Danke

By Keith R. Schmitz

Here's a shock. Being German by heritage we are not known necessarily for our generosity.

But when it comes down to it, many of us are community-minded.

Here's a fresh example. A group of wealthy Germans is petitioning Chancellor Angela Merkel to increase taxes on those with personal fortunes of more than 500,000 euros ($750,000). The effort is an attempt to alleviate the budget crisis and target the money to social services.

As one member of the group put it:

The gap between the poor and the rich in Germany has widened during the last 15 years. One of the reasons for this were past governments' tax reduction policies that favored businesses and the rich.

When we keep hearing from the right that the money isn't there to do social programs or infrastructure programs, or whatever, the money is there.

We just have to go and get it.