Discrimination Story

This is one of those page four stories in Germany, which won't get much traction, but it really begs for a person sit and ponder about the consequences.

N-TV brought this up today (commercial news network).

A survey was done by the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency in Berlin.  The survey asked people who own properties and rent out apartments/houses/flats....if they had a problem in renting to non-Germans.  Forty percent said 'yes'....they have a problem with immigrants or migrants....meaning that they'd rather not rent to them. 

The problem here is that there are laws in place, and if you (the owner) were to suggest there's a problem in renting to a non-German.....the non-German can document this....turn to the agency, getting legal help, and sue you in court.

So what happens to prevent this?  A fair number of owners are looking for middle-people or middle-agencies.....where a 'prevention' angle can be applied, and ensure legal troubles don't occur.  I know....it's still borderline illegal, but people have reached a stage where they question migration in various ways. 

The funny thing here is that you could be Greek or Polish, and the owner might not care at all.  If you were Bulgarian or Romanian?  That's right there on the borderline.  Albanian, Kurd, or Afghan?  It might be in the obstacle area.

Does all of this indicate a national trend, or a national problem?  Well, here's the thing.  In non-urbanized areas (say a 100 km outside of Berlin, or Hamburg).....it may not matter.  Most non-Germans are on a magnet course, and want to live in job-sectors (urban areas)....so the idea of living in a rural town where half the population is concerned over migrants and don't want to rent to them....may not matter. 

Around two years ago, I watched a German comedian who suggested in his 'chatter' that to be fairly integrated and accepted.....the new foreign folks needed to adapt to German names (Wilhelm, Walter, or Klaus).  I'm not suggesting it's a brilliant idea or ethical, but you could go and do the name change, and confuse these anti-migrant flat-owners.

The odds of increased efforts to drag flat-owners into court and sue them?  I'd take a guess that efforts will double up in 2020 and 2021.  But this will likely just churn up more negativity about the government and their way of enforcing anti-discrimination laws.