Under the keyword "Gas price brake", the traffic light is struggling to find the next, even larger energy aid for the winter.
But the government must finally ensure that it does not distribute further tax money with such large wastage as with the tank discount in early summer or now with the energy flat rate for pensioners.
The tank discount helped rich and poor, it was far too inaccurate.
The EUR 6 billion energy cost subsidy for pensioners, which the Bundestag has just passed, also deserves criticism.
Because around one million working pensioners can enjoy the “one-off payment” of 300 euros twice – and quite legally.
In September you already received the 300 euros that were intended for employees, but you can keep the money.
The government's intention to retrospectively put pensioners on the same footing as working people sometimes leads to preferential treatment and new injustice.
Can't the traffic light do better or doesn't want to?
Not every measure can be taken in a crisis, but the crisis does not excuse every gross mistake either.