Germany's super-rich urged to follow US billionaires' lead
Published: 6 Aug 10 08:44 CET
Following the pledge by 40 American billionaires to give away at least half their wealth to humanitarian causes, centre-left politicians suggested Friday that Germany’s super-rich might consider doing the same.
Politicians from the centre-left Social Democrats and environmentalist Greens have pointed to the announcement spearheaded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett as an example Germany's financial elite could follow.
Green chairwoman Claudia Roth described the gesture as setting a “good example.”
“Those who can afford it, should do it,” she told the Passauer Neue Presse.
SPD deputy parliamentary leader Joachim Poß described the US announcement as a “good idea.”
“One can follow that approach further here,” he told the paper.
Carsten Schneider, budget spokesman for the SPD’s parliamentary group, said the US announcement was “a very commendable demonstration that the rich are not exempt from social responsibility” – adding that such a trend was not to be observed in Germany.
But charitable donations were a good way “to give something back to the community,” he said, though donations could “not replace sensible taxation on wealth.”
I'll include two of the comments .. both 100% more sensible than the one you posted with your article ..
#1 .. 09:27 August 6, 2010 by Prufrock2010 Philanthropy is laudable. Paying one's fair share of taxes is necessary. Those who choose to give portions of their fortunes away to designated beneficiaries are able to avoid taxes while at the same time fostering a personal social or political agenda that excludes society at large. Paying reasonable taxes based on income and wealth benefits the commonweal. The notion that 21st century societies must resort to 17th century patronage to survive is somehow hard to reconcile.
#2 .. 09:55 August 6, 2010 by Mapleleafdude I think there is a fundamental difference to American and German rich people.
Americans tend to find their country great and the opportunity it has given them to get spanking rich. Germans in contrast think that they owe nobody anything because its all their money and they are busy enough the way it is hiding it in off shore/swiss etc. accounts. So I don't see an German millionaires/billionaires following.
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