While Putin's war of aggression is entering its fourth week and is becoming more and more cruel every day, the fear of a loss of prosperity and social decline is growing in this country.

A liter of diesel now costs more than 2.20 euros – a year ago the average diesel price was 1.40 euros.

"Freezing for peace" has therefore been talked about more frequently lately, which is of course exaggerated, after all, according to the "Gas Emergency Plan", private households are subject to special protection in the event of a gas shortage.

And yet: the cost of living and energy are rising noticeably, and it affects each of us - some more, others less.

Frank Plasberg therefore dedicated his talk show "Hart aber Fair" to the topic: "Bitter awakening: Germany is too dependent on Russia for gas, oil and coal.

Does that mean we have to continue funding Putin's war?

Who suffers most from high fuel and heating costs?

And how can the state help in a sensible way?”

Melanie Muehl

Editor in the Feuilleton.

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People like Susanne Holtkotte suffer the most.

She is in her early 50s and works as a cleaning specialist in a hospital in Bochum.

Because she lives in the country and leaves the house at half past four on working days, she is dependent on her old Golf.

The halving of public transport prices brought into play by Claudia Kemfert, energy expert at the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin, would not relieve Susanne Holtkotte financially.

And what about the proposal for a tank discount, as favored by Finance Minister Christian Lindner?

A tool he thinks is “more agile” than tax cuts?

A normal wage earner or employee in the low-wage sector, said Holtkotte, “would like to see 1.69 euros for Super”.

In any case, Lindner, who was involved and has already received harsh criticism for his fuel price proposal (“promotion of SUV drivers”, “wonderful for the petroleum industry”, “ecologically nonsensical”) defended the discount at Plasberg: It could be done quickly and unbureaucratically and also relieve car-dependent tradespeople such as craftsmen, whose existence is at risk.

Even the broad middle of the population should not always just pay.

Lindner referred to France.

There, the increased fuel price is to be cushioned with a discount of 15 cents per liter.

As far as the country's economic future is concerned, Lindner did not mince his words: "We will lose prosperity if energy prices rise." Jens Spahn (CDU), deputy parliamentary group leader, went even further:

Spahn spoke out in favor of a significant reduction in electricity tax and value added tax on energy.

It takes a bit of getting used to the fact that Spahn no longer plays the role of pandemic fighter, but instead breaks a lance for SUV drivers who are also forced to save.

The big hammer is yet to come

It is the SPD politician Thomas Kutschaty who broadened the discussion focused on cars and fuel prices: The big hammer finally threatens in the spring, when the demands for additional payments for heating costs come.

And Ulrich Reitz, chief correspondent for "Focus online", said that his editors found out during their research: "The weekly shopping at Lidl and Aldi has become between ten and thirteen percent more expensive."

What everyone agreed on was that Germany had to be "Putin-free" as quickly as possible and the population had to be relieved - only the how caused heated discussions.

Kemfert emphasized again and again how important it is to continue to expand renewable energies.

Of course, there was also talk of the Minister of Economy's visit to Qatar, a country that tramples on human rights.

There, Robert Habeck, for whom one could feel sorry, after all he is not responsible for the energy policy that has failed for decades, has just agreed on an energy partnership with the Emir of Qatar.

According to Kemfert, he turned good mine into a bad game.

The energy expert now sees the moment to put a stop to waste, in other words: speed limit, car-free Sunday (“every fourth trip is a leisure trip”), more cycling, heating down.

A suggestion that Susanne Holtkotte unfortunately referred to and jumped out of her skin: save where you can, more would not work.

If she turned the heating down any further, she would have to put on a fur coat.

In doing so, Kemfert made an important point: those who can afford it should critically question their consumption.

Maybe not every room in a 200 square meter apartment has to be cozy and warm.

In any case, low earners like Susanne Holtkotte are already paying too high a price.