this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2025
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Honest question: why do you think it would be unconstitutional?
First of all, lets make one thing clear. Im very fond for the idea of cutting the wealth of the rich for the community. I just dont like the wording in this campaign. Imho it would be much more to convincing to be honest and transparent. Or by speaking less concrete like "tax the rich"
And furthermore: This kinda explainations is not that easy, especially in a foreign language.
Ok, lets try to think this through.
Billionaires usually dont have most of theire money as private wealth. As far as im rember, most of the German Billionaires are "Mittelständler", part of old bussiness-Families or are shareholder as part of their bussines. Sure, they have often have a similar power over their wealth as private owner, but its not the same. And furthermore if they have a lot of "private wealth", they hide it somewhere like, foundations(?, Stiftungen), SubCompanies or oversea.
So we have to cut non-private-Wealth.
Art. 14 wont help much there, because you have compensate to them and imho its hard to proof the weight of the greater needs in the "Güterabwägung" (balancing of the interests?). To see how complicated this kinda stuff is, take a look at the "Deutsche Wohnen enteignen"-campaign and the outcome by now.
So the more suitable way to achieve this goal would be taxes and removing tax-holes. But how do you want to tax only billionairs? Especially when they are "companies", "foundations" etc? Especially without collateral-Damages? Or breaking fundamental rules like the equal treatment principle(?) Besides: even if you finde a possible way, you would be facing a lot of political power in an unfair fight against the billionairs. And because of all the lawsuits it will be taking a long time to get through. And if you would have achieved you goal in the long run, the money will long be gone. Somewhere "far" away.
Its just a short take on this problem, but as a young father, my freetime is limited :>