There has been much attention in the US media to the
"Giving Pledge" – a promise made by 38 billionaires to give at least
50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by investor
Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. How wonderful that these great Americans would generously give away half their fortunes. America loves its billionaires; they embody the American Dream as the gap between rich and poor keeps growing and the middle class vanishes.
The Financial Times Deutschland complains that this spirit of public philanthropy is missing among Germany's billinaires:
Wer hierzulande Geld hat, der geht diskret damit
um, versteckt es lieber, um sich vor Neid, Missgunst oder Verbrechen zu
schützen. Extreme Beispiele für diese Haltung sind der jüngst
verstorbene Aldi-Gründer Theo Albrecht und sein Bruder Karl.Der
Wohltätigkeitsgedanke muss in Deutschland also behutsam aufgebaut
werden. Ein erster Schritt wäre ein unverkrampfterer Umgang mit
Reichtum. Dazu können auch die Wohlhabenden selbst beitragen, indem sie
ihr Vermögen nicht länger verstecken, sondern offensiver damit umgehen.
Vielleicht wird ihnen dabei auch klar, dass man mit
öffentlichkeitswirksamen Spenden nicht nur sein Image aufbessern,
sondern auch die Gesellschaft gestalten kann.(Whoever has money in this country uses it very discretely; they would rather hide it in order to avoid the envy, resentment, or crime. Extreme examples of this were the recently deceased founders of the ALDI chain, Theo Albrecht and his brother Karl.
The philanthropic impulse much be carefully nurtured in Germany. A first step would be a less uptight attitude towards wealth. The affluent could play their part here by not hiding their wealth, but rather using it proactively. Maybe they would even realize that impactful donations could not only help their image but also create social change.)
But the FT editors are missing something here. The issue is not so much that German billionaires are uptight, but that there are far fewer of the proportionately. Germany has a more rational tax structure and has more resources for schools, public infrastructure, and health care. Warren Buffett and his billionaire pals can sign the pledge and still enjoy their money until they die. In
the meantime, our schools are deteriorating, social services are being
cut and jobless families are losing their homes. Germany is not so dependent on the good intentions of a handful of billionaires.
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[10] But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
[11] And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
[12] Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
[13] But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
[14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
[15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?