Millionaires in Germany ask to pay more tax

[SerenityNowAKABleh]

here
What I find interesting is there point that the gap between rich and poor in Germany is growing, and in a sense it is becoming less of a meritocracy. I kind of get the same feeling in the UK - things like grammar schools and free tertiary education used to do a lot in terms of social advancement. My friend's father is a High Court judge. He is from a very poor family, had little prospects, but then managed to obtain a place at a grammar school and then Oxbridge, and is now a judge. I'm not entirely sure the same would still be possible in the UK today.

I live in southern germany, and there is a very strong feeling of responsibility towards the community. All the school children study the community at primary school, and learn about how their town is governed, where it gets its money from etc.
It would be sad if the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.

I actually feel a smug sort of good citizen satisfaction about paying my taxes - I mean, that I enjoy doing it! but having emigrated from the UK, I am perfectly aware that this is mainly because (a) I can afford to live comfortably and pay my taxes and (b) I can see what the money's being spent on and (c)with 4 dependent children, I get a good deal from the tax system, unlike horrible tax credits that are snatched back the following year.

Very interesting.
One thing the article doesn't seem to talk about much though is that to want to pay more tax you would basically have to trust the govt to spend your money sensibly and not have a perception that it will be frittered away on bureaucracy. If I was a millionaire wanting to give away more in this country I am not sure I would want to do it through the tax system. Nighbynight do you think public money is spent more efficiently in Germany? Or do people think it is?

I think it is spent more efficiently, and there is certainly that perception. What helps, is that Germany is generally richer than the UK anyway, so public spending is higher, I think.

Single people with no dependents bear the heaviest tax burden, they pay around 50%.

Lower taxes for people with more children? Gosh, that would upset all those childless people who can't even cope with us having paid maternity leaves!
I wonder if the British govt should be going to Germany for lessons in public sector efficiency....