The recent electoral success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt has reignited fears about a return to the political climate of the 1930s, with calls to "save democracy" by erecting a "barrier" against the far-right, even considering banning the party. These calls, however, are seen by some as empty gestures. The rise of far-right movements is rooted in a deep dissatisfaction with political and economic liberalism. The current political regime has relied heavily on public debt to offset tax cuts for large corporations and the wealthy, which has made it increasingly difficult to maintain the basic social contract as interest rates rise. Austerity measures, long in use, and a focus on military spending to boost the economy have proven to be dead ends. Wolfgang Streeck, a German sociologist, argues that the Western world is now facing the final stage of what he calls a "polycrisis," a complex set of overlapping crises. These include a growing budgetary crisis, as the demands of modern capitalism outstrip the capacity of democratic governments to meet them. This has led to the emergence of new opposition parties across the developed world, all of which are critical of the establishment and pose a challenge to long-standing political power structures. Germany, regardless of which party is in power, is grappling with a range of urgent and insoluble problems, from underinvestment in public services to rising inequality and a deteriorating infrastructure. These issues are the result of a long-term austerity policy that has left the country with a lack of investment in areas such as housing, education, and climate adaptation. The situation is compounded by the aging population, the decline in birth rates, and the inability to provide adequate immigration policies to address labor shortages. The result is a growing sense of anxiety and frustration among the public, especially among low-income families and those in vulnerable situations. The current economic crisis in Germany and other developed countries shares two main characteristics: first, the states involved are already heavily indebted, and second, the promises made by political leaders to address these issues are difficult to fulfill before the next elections. The gap between the costs generated by capitalism and the share of those costs that companies are willing to bear has been widening since the 1970s. This has led to a reliance on borrowing from the financial sector, which has only temporarily masked the underlying problems. As a result, the level of public debt has reached a critical point, raising concerns about the ability of governments to continue paying their debts. The political response to these crises has been to push for austerity measures, which are now being accepted by the public in many countries, even as they continue to struggle with the rising cost of living and declining public services. In Germany, this has led to the so-called "reform debate," which focuses on cutting pensions and social protections, while simultaneously increasing defense spending. However, the traditional political approach of optimism and unity is no longer convincing, and the political landscape is shifting toward a more fragmented and cautious approach. The rise of the AfD and the threat of neo-fascism have forced the political establishment to focus on maintaining the appearance of democracy rather than addressing the underlying economic and social issues. As the situation continues to evolve, the need for a more comprehensive and honest approach to governance becomes increasingly urgent.