz. Ronja Ebeling is a 27-year-old management consultant and has a different impression. In any case, she would not describe the attitude of young people as "thin-skinned and demanding". "I think work is simply no longer the purpose of life for many young people today," she says.
Economist Bornmann: Young people want meaningful work
When asked by Lanz whether this has anything to do with laziness, economist Laura Bornmann resolutely replies: "Many demands are plausible. It's important to all of us that we can reconcile work and private life." In any case, she believes that there will be no conflict because the generations do not differ as much as they say. It merely notes that more attention is being paid to the meaningfulness of the professional activity. However, there is no lack of willingness to perform: "We need more desire to work, but we also need better conditions so that we are more interested in work."
Management consultant Ebeling: Children do not want to repeat the mistakes of their parents
Ebeling believes that all generations – including the elderly – will benefit from the changes in the labour market. In doing so, Ebeling puts forward an interesting thesis: "The demands of the younger generation are often also a result of what has been observed among the older generation." So anyone who experienced as a child that both parents came home late and stressed, unloaded their frustration there and had hardly any time for the children, does not necessarily want to emulate this. In addition, however, there is another aspect: While work used to be associated with the promise of advancement, which was a motivation for many people, this is different today. "Today, a lot of performance no longer guarantees social advancement," says Ebeling.
In the direction of Laura Bornmann, Ebeling says that one must first be able to afford to check the meaningfulness of the work. FAZ journalist Helene Bubrowski follows the discussion with suspicion and makes no secret of the fact that she is annoyed by the discussion: "This lifestyle question is only being discussed among privileged academics. I am irritated by this attitude of entitlement. Generation Z wants it all. More time for children, friends and hobbies. That can't work," says the trained lawyer and mother of four. And indeed, this sentence had something of a punch on the kitchen table at the family's meal together. Bornmann and Ebeling discuss for minutes before the leader puts his foot down and ends the discussion.
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FAZ editor Bubrowski: Traffic light is pretty rotten inside
Of course, Lanz is also once again about the traffic light coalition – or rather, its expiration date. SPD leader Saskia Esken admits that things are not going well at the moment, which is why she speaks diplomatically of a "need for optimization". At the same time, however, Esken is convinced – at least she pretends to be – that the traffic light has a long future: "I am convinced that the traffic light will not only last until the end of this legislature, but that we will be re-elected."
Esken admits mistakes: We underestimated the impact of the debate
Saskia Esken as a guest of Markus Lanz © Markus Hertrich/ZDF
Esken otherwise tried to keep any discussion small. Different perceptions of reality are normal for three partners. She also sees "no ego thing" between Habeck and Lindner. Again, it is Bubrowski who speaks Tacheles: "The coalition partners are suffering from the urge to profit, coupled with increasing pressure due to the AfD's soaring popularity. The coalition is pretty rotten inside." After all, Esken relents after several attempts by Lanz. In the case of the planned Building Energy Act, "we clearly underestimated the impact of the debate".
Markus Lanz – The conclusion of the show
You can feel sorry for Ronja Ebeling and Laura Bornmann. Both are engaged in a debate and spur each other on. But only until Helene Bubrowski dismisses the entire topic with a statement. Even in the part of Saskia Esken, who at the beginning gives the impression that she is on the talk show so as not to say anything substantive, Bubrowski turns out to be a door opener with her sharp comments to elicit a few interesting words from the SPD leader. In the end, only one question remained: When will Helene Bubrowski actually get her own show? (Christoph Heuser)