Germans Surprised Their Socialist PM Raises Taxes, Make "Der Steuersong" ("The Tax Song") A Top Pop Hit Yes, on Monday Schroeder announced another new tax on equities and property sales -- which the conservative opposition called the 49th new tax since he was first elected in 1998 ... but this is Europe. They usually talk about taxes with pride. Yet the economy in Germany, with double digit unemployment in the best of times, thanks to Europe's laziest workers and best unemployment compensation, has gotten worse ... so of course taxes must go up again to keep the unemployed in the lifestyle to which they are accustomed and the government payroll bloated. Leave it to comedian Elmar Brandt ( comedian is another term for unemployed ), a 30-year-old German literature student ( unemployed ) who has made a career from impersonating Schroeder, has caught the mood of the country with his parody of "The Ketchup Song" by the Spanish dance trio "Las Ketchup," which was a huge hit across Europe and Latin America earlier this year. "Promises that were made yesterday can be broken today," sings Brandt in a voice identical to Schroeder's. "I'll raise your taxes, I'll empty your pockets, every one of you nerds stashes some cash away, but I'll find it no matter where it is." Article Here