Oh to be in Germany

I've always thought the Germans were sensible folk. You wont have ever seen me criticise any German person or organisation such is the high esteem I have for each and every one of them. Possibly.

Anyway I've noticed another excellent example of their general superiority to the Brits. Rich Germans have launched a petition demanding the right-wing government impose higher taxes on them.

These bloated capitalists "say they have more money than they need, and the extra revenue could fund economic and social programmes to aid Germany's economic recovery. Germany could raise 100bn euros (£91bn) if the richest people paid a 5% wealth tax for two years."

They are asking the government to impose this special fat cat tax on the richest 2.2 million Germans because "The path out of the crisis must be paved with massive investment in ecology, education and social justice".

They recognise that this can only be achieved through taxation rather than giving to charity and so their appeal for direct taxation on their wealth, in order to protect the most vulnerable and the environment, is both far sighted and laudable.

Will Richard Branson, the Queen or Lord Sainsbury demand that they be forced to cough up? I've decided not to hold my breath.