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When Was Your Aha-Moment?

Have you ever experienced a moment when you realized that the state is not the solution to your problems, but the problem itself? An eye-opener, an epiphany that changed everything? At denationalize.me, we are eager to hear your story and participate in your moment of clarity.

Every experience counts and can open the eyes of others. That’s why we invite you to share your personal “aha moment” with us and the denationalize.me community. Every contribution that helps us to raise awareness and stimulate discussion will be rewarded. Share your story and receive a €200 coupon that you can use for our consultations or products.

Write about your experience in an email to juliana@staatenlos.ch. We look forward to hearing from you!

Share Your Aha Moment
Your Story

When Was Your Aha-Moment?

Have you ever experienced a moment when you realized that the state is not the solution to your problems, but the problem itself? An eye-opener, an epiphany that changed everything? At denationalize.me, we are eager to hear your story and participate in your moment of clarity.

Every experience counts and can open the eyes of others. That’s why we invite you to share your personal “aha moment” with us and the denationalize.me community. Every contribution that helps us to raise awareness and stimulate discussion will be rewarded. Share your story and receive a €200 coupon that you can use for our consultations or products.

Write about your experience in an email to juliana@staatenlos.ch. We look forward to hearing from you!

Share Your Aha Moment
Tom

A Better Life with Self-Employment and International Insurance

“My aha-moment came when I started my own business after my studies, went abroad and realized that international health insurance is more efficient, more flexible, more accessible and significantly cheaper than state health insurance in Germany. Other advantages soon followed, especially the realization that life can also be very pleasant in countries with lower taxes. I began to choose the services I wanted myself and was thus able to adapt my life much better to my expectations.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Tom

A Better Life with Self-Employment and International Insurance

“My aha-moment came when I started my own business after my studies, went abroad and realized that international health insurance is more efficient, more flexible, more accessible and significantly cheaper than state health insurance in Germany. Other advantages soon followed, especially the realization that life can also be very pleasant in countries with lower taxes. I began to choose the services I wanted myself and was thus able to adapt my life much better to my expectations.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Roland

My Path to Freedom from State Paternalism

“As a psychological psychotherapist, I had a ten-year career in cantonal psychiatric clinics, including PUK Zurich and Soteria Bern, while also working independently since 2014. During my internship in Liestal, I was already annoyed that I had to work for a salary of 2,300, while my medical colleagues earned significantly more. This financial exploitation continued in other clinics. Despite a university degree and five years of specialization, I was only managed internally as a specialist FH and my wage complaints in Zurich were rejected.

In Lucerne, I worked for four years in the closed acute psychiatric ward, contributing to the safety of the population, but received no appreciation or appropriate remuneration. The job description even explicitly stated that leadership skills were not desired.

The decisive “aha” moment came in September 2017, when clients were withdrawn from me two weeks after I left a private clinic. Anyone who is not part of the system is used or financially marginalized.

I also constantly pay into the compensation fund, but receive nothing in return. Threats and reminder fees are the only response if you don’t get on with it. I am gradually working on freeing myself from all of this. My life, my responsibility and my freedom are now my priority. I am grateful for the support from denationalize.me, as they are helping me walk this new path.

The challenges continued when my Cuban wife and I had to fight for Schengen visas – a terrible and hostile process.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Roland

My Path to Freedom from State Paternalism

“As a psychological psychotherapist, I had a ten-year career in cantonal psychiatric clinics, including PUK Zurich and Soteria Bern, while also working independently since 2014. During my internship in Liestal, I was already annoyed that I had to work for a salary of 2,300, while my medical colleagues earned significantly more. This financial exploitation continued in other clinics. Despite a university degree and five years of specialization, I was only managed internally as a specialist FH and my wage complaints in Zurich were rejected.

In Lucerne, I worked for four years in the closed acute psychiatric ward, contributing to the safety of the population, but received no appreciation or appropriate remuneration. The job description even explicitly stated that leadership skills were not desired.

The decisive “aha” moment came in September 2017, when clients were withdrawn from me two weeks after I left a private clinic. Anyone who is not part of the system is used or financially marginalized.

I also constantly pay into the compensation fund, but receive nothing in return. Threats and reminder fees are the only response if you don’t get on with it. I am gradually working on freeing myself from all of this. My life, my responsibility and my freedom are now my priority. I am grateful for the support from denationalize.me, as they are helping me walk this new path.

The challenges continued when my Cuban wife and I had to fight for Schengen visas – a terrible and hostile process.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Dominik

Freedom Begins Where the Tax Burden Ends: My Journey to Financial Independence through Legal Tax Optimization

“I used to struggle with difficult living conditions. The high cost of living, fixed costs including taxes, my family situation and my relatively low salary left me with hardly any financial leeway at the end of the month. In addition, my 45-hour working week with a long commute tied me down and my employment contract prohibited me from pursuing other forms of income.

I realized that I worked for the state for around 6 months a year (keyword: Taxpayers’ Memorial Day, the day that symbolically marks the end of the year until which citizens only work for taxes and social security contributions). The state benefits that served the common good did not help me personally. If I had been able to use this money for investments, my way out of poverty might have been easier. This realization led me to critically question the role of the state and increasingly turn to libertarian ideas. Legal tax optimization eventually became a central goal for me.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Dominik

Freedom Begins Where the Tax Burden Ends: My Journey to Financial Independence through Legal Tax Optimization

“I used to struggle with difficult living conditions. The high cost of living, fixed costs including taxes, my family situation and my relatively low salary left me with hardly any financial leeway at the end of the month. In addition, my 45-hour working week with a long commute tied me down and my employment contract prohibited me from pursuing other forms of income.

I realized that I worked for the state for around 6 months a year (keyword: Taxpayers’ Memorial Day, the day that symbolically marks the end of the year until which citizens only work for taxes and social security contributions). The state benefits that served the common good did not help me personally. If I had been able to use this money for investments, my way out of poverty might have been easier. This realization led me to critically question the role of the state and increasingly turn to libertarian ideas. Legal tax optimization eventually became a central goal for me.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Budi

My Taxes, Their Extravagances: How My Money Disappears for Unnecessary Things

“During the covid pandemic, I realized that the state was distributing its tax revenue to the rest of the world and was therefore stealing from me and, last but not least, cheating me. No amount of help was too small, and everyone and everything got money for doing nothing. Sure, someone else is footing the bill.

The culmination of the waste of money and their own decadence can now be found in the expenses for Baerbock’s hair (really, how can you pay for a hairdresser after that?) and the bicycle paths in Peru. It’s wonderful how they smear my money around in nothingness. And I’m paying for it all…”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Budi

My Taxes, Their Extravagances: How My Money Disappears for Unnecessary Things

“During the covid pandemic, I realized that the state was distributing its tax revenue to the rest of the world and was therefore stealing from me and, last but not least, cheating me. No amount of help was too small, and everyone and everything got money for doing nothing. Sure, someone else is footing the bill.

The culmination of the waste of money and their own decadence can now be found in the expenses for Baerbock’s hair (really, how can you pay for a hairdresser after that?) and the bicycle paths in Peru. It’s wonderful how they smear my money around in nothingness. And I’m paying for it all…”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Pia

From Bullying to the Idea of Free Learning

“My rethinking and actual aha-moment came about through the topic of compulsory schooling. A friend’s daughter, who was in first grade, was bullied and therefore didn’t like going to school at all. Bullying itself was not tolerated at school, but large classrooms and the resulting lack of attention in such situations contributed to this. A lot also happened on the way to school.

Then the idea arose to try “free learning”. There are many things you could do to rediscover the joy of learning and also to promote talents. But that’s not allowed as it is illegal in Germany! Then I did some research and realized that there are countless families who are very happy with this type of schooling. So I thought to myself, if I ever have a child, this would be a really great option. This made me very suspicious and I wondered to what extent the best interest of children were really at the forefront! Then I realized that emigration was the only long-term solution. There is no solution to this problem on the part of the state…”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Pia

From Bullying to the Idea of Free Learning

“My rethinking and actual aha-moment came about through the topic of compulsory schooling. A friend’s daughter, who was in first grade, was bullied and therefore didn’t like going to school at all. Bullying itself was not tolerated at school, but large classrooms and the resulting lack of attention in such situations contributed to this. A lot also happened on the way to school.

Then the idea arose to try “free learning”. There are many things you could do to rediscover the joy of learning and also to promote talents. But that’s not allowed as it is illegal in Germany! Then I did some research and realized that there are countless families who are very happy with this type of schooling. So I thought to myself, if I ever have a child, this would be a really great option. This made me very suspicious and I wondered to what extent the best interest of children were really at the forefront! Then I realized that emigration was the only long-term solution. There is no solution to this problem on the part of the state…”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Robert

State Problems Shaped My Career

“Back then, when I was still a poor, hopeless student in Austria, I lived next door to a home for socially disadvantaged alcoholics. They were always loitering drunk and stoned outside the door – call it what you will. At 11 o’clock in the morning they bought their first schnapps in the supermarket, reeking so much of alcohol that even a medical FFP2 mask couldn’t hide it. When I read that the Austrian state was providing these people with €900 a month plus a paid apartment, that was the last straw for me.

What’s more, they always smoked in their rooms, even though there was a smoke detector in every room that was connected to the voluntary fire department. At least once a month, the alarm went off in the middle of the night. All the hard-working people living nearby were woken up. Two to four fire trucks and three to five police busses would arrive, only to realize at the end: “Well, it was them again.” At some point, enough is enough. And I’m supposed to pay for this? I’m not Caritas – I’m not going to go along with that.

And now, as a successful entrepreneur and employer who creates jobs and direct added value, I’m supposed to give up more than half of it and be punished with bureaucracy, tax audits and the like? Thank you, but no! Those were my two aha moments. One from my youth – that’s when the seed was planted. And one from my early days as a business founder. Now I have a foundation as a holding company and I’m happy not to spend my life on this hamster wheel.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Robert

State Problems Shaped My Career

“Back then, when I was still a poor, hopeless student in Austria, I lived next door to a home for socially disadvantaged alcoholics. They were always loitering drunk and stoned outside the door – call it what you will. At 11 o’clock in the morning they bought their first schnapps in the supermarket, reeking so much of alcohol that even a medical FFP2 mask couldn’t hide it. When I read that the Austrian state was providing these people with €900 a month plus a paid apartment, that was the last straw for me.

What’s more, they always smoked in their rooms, even though there was a smoke detector in every room that was connected to the voluntary fire department. At least once a month, the alarm went off in the middle of the night. All the hard-working people living nearby were woken up. Two to four fire trucks and three to five police busses would arrive, only to realize at the end: “Well, it was them again.” At some point, enough is enough. And I’m supposed to pay for this? I’m not Caritas – I’m not going to go along with that.

And now, as a successful entrepreneur and employer who creates jobs and direct added value, I’m supposed to give up more than half of it and be punished with bureaucracy, tax audits and the like? Thank you, but no! Those were my two aha moments. One from my youth – that’s when the seed was planted. And one from my early days as a business founder. Now I have a foundation as a holding company and I’m happy not to spend my life on this hamster wheel.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Christian

From the GDR Riot Police to the Critical Citizen: My Path Through the Fall of Communism

“My aha-moment came during my military service with the GDR riot police. I was born in 1969 and was “allowed” to serve my country from 1987. I had my A-levels and wanted to go to university. As a student, you had to sign up for three years of military service back then.

At the time of the fall of 1989, our unit was regularly deployed at the demonstrations in Dresden, Plauen and Leipzig. We were told horror stories about the demonstrators.

It was at a Monday demonstration in Leipzig when I, in a leadership role, refused to use my service weapon against the tens of thousands of demonstrators should this be necessary. I was immediately cited to the regiment commander, promoted down a rank and told by the nice gentleman that I could forget my studies: “We don’t spend money on enemies of the state”.

Fortunately, the GDR collapsed and I was free again after 17 months of military service … However, this hope only lasted a few months, as by the end of 1990 it was already clear that it was a rigged game and that the old masters were also partly the new masters. In the new era, there were MANY more aha moments.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Christian

From the GDR Riot Police to the Critical Citizen: My Path Through the Fall of Communism

“My aha-moment came during my military service with the GDR riot police. I was born in 1969 and was “allowed” to serve my country from 1987. I had my A-levels and wanted to go to university. As a student, you had to sign up for three years of military service back then.

At the time of the fall of 1989, our unit was regularly deployed at the demonstrations in Dresden, Plauen and Leipzig. We were told horror stories about the demonstrators.

It was at a Monday demonstration in Leipzig when I, in a leadership role, refused to use my service weapon against the tens of thousands of demonstrators should this be necessary. I was immediately cited to the regiment commander, promoted down a rank and told by the nice gentleman that I could forget my studies: “We don’t spend money on enemies of the state”.

Fortunately, the GDR collapsed and I was free again after 17 months of military service … However, this hope only lasted a few months, as by the end of 1990 it was already clear that it was a rigged game and that the old masters were also partly the new masters. In the new era, there were MANY more aha moments.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Daniel

Building Up Wealth Under High Taxes is Impossible

“I had long been aware that taxes were a kind of robbery, but saw them as a necessary evil to build a business and become wealthy. At the end of the summer of 2023, I was chatting with an acquaintance who earns a substantial five-figure monthly income. He casually told me that his account was once again empty after the annual income tax payment. When I got home, I realized that this man has been paying taxes for over 20 years and yet his account is almost empty every year after the tax payment – just like mine. I had to realize that a normal human brain cannot simply accept this kind of theft and I realized that it would be impossible to build my business successfully under these conditions.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Daniel

Building Up Wealth Under High Taxes is Impossible

“I had long been aware that taxes were a kind of robbery, but saw them as a necessary evil to build a business and become wealthy. At the end of the summer of 2023, I was chatting with an acquaintance who earns a substantial five-figure monthly income. He casually told me that his account was once again empty after the annual income tax payment. When I got home, I realized that this man has been paying taxes for over 20 years and yet his account is almost empty every year after the tax payment – just like mine. I had to realize that a normal human brain cannot simply accept this kind of theft and I realized that it would be impossible to build my business successfully under these conditions.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Jan

Inspired by denationalize.me: My Awakening to the Tax Reality in Germany

“I’ve always had the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong, but since I’ve been following denationalize.me, I’ve had many eye-opening moments. These experiences have shown me that I can fight back and that I don’t just have to accept what is put in front of me. denationalize.me has made me realize how I can actively take action against unjust conditions. However, it was only recently that I found out for the first time how Germany uses tax money and where it actually goes. I am not prepared to pay high taxes if it is obvious that the money is flowing abroad while urgent problems remain unsolved right on my doorstep. This realization has only strengthened my determination to stand up for change.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Jan

Inspired by denationalize.me: My Awakening to the Tax Reality in Germany

“I’ve always had the feeling that something is fundamentally wrong, but since I’ve been following denationalize.me, I’ve had many eye-opening moments. These experiences have shown me that I can fight back and that I don’t just have to accept what is put in front of me. denationalize.me has made me realize how I can actively take action against unjust conditions. However, it was only recently that I found out for the first time how Germany uses tax money and where it actually goes. I am not prepared to pay high taxes if it is obvious that the money is flowing abroad while urgent problems remain unsolved right on my doorstep. This realization has only strengthened my determination to stand up for change.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Thomas

From the Business Student to the Critic: How My View of the Financial System has Changed

“My name is Thomas. I am 56 years old, self-employed in the real estate industry and happily married to Juliana, who is originally from Belarus. We have a 19-year-old daughter. My aha moment happened about 10 years ago. Although I had studied business administration in Germany and was convinced that I had a deep understanding of the financial and monetary system, I came across a YouTube video by Andreas Popp that put my knowledge to the test. Popp, a well-known critic of the fiat money system, argues against the unstable foundation of our economic system and emphasizes the risks of excessive debt. These perspectives, which question both economic and political leadership, were unfamiliar to me and were thought-provoking. Although I did not agree with all of Mr. Popp’s theses, I could not clearly refute them either. This experience marked the beginning of my career as a so-called “lateral or critical thinker”.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Thomas

From the Business Student to the Critic: How My View of the Financial System has Changed

“My name is Thomas. I am 56 years old, self-employed in the real estate industry and happily married to Juliana, who is originally from Belarus. We have a 19-year-old daughter. My aha moment happened about 10 years ago. Although I had studied business administration in Germany and was convinced that I had a deep understanding of the financial and monetary system, I came across a YouTube video by Andreas Popp that put my knowledge to the test. Popp, a well-known critic of the fiat money system, argues against the unstable foundation of our economic system and emphasizes the risks of excessive debt. These perspectives, which question both economic and political leadership, were unfamiliar to me and were thought-provoking. Although I did not agree with all of Mr. Popp’s theses, I could not clearly refute them either. This experience marked the beginning of my career as a so-called “lateral or critical thinker”.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Christina

Step by Step to Freedom: My Transition to a Tax-Conscious Van Life

“For me, there was no single “moment of clarity”. It was more of a lengthy process in which I had to learn step by step until I finally realized how much money was being regularly and unjustifiably demanded of me.

My love of travel laid the first foundation stone for this. Through it, I came into contact with the concept of digital nomadism and discovered the denationalize.me community. I was initially a silent member there, trying to understand everything myself – from setting up a company abroad to health insurance and retirement planning. It felt like I was standing in front of a mountain. Then I came to a standstill, overwhelmed by the complexity.

This year, however, I made a fresh start and took the plunge into self-employment. As a result, I had to deal more intensively with the taxes and duties for self-employed people in Germany. A turning point was an interview with Christoph, in which I realized: No, living tax-free does not mean you ignore your social responsibilities. In the end, taxes are unavoidable, but their amount is crucial. I have a consultation coming up soon and I’m looking forward to not only being able to keep more of my money, but also living in line with my principles with your support. In two weeks I start full-time van life while I prepare everything I need.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Christina

Step by Step to Freedom: My Transition to a Tax-Conscious Van Life

“For me, there was no single “moment of clarity”. It was more of a lengthy process in which I had to learn step by step until I finally realized how much money was being regularly and unjustifiably demanded of me.

My love of travel laid the first foundation stone for this. Through it, I came into contact with the concept of digital nomadism and discovered the denationalize.me community. I was initially a silent member there, trying to understand everything myself – from setting up a company abroad to health insurance and retirement planning. It felt like I was standing in front of a mountain. Then I came to a standstill, overwhelmed by the complexity.

This year, however, I made a fresh start and took the plunge into self-employment. As a result, I had to deal more intensively with the taxes and duties for self-employed people in Germany. A turning point was an interview with Christoph, in which I realized: No, living tax-free does not mean you ignore your social responsibilities. In the end, taxes are unavoidable, but their amount is crucial. I have a consultation coming up soon and I’m looking forward to not only being able to keep more of my money, but also living in line with my principles with your support. In two weeks I start full-time van life while I prepare everything I need.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Gerrit

From Tax Burdens to Life Crises: My Fight Against an Oppressive System

“I have always felt blocked by taxes and social security contributions in becoming and remaining self-employed. Born in 1975, these charges never seemed logical or justified to me. I felt trapped in a system that I didn’t understand. Although at some point I began to believe that a contribution could be valuable in a community of solidarity, the reality of the dilapidated infrastructure, the uncaring administration, the obvious waste of taxpayers’ money and the inequality before the law made me doubt all of that.

My doubts were intensified by personal experiences: the promised “blossoming landscapes” after reunification, the introduction of long-term care insurance during my time doing community service, the T-share as a banker, the currency reform with the introduction of the euro, the double and triple taxation at the petrol pumps and the blind obedience of the masses – all this contributed to my depression, which led me to psychiatric treatment and suicide attempts.

Despite everything, I heard an inner voice that drove me to stay, to create and to do things differently.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Gerrit

From Tax Burdens to Life Crises: My Fight Against an Oppressive System

“I have always felt blocked by taxes and social security contributions in becoming and remaining self-employed. Born in 1975, these charges never seemed logical or justified to me. I felt trapped in a system that I didn’t understand. Although at some point I began to believe that a contribution could be valuable in a community of solidarity, the reality of the dilapidated infrastructure, the uncaring administration, the obvious waste of taxpayers’ money and the inequality before the law made me doubt all of that.

My doubts were intensified by personal experiences: the promised “blossoming landscapes” after reunification, the introduction of long-term care insurance during my time doing community service, the T-share as a banker, the currency reform with the introduction of the euro, the double and triple taxation at the petrol pumps and the blind obedience of the masses – all this contributed to my depression, which led me to psychiatric treatment and suicide attempts.

Despite everything, I heard an inner voice that drove me to stay, to create and to do things differently.”

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Natalie

From Switzerland Back to Germany: My Fight to Return and Freedom

“My aha moment came when I was forced to return to Germany after seven years of living happily in Switzerland because my still-husband was unable to integrate in Switzerland. I immediately felt depressed in Germany, a feeling I hadn’t been aware of before I moved to Switzerland. My husband had promised that we would move back to Switzerland after a year – a promise that turned out to be my “haha moment”. Now, eight years later, I’m divorced and living in Germany and miss life at Greifensee every day. I cannot return to Switzerland because he won’t let me move with our child. I’m not sure whether denationalize.me can also provide advice in such a case, but I’m grateful for the platform denationalize.me, even if not everyone can lead this life.”

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Natalie

From Switzerland Back to Germany: My Fight to Return and Freedom

“My aha moment came when I was forced to return to Germany after seven years of living happily in Switzerland because my still-husband was unable to integrate in Switzerland. I immediately felt depressed in Germany, a feeling I hadn’t been aware of before I moved to Switzerland. My husband had promised that we would move back to Switzerland after a year – a promise that turned out to be my “haha moment”. Now, eight years later, I’m divorced and living in Germany and miss life at Greifensee every day. I cannot return to Switzerland because he won’t let me move with our child. I’m not sure whether denationalize.me can also provide advice in such a case, but I’m grateful for the platform denationalize.me, even if not everyone can lead this life.”

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Federico

From Left-Wing Ideals to Harsh Reality: My Disillusionment During a Solidarity Trip to Cuba

“In my student days, I tended towards left-wing groups, mainly attracted by the attractive appearance of the women there. As a staunch voter for the Green Party, which was still strongly focused on nature conservation at the time, I took the opportunity to go on a solidarity trip to Cuba. However, the reality there shocked me: education and healthcare were free, but strongly ideological and of poor quality.

Despite the natural abundance of mangoes and coconuts, the locals were often too disinterested to collect them themselves and instead queued for basic foods. The obvious class divide and poor general care made me realize the shortcomings of the system. My experience with Cuban class society and the inefficient economy made me realize how important it is to look beyond the boundaries of one’s own political horizon and critically question the realities of a state-dominated system.”

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Federico

From Left-Wing Ideals to Harsh Reality: My Disillusionment During a Solidarity Trip to Cuba

“In my student days, I tended towards left-wing groups, mainly attracted by the attractive appearance of the women there. As a staunch voter for the Green Party, which was still strongly focused on nature conservation at the time, I took the opportunity to go on a solidarity trip to Cuba. However, the reality there shocked me: education and healthcare were free, but strongly ideological and of poor quality.

Despite the natural abundance of mangoes and coconuts, the locals were often too disinterested to collect them themselves and instead queued for basic foods. The obvious class divide and poor general care made me realize the shortcomings of the system. My experience with Cuban class society and the inefficient economy made me realize how important it is to look beyond the boundaries of one’s own political horizon and critically question the realities of a state-dominated system.”

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
B.

A Trip Around the World as an Eye-Opener: Why I Left the German System

“Since I left Germany six years ago to travel the world, my perspective has changed a lot. Originally, I didn’t plan to emigrate, but over time I decided not to return. The reasons for this are the differences in the systems of the countries I visited.

For example, the tax system in Germany is complex and challenging, whereas it was much simpler in New Zealand and Australia. This showed me how unnecessarily complicated some systems can be.

The education systems were also revealing. In some countries, students choose courses according to their strengths and take fewer subjects, whereas German students have to study over ten subjects even in the Abitur. The rigid structures seem outdated and make learning less enjoyable.

On the subject of driving licenses: In Germany, many hours of theory and practice are required, as well as high costs. Other countries offer more flexible systems with parental involvement, which significantly reduces costs.

The influence of the church in Germany, such as the church tax, which you can only get rid of by formally deregistering, also gave me food for thought.

No country is perfect, but the idea of living where you are treated best has made a deep impression on me and led to a simpler, freer life that is in line with my beliefs.”

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B.

A Trip Around the World as an Eye-Opener: Why I Left the German System

“Since I left Germany six years ago to travel the world, my perspective has changed a lot. Originally, I didn’t plan to emigrate, but over time I decided not to return. The reasons for this are the differences in the systems of the countries I visited.

For example, the tax system in Germany is complex and challenging, whereas it was much simpler in New Zealand and Australia. This showed me how unnecessarily complicated some systems can be.

The education systems were also revealing. In some countries, students choose courses according to their strengths and take fewer subjects, whereas German students have to study over ten subjects even in the Abitur. The rigid structures seem outdated and make learning less enjoyable.

On the subject of driving licenses: In Germany, many hours of theory and practice are required, as well as high costs. Other countries offer more flexible systems with parental involvement, which significantly reduces costs.

The influence of the church in Germany, such as the church tax, which you can only get rid of by formally deregistering, also gave me food for thought.

No country is perfect, but the idea of living where you are treated best has made a deep impression on me and led to a simpler, freer life that is in line with my beliefs.”

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Katharina

Awakening From the Daily Grind: My Departure from the German System after a Trip Around the World

Even as a child, I noticed that the adults around me were always under time pressure and seemed unbalanced. These observations made me question early on why adults with life experience could not solve their problems effectively. Added to this was the perception that money often belonged to the wrong people. This was further confirmed for me when I saw how hard my mother worked just to make ends meet.

At school, I felt out of place and doubted the education system, which didn’t seem practical to me. Grades seemed irrelevant to me, especially when I realized that classmates with wealthy parents were privileged despite poor performance. The real value seemed to be in relationships and networks, not academic achievement.

My key ‘aha’ moment came when I was 15 and read ‘Secret Societies’ by Jan van Helsing and ‘1984’ by George Orwell. These readings fundamentally changed my perspective and made me realize the mechanisms and injustices of the system. I began to understand why the rich got richer and the poor struggled without ever getting ahead.

School had not prepared me for life, and even after my education I did not feel better equipped to find a good job. Disappointed by the limited options, I moved to Switzerland, saved money and later traveled around Asia. This experience confirmed my fears that I could not escape the systemic problem.

Upon my return, I came across the idea of statelessness and the importance of financial independence. I realized that many warm-hearted people have a poor relationship with money, often influenced by the belief that money does not bring happiness. This attitude, which I see as a form of brainwashing, prevents people who could actually do good from securing themselves financially. There is a growing hope that this will change as more people learn to understand their relationship with money as a reflection of their self-worth.

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Katharina

Awakening From the Daily Grind: My Departure from the German System after a Trip Around the World

Even as a child, I noticed that the adults around me were always under time pressure and seemed unbalanced. These observations made me question early on why adults with life experience could not solve their problems effectively. Added to this was the perception that money often belonged to the wrong people. This was further confirmed for me when I saw how hard my mother worked just to make ends meet.

At school, I felt out of place and doubted the education system, which didn’t seem practical to me. Grades seemed irrelevant to me, especially when I realized that classmates with wealthy parents were privileged despite poor performance. The real value seemed to be in relationships and networks, not academic achievement.

My key ‘aha’ moment came when I was 15 and read ‘Secret Societies’ by Jan van Helsing and ‘1984’ by George Orwell. These readings fundamentally changed my perspective and made me realize the mechanisms and injustices of the system. I began to understand why the rich got richer and the poor struggled without ever getting ahead.

School had not prepared me for life, and even after my education I did not feel better equipped to find a good job. Disappointed by the limited options, I moved to Switzerland, saved money and later traveled around Asia. This experience confirmed my fears that I could not escape the systemic problem.

Upon my return, I came across the idea of statelessness and the importance of financial independence. I realized that many warm-hearted people have a poor relationship with money, often influenced by the belief that money does not bring happiness. This attitude, which I see as a form of brainwashing, prevents people who could actually do good from securing themselves financially. There is a growing hope that this will change as more people learn to understand their relationship with money as a reflection of their self-worth.

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C.

Starting to Rethink: My Distancing From the German System after Formative Life Experiences

Where do I start? I grew up in the GDR, went to kindergarden and then to school. I’ve always questioned a lot, but never the system itself (society, school, taxes, etc.). One thing was already clear to me when I was at school: politics is about money – but definitely not about my money. But apparently everyone realized that.

I never really understood that: So why does everyone carry on as if it were all completely normal…?

I did my military service in 2005. There I was vaccinated against TBE. Even then, I didn’t think to question something so widley accepted as vaccination. A few friends told me about the history of vaccination shortly afterwards and I believed what I heard. So that was my last vaccination, and I didn’t look into the subject any further. From then on, it was all about me.

I was young and had little interest in politics at 21. But then I saw the documentary ‘Zeitgeist’, which was mainly about 9/11 and those behind the system. Until then, I hadn’t realized that there could be anyone behind the scenes of politics.

That was really tough stuff for me and the moment that made me see the world with different eyes.

But later I was about to become a father. And I knew that I shouldn’t just rely on my gut feeling when it came to vaccination. But I also knew that I didn’t want to leave the responsibility for my son to a doctor. So I dealt with this issue for about two years. My wife, who has a degree in process engineering, didn’t think I was crazy (*yes, I know, a degree itself doesn’t make you intelligent…). Our children – now two – are therefore not vaccinated. And due to this and because of the school system, our days in this (German) country are probably numbered.

Then came Covid. And that was the second point in my life where I looked at this world and our society with different eyes. I realized (painfully) that living together not only with acquaintances or colleagues, but also with friends and family is hanging by a very thin thread. And the scissors that cut this thread are in the hands of people who are not interested in us all living together in harmony…”

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C.

Starting to Rethink: My Distancing From the German System after Formative Life Experiences

Where do I start? I grew up in the GDR, went to kindergarden and then to school. I’ve always questioned a lot, but never the system itself (society, school, taxes, etc.). One thing was already clear to me when I was at school: politics is about money – but definitely not about my money. But apparently everyone realized that.

I never really understood that: So why does everyone carry on as if it were all completely normal…?

I did my military service in 2005. There I was vaccinated against TBE. Even then, I didn’t think to question something so widley accepted as vaccination. A few friends told me about the history of vaccination shortly afterwards and I believed what I heard. So that was my last vaccination, and I didn’t look into the subject any further. From then on, it was all about me.

I was young and had little interest in politics at 21. But then I saw the documentary ‘Zeitgeist’, which was mainly about 9/11 and those behind the system. Until then, I hadn’t realized that there could be anyone behind the scenes of politics.

That was really tough stuff for me and the moment that made me see the world with different eyes.

But later I was about to become a father. And I knew that I shouldn’t just rely on my gut feeling when it came to vaccination. But I also knew that I didn’t want to leave the responsibility for my son to a doctor. So I dealt with this issue for about two years. My wife, who has a degree in process engineering, didn’t think I was crazy (*yes, I know, a degree itself doesn’t make you intelligent…). Our children – now two – are therefore not vaccinated. And due to this and because of the school system, our days in this (German) country are probably numbered.

Then came Covid. And that was the second point in my life where I looked at this world and our society with different eyes. I realized (painfully) that living together not only with acquaintances or colleagues, but also with friends and family is hanging by a very thin thread. And the scissors that cut this thread are in the hands of people who are not interested in us all living together in harmony…”

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Pascal

Awakening From the Illusion: How Four Key Moments Changed My View of the German System

My clarity developed in four situations:
The first time, the health insurance company wanted money from me and I didn’t even know why. I never went to the doctor and yet they wanted me to pay almost €400. They even sent a bailiff. Since then, I’ve wanted nothing more to do with the compulsory insurance.

In another situation, I was ordered to pay almost €1000. The amount was completely incomprehensible. That was in 2012 and since then I’ve kept my annual rental income of around €21,000 for myself and have saved around €60k in compulsory contributions.

Almost all of my colleagues at the time didn’t make any provisions for old age, illness or unemployment. I found that frightening because it was normal for me. At first I didn’t think about it any further, but over time my understanding of economic relationships matured and I realized that I had to subsidize such behavior with my cautious lifestyle and my long-term asset accumulation, so I was being punished for my forward-looking behavior, while unreasonable risk was being rewarded.

I had another key moment when I wanted to apply for legal aid in a legal dispute. I had invested 20k in shares at the time, having saved up the money with great effort. The clerk immediately refused after seeing the value of the deposit. So if I had spent the 20k on some nonsense, I would have been accepted. In hindsight, I realized that this kind of aid is best abolished because it creates completely the wrong incentives.

Other smaller moments confirm to me time and again that the state regularly fails in its attempt to make people’s lives better, it only makes things worse.

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Pascal

Awakening From the Illusion: How Four Key Moments Changed My View of the German System

My clarity developed in four situations:
The first time, the health insurance company wanted money from me and I didn’t even know why. I never went to the doctor and yet they wanted me to pay almost €400. They even sent a bailiff. Since then, I’ve wanted nothing more to do with the compulsory insurance.

In another situation, I was ordered to pay almost €1000. The amount was completely incomprehensible. That was in 2012 and since then I’ve kept my annual rental income of around €21,000 for myself and have saved around €60k in compulsory contributions.

Almost all of my colleagues at the time didn’t make any provisions for old age, illness or unemployment. I found that frightening because it was normal for me. At first I didn’t think about it any further, but over time my understanding of economic relationships matured and I realized that I had to subsidize such behavior with my cautious lifestyle and my long-term asset accumulation, so I was being punished for my forward-looking behavior, while unreasonable risk was being rewarded.

I had another key moment when I wanted to apply for legal aid in a legal dispute. I had invested 20k in shares at the time, having saved up the money with great effort. The clerk immediately refused after seeing the value of the deposit. So if I had spent the 20k on some nonsense, I would have been accepted. In hindsight, I realized that this kind of aid is best abolished because it creates completely the wrong incentives.

Other smaller moments confirm to me time and again that the state regularly fails in its attempt to make people’s lives better, it only makes things worse.

Teile Deinen Aha-Moment mit uns
Joaquin

From Peacekeeper to Freedom Thinker: Four Aha Moments that Fundamentally Changed My View of the State and Coercion

In 2014, the Ukraine conflict turned into the Ukrainian civil war, which led to the “vigils for peace” in Germany. This movement, initially heterogeneous, was increasingly dominated by leftists. At that time, I came across libertarian ideas that contradicted my West German, left-green socialization. During the refugee crisis in 2015, the vigil movement broke up and I immersed myself in libertarian thinkers such as Stefan Molyneux and Jan Helfeld.

Helfeld’s interview with Bernie Sanders showed me the inconsistency of state violence: taxes are theft because they are levied under threat of violence. This became particularly clear in the Covid policy and the broadcasting fee, which forces every household to pay, regardless of use. These compulsory levies violate the principle of voluntary consent and are similar to slavery in their immorality. Any form of coercion that takes away property without consent is a violation of individual freedom and self-determination.

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Joaquin

From Peacekeeper to Freedom Thinker: Four Aha Moments that Fundamentally Changed My View of the State and Coercion

In 2014, the Ukraine conflict turned into the Ukrainian civil war, which led to the “vigils for peace” in Germany. This movement, initially heterogeneous, was increasingly dominated by leftists. At that time, I came across libertarian ideas that contradicted my West German, left-green socialization. During the refugee crisis in 2015, the vigil movement broke up and I immersed myself in libertarian thinkers such as Stefan Molyneux and Jan Helfeld.

Helfeld’s interview with Bernie Sanders showed me the inconsistency of state violence: taxes are theft because they are levied under threat of violence. This became particularly clear in the Covid policy and the broadcasting fee, which forces every household to pay, regardless of use. These compulsory levies violate the principle of voluntary consent and are similar to slavery in their immorality. Any form of coercion that takes away property without consent is a violation of individual freedom and self-determination.

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Wolfgang

From Unfair Tax Burdens to Bureaucratic Hurdles: My Journey Through an Unfair System

Here are my 3 aha moments:

  1. As a self-employed person, I learned that the Lidl owner only had ten times more taxable income than I did in a good year. At the same time, I had to fight to have my business expenses recognized, while others used multinational constructs to avoid taxes. I felt this was unfair.
  2. My drama with the authorities began when my wife from non-EU Europe needed a German certificate because of a new law, although this was not necessary when applying. The German embassy advised us to emigrate if that didn’t suit us. The immigration authorities doubted my financial stability until I accepted a low-paid job.
  3. Despite a good salary and share profits as an IT specialist, I had little left over due to high taxes. I felt that “performance must be worthwhile” is a lie. That’s why I will no longer support the system – legally, of course.
Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Wolfgang

From Unfair Tax Burdens to Bureaucratic Hurdles: My Journey Through an Unfair System

Here are my 3 aha moments:

  1. As a self-employed person, I learned that the Lidl owner only had ten times more taxable income than I did in a good year. At the same time, I had to fight to have my business expenses recognized, while others used multinational constructs to avoid taxes. I felt this was unfair.
  2. My drama with the authorities began when my wife from non-EU Europe needed a German certificate because of a new law, although this was not necessary when applying. The German embassy advised us to emigrate if that didn’t suit us. The immigration authorities doubted my financial stability until I accepted a low-paid job.
  3. Despite a good salary and share profits as an IT specialist, I had little left over due to high taxes. I felt that “performance must be worthwhile” is a lie. That’s why I will no longer support the system – legally, of course.
Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Tim

From Tax Frustration to Freedom: My Path to Independence

My name is Tim, I’m 22 years old, a student and run my own ecommerce company. I became aware of you through podcasts in which denationalize.me appeared and have been actively following you on Instagram ever since. My experiences have shown me that the state is often more of a problem than a solution. From complicated packaging laws and high sales taxes in Europe to cookie and compliance banners that lower my conversion rate – I’ve experienced it all in ecommerce. The sales tax in particular quickly destroyed my dream of making money, as it almost completely ate up my profits.

Nevertheless, I didn’t give up and now only sell to the USA, where I am exempt from sales tax. The covid pandemic has further increased my distance to the state, especially when I was no longer allowed to attend lectures or Christmas markets as an unvaccinated person.

The only reason I haven’t emigrated yet is my unfinished degree, which I no longer enjoy. In the first half of 2024 alone, I made more profit with ecommerce than I could have expected as a young professional after my studies. Above all, tax-optimized or tax-free, I hardly see any reason to be employed in Germany.

Share Your Aha Moment with Us
Tim

From Tax Frustration to Freedom: My Path to Independence

My name is Tim, I’m 22 years old, a student and run my own ecommerce company. I became aware of you through podcasts in which denationalize.me appeared and have been actively following you on Instagram ever since. My experiences have shown me that the state is often more of a problem than a solution. From complicated packaging laws and high sales taxes in Europe to cookie and compliance banners that lower my conversion rate – I’ve experienced it all in ecommerce. The sales tax in particular quickly destroyed my dream of making money, as it almost completely ate up my profits.

Nevertheless, I didn’t give up and now only sell to the USA, where I am exempt from sales tax. The covid pandemic has further increased my distance to the state, especially when I was no longer allowed to attend lectures or Christmas markets as an unvaccinated person.

The only reason I haven’t emigrated yet is my unfinished degree, which I no longer enjoy. In the first half of 2024 alone, I made more profit with ecommerce than I could have expected as a young professional after my studies. Above all, tax-optimized or tax-free, I hardly see any reason to be employed in Germany.

Share Your Aha Moment with Us

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