How much influence do the super rich have? | DW Documentary
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ม.ค. 2024
- What does it mean for democracy when rich citizens can change an entire city? Do the interests of big donors always serve the common good? This film delves into the world of the super-rich and takes a hard look at how much influence they exert.
In Kiel, a dispute has flared up over the Holstein stadium. Soccer patron Gerhard Lütje, founder of the CITTI trading company, wants to modernize the stadium -- and turn it into a car-friendly business center at the same time. Critics find this approach environmentally unsustainable. But they are being ignored, they say. Kiel's mayor Ulf Kämpfer (SPD) is in a tight spot: He must negotiate without scaring off financial backers.
The film team meets billionaire Klaus-Michael Kühne, one of Germany's richest men, at his luxury hotel on Hamburg’s Alster. The 85-year-old donates generously: He supports the HSV soccer club, runs a university in Hamburg's HafenCity, wants to build an opera house and is a sponsor of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. But Kühne does not pay any tax in Germany. That’s because his official residence is Switzerland. "It's a well-known fact that the state can't do business properly," says Kühne, who believes he can distribute his money better himself.
Lidl founder Dieter Schwarz donated a gigantic education campus to the city of Heilbronn. Still, does that mean that the interests of big donors always serve the common good? No, says the daughter of a rich family involved in the "Taxmenow" initiative: Around 50 millionaires are demanding that they finally be taxed fairly.
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Not to mentioned: nearly all private TV, social media and newspapers are in the hands of billionaires.
It wouldnt be better if they were in govt hands
No they are usually publicly traded companies owned by lots of investors that have a very small share each
As always I really appreciate DW taking the time to research and bring forward the findings of such relevant topics . Thank you again.
The super rich buy politicians around the world. Not just a German problem.
Of course. Health is wealth. Might is right. Those with the most coin, connections, crews, clout, control, computer code, communities, and opportunities ALWAYS win. :) No exceptions.
A lot of people are ready to sell themselves as well. Win-win situacion.
Like how the US government has been bought
0.65% tax is ridiculous. Absolutely, completely scandalous!!
Tax revenue from that won't even cover the paper work.
The wealthy owes y oh nothing. You can get wealthy too and show them how it should be done. Do not let class envy destroy you. Sorry.
When I grow up, I want to be a shipping company.
Money = power coupons. When the rich get rich enough, they take over governments.
Very true! Klaus Schwab, CEO of super capitalists club World Economic forum: "We penetrate the cabinets!" Our YoungGlobaleaders (search term!) are everywhere. More than 50 percent of the canadian government are our YoungGlobalLeaders! "The future does not just happen, it is made by us!" Is this democracy??? Listen to Italian fascist Benito Mussolini what it is: "Fascism is the merger of state and economy!"
IKR. Elon Musk is constantly sticking his nose into politics in the US. The only silver lining is that he can’t run for President
@@gregbors8364Why would he want to become president? That would lessen his power.
This is the case right now, not only that they take the freedom of people.
@@laaaliiiluuu …not if Trump wins the next election and the Republican Party is successful in their “2025 Plan” to install him as the first emperor / dictator of the United States
00:05 The super rich have significant influence in their hometowns and cities.
02:41 Wealthy individuals can exert significant influence on public infrastructure projects.
07:50 Professional sports and public money
10:35 Investors' influence in city development and infrastructure
16:03 Billionaire sponsors world famous concert hall
18:44 Hapag-Lloyd's profits and tax benefits.
23:31 Higher taxes on the super rich could generate 80 billion in additional revenue.
26:00 The super rich have significant influence on local development and education.
30:44 Influence of super-rich and transparency issues in connections
33:06 Transparency and accountability in project funding and realization
37:59 Discussion on funding for community projects
40:21 Super rich using foundations to influence public services
Wow great work! Respect for you and respect for the kind of thinking that goes into a documentary like this...
Sheesh... You got ACDC or something?
Thanks for this!
There is no democratic country. The rich rule above all.
Politics in the Nordic countries used to be quite beyond the influence of wealthy folks. Maybe because the Nordic states made it possible for everyone to get a good job and a fair income, rather than it be dependent on the wealth of one's family.
Alas, lately, a lot powerful industries and money making sectors has been pushing Nordic politics in the direction of a sort of new-feudalism, where taxation and regulation for the wealthy and their big companies has been loosened, as well as worker rights. So now Nordic politics and influence of the wealthy looks far more like it does in eg Germany.
😂😂 The proles need to believe that their votes make a difference.
@@snowflakemelter7171I told another lady that voting is a farce.
50 cents deposited
It's always been that way. And always will.
The rich and influential will always back us into corners to do their will.
14:20
Step 1) Dodge taxes by changing residency to Switzerland
Step 2) Offer to give (less) money than you should have been paying as taxes as a "generous donation"
Step 3) Status and control
Nothing new here. It’s good to be rich
You get it
The man with the gold makes the rules. That’s just how it is and always has been
Yep, here in USA, the presidents of ivy league schools, Harvard and UPenn have learned the truth recently
The people always have the power. They're just too easily divided.
@@pitchforkpartyThe people can easily be divided because the rich also control the media and therefore the minds of the people.
@@pitchforkpartyNever do they have power, common people are sheep
@@JacobsCapital The people always have the power. It's the same story all throughout history. It's just a matter of when they decide to exercise it.
Garden allotments are where the best summer memories are made. My heart goes out to the people who lost theirs
Oh yes, very true🥳
High quality info and excellent presentation of it. I always enjoy the topics DW chooses to do their documentaries about which really leave you thinking.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Starts all with being rational and qurosity and critical thought, and then you get questions
I hope this documentary isn't taken down in a few weeks like the many others DW have made on the super rich.
Hahaha Where did you draw these conclusions?
Videos posted in April and February 2023 concerning mass land ownership have been made private after exposing corruption.@@pedroarthurbarbosa
Great example of neo-feudalism. The rich want people know 'their'place
don't make shit up
Will we see HRE-style border gore next?
nice pun.
Beautiful journalism. Proud of DW.
10:31 privatise the profits and socialise the cost. Simple as that, they just dont wanna say it out loud.
Super rich don't want to make commitments on long term but they want regular people to make a subscription for everything these days. Did I missed anything? 🤔
Well, a lot. They make the "rules", but those imaginary rules SOLELY apply to everyone other than them. If one is wealthy, there ARE no rules nor laws. The Rockefeller quote is the best example of defining how it works. Essentially, what do you care about illegal, unethical, or immoral activities if you can simply "pay the fines" for them?! 😂 Ya buy yer way around. That's the game, and that's how WINNING is done, baby!
I appreciate the direct and unapologetic questioning, sans fawning. It’s frustrating when American “interviews” devolve into polite fan pieces that function to whitewash the dirty deeds of the wealthy. Thank you DW.
That's because our media industry is terrified of the super-rich destroying them, which they will do without hesitation. Google "Thiel vs. Gawker".
This is an amazing piece of journalism.
Great reportage, I wish we had more investigative journalism like this in the US
And with all their money, the rich and super-rich can even control the media and thus the minds of the people.
Using tax payers money to expand a football stadium is actually outragous.
We think it is politicians who wield power but actually it is the rich.
Ironically - sadly - I think even many perhaps well intentioned politicians (assuming there are any) don't realize this.
Correct.
Now you're awake.....
@@WhoisTheOtherVindAzz OR politicians play the game, acting ignorant so that the private wealthy could do their thing. And politicians are aware of this since ancient times. its just POLITICS.
I just want to say that I absolutely love DW because of these documentaries they share, for FREE BTW, so consistently on very real things that I have to say are informative and timely relevant.
For free, courtesy of the German tax payer 😉
I actually never comment but thank you so much for this documentary. Incredibly important to start talking more about it in germany and to really try and look into the details of negotiations and pro and cons without prejudices. I like the practical and personal style of the docu but some interviews with German scholars on the topic of philanthropy and power dynamics between the wealthy and the state would also be interesting. Thanks again and keep up the brilliant work!
I like how rich people just look simple❤
Money talks, wealth whispers
What a fantastic channel. kudos for all your hard work. i watch every episode you produce
Thanks for watching and sharing your positive feedback!
Once I'd hoped my country could turn into something akin to Germany, if slowly. Turns out Germany is turning fast into something akin to my home country.
So he "gets up at 5am" but then does discretionary time at the gym until 7, then more discretionary time having massage until 9... and he "has worked for every cent".
- Just call it what it is, he gets to work at 9, and employs a team that produce sufficiently to keep him in the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed. 😂
Jealous aren’t you? What’s your point?
@@aquilifergroup
He's delusional if he thinks he made it all on his own. Doesn't strike me as a particularly humble guy, otherwise he'd do different things with money.
@@aquilifergroupthe fact that you got essentially "jealous much" from someone merely pointing out the inconsistencies in what was said and shown in the video might indicate that you have some reflection to do on why you feel as strongly as you at least show you do by not only jumping to that conclusion but feeling like you had to share it with the world.
Yeah, he is deservedly laughable
He made the company and employs people, he can do whatever he wants in his personal life.🙄
A helping hand is always appreciated.
DW always brings awesome documents.
Fantastic documentary
I love the DW videos about rich. I learn so much.
in the states, taxpayers fund stadiums that lose money and get btax breaks in many cities ...... it is a vile example of the rich getting rich off the rest of us
Very well documentary (as always). Main thing I really liked is the different types of rich on the spectrum (to give a more objective view instead of just one).
The guy that really was involved with the school projects was an example of how it can also be a good thing.
I respect kuhne for being so honest and I agree with his argument of bureaucracy at the government although not his reasoning (and he reminded me of a sugar uncle I had in his mannerisms)….cooperation starts with a lending hand. He just does what he likes not what people need. Same for Dieter. The known drive of status or own will (my way or the high way), always conditional (indirect commercially transactional instead philanthropical) not unconditional.
All in all this documentary is a milestone in itself with all the people on camera…it’s a path that isn’t well paved yet but having open discussions is a big step forward.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Your summary is so on point! DW provided us insight into the thinking and motivations of the donors, politicians, and regular folks as well. Every person tries to do what they think is best from their (limited) point of view so we can't fault anyone. How do we then organize our society? How much discussion is necessary to reach a consensus on what's recommended and what's unacceptable?
That "tea house" is an utter eyesore.
Very impressive work DW! Wow
Thanks for watching!
Great job at getting some of these people in front of a camera. Thats must have been quite the challenge!
Awesome reportage! ❤
Thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Important documentary, thank you
This is very timely for me personally. I will approach such an environment of a benefactor’s decisions in the spring of this year. I can’t ask too many questions.
Good luck 👍
watching new video from this channel becomes my new habit, at least i know what is happening from another side of the world, thank you
they have the whole world in their hands
Actually god does
@@jamesbyrne9312does he?
Let's analyse it logically. The rich have all their children set up very well. But most humans are in poverty and suffering. If God has the world in his hands, and we are all his children, why are many of us dirt poor?
To be frank, it looks to me that the rich are the real gods.
@@iloveparadise God gives humans free will. But he still created it. Its like saying a landlord doesnt own a property just because he doesnt live there, or doesnt set set lots of rules for tenants.
The Disparity between the Richest and the Poorest is truly the greatest Threat to Democracy. It is a measurement of a Civilizations Justice & Prosperity.
WELL ONE THING IS FOR SURE, THEY OWN EVERY POLITICIAN ON EARTH!!!
This is a top documentary!
I know the super-rich use their money to influence, but not precisely the mechanisms and consequences. Thank you DW ... more of this, please!
DW is the greatest of our time.
Very interesting from my outsider perspective. Having cities have to take over maintenance cost because u did your tax write off one year is lame.
They better pay the city back with earnings lol
Dw and bbc should just collab and do a documentary of the year. Great content
Great documentary. I think you did a good job demonstrating the two main types of "wealthy donors"- those who self promote through their largess and those who seek to fulfill unmet needs and seek little if any personal recognition. Actually all donors are a mix of those two in varying proportions- guilt, family tradition and others can add color. Loved Herr Hochul's trip to the classroom to hear about one of his projects directly from the students; his look of satisfaction in the growth and learning made clear he saw that investment a success. I know this was shot in Germany, but a recent soccer team owner in the UK, Ryan Reynolds, might have been another good choice for a "good" donor.
The one who can control money, can control the world.
WE don't need them rich but they do need us poor.
Nice work, DW!
Thanks for watching!
They can change the policies of countries
MIC are good example
More than we could even imagine!
Excellent work
21:05 *new form of feudalism, NOT democracy*
love dw documentaries, hugs from Brazil
Here in the US you are starting to see Lidl stores popping up all over. They usually appear in places with new residential development nearby. People like to eat and they like low prices.
And ALDI already has a nice market share in the U.S., too. It’s just that the Albrecht family is usually very quiet about their dealings and super private, so they don’t appear in the public eye as much as other German billionaires.
They’ve got a good bakery delicious baguettes and pretzels
Thank you for this informative doucumentry
Thanks for watching!
30:55 - 32:10
That was intense. Hard journalism. 🤭
Tax the rich.
That should be done smart way cuz then they put up their prices and inflation goes up. Vicious circle, actually.
and give the money to the poor and not the state
@@alf3071 regulation as well as taxation
@@Cesccy and...
@@Matt-vo1ge no1 is out there for u. Worry abt your $. Tax the rich my a$$ 🤣
These are our greatest enemies.
Excellent job DW
Like you much Dw,for the fantastic stories about world rich and wealth documentaries
Obviously, the economy is more important than people, capitalism more powerful than democracy, and profits important more than people and the environment.
Thumbs up for Stefanie, her actions and statements.
Well said and 100% true. We really do live in a form of feudalism and our democracy is an illusion.
Democracy is for people who believe everyone is equal, capitalism reigns supreme for the elite and voting for a new government will not change anything
@@krispykruzerWhat? Democracy is the ability to live and vote freely. Equality has nothing to do with it. That's the ideal of Communism. Capitalism creates jobs and wealth.
All power in society rest with the people. Regardless of who is in power and what kind of government exists at the moment.
And this is what the public doesnt understand therefore no revolting can happen they are afraid of those is "power"
That’s a hit job from DW
Very interesting topic.
A documentary on this topic has never been done so well before.
So hats off DW, 🙏.
Yes, rich, money and power are interrelated.
Many people saying that rich people not only influences, but also control System.
Thank you.
Thanks for watching and for your positive feedback!
Yey another cool documentary
If someone gives you a gift and you don't want it, give it back or donate it. Even destroy it. What is the harm?
Its all greed. Its not complicated.
Subscribed!
About the rich girl who wants more taxes, she can simply pay more taxes just make a donation to the German state, but she still doesn't do it, why is that?
42:11 In my opinion this couple has an excellent balance. They ask what’s needed, how much do you have on hand and the amount they can contribute. Just as a parent would teach a child how to manage their money.
I think it’s fabulous that there are people, like the last couple, who want to invest their money in public projects. There is too much pressure on public money as is, and governments have to prioritise (or they mismanage), so we need to be thankful for philanthropists. I know if I had millions to give away I’d want to say where it goes and how it’s spent. I’ve been involved in many government funded programs and can see that a lot of the funds are spent wastefully
When a project is based on one person, where and how it builds, then isn't about community's project, it's about one's ego and self-important. A community project based on input within that community and debate and voted by a committee. These philanthropists are part of that input, but not sole decision makers.
I can definitely confirm that money in those situations are spent wastefully. I've been a hired laborer for many public projects and I always know I'm gonna get paid great, eat great and money is never a concern. It's awesome, but I also know that no one is keeping track of spending in those situations.
@DETSRC313 People need to know about these people in decision-making positions. If they're such incompetent, they need to resign or vote out. This is a solution number one. Some of these people in position of power got there because they knew some people, or they're good at people skills. But when it comes to common sense, logic, and reasons, they fail miserably; thus, wasteful spending. A community doesn't need useless seat warmers.
@@talkinghand4839Politics will always be like that. You cant fix that. Solution is to strip politicians and governmenta of power, so there is nothing to influence for rich people
Ultimately supporting such so called philanthropy (independent of the intentions of either party) undermines society as it then gives governments an excuse to continue to cut funding. This is one of many reasons why the US will never improve (not without conflict).
That is real good investigative journalism. I think there plenty stories about the superrich to be uncovered
They talk about ever higher taxes but they never talk about efficiency and accountability.
Mikado ? Like the sweets ? I like it, but it is a long time that I have seen it in stores.
The rich have worked very hard to accumulate their wealth but all rich people need one huge factor to get wealthy. The middle class consumer.
You will never be rich by working hard. You have to work smarter not harder
@@xxhc2000xx true as well.
I hope DW get rich though. Its the best thing that describes the world outside my own bubble.
DW is a German state owned media company and are thus funded by the mandatory TV license fee. I doubt they can run a profit oriented business style.
DW is rich........😂
@@9kk99k9k Good 😄
@@UpRisingDown DW is financed by the German tax payer's
How can I communicate with DW team ?
Feudalism vs democracy as we have know it? I think the start of the film says it all. Let's be realistic, our so call free societies, aka democracies, have never really existed. How much money you have, for the most part, has always determined how much power, influence and freedom you have in the world.
People seems hate rich people.
Yes,it is the new fudalism and shud be stopped.
eat the rich
This video assumes that politicians are not the corrupt ones
I like the final couple
There should be a limit of how much a person can possess in every country.
why ? so you hit the limit and you should just Stop or give up ? Lol …. I hope there never beca Limit !!! what else would motivate you if you would know there is a limit ? what a bs you just said
So you want another Soviet Union? 🤦
That would NEVER happen. It would require the rich to essentially "turn the weapon on themselves", lol. Who's going to do that? When you control the systems, you ALWAYS rig things in your own favor. Always. Altruism doesn't exist. It's a total fabrication; a lie propagated by fairy tales, boolsheet "messages", and naïve fools who've never set foot in the real world. If you ain't rich, you ain't NOTHIN'. Nothing at all. You hold no power, no assets, no control, no clout, no influence. Those who aren't wealthy will be utterly forgotten in 60-120 years. It will be as though they never existed. That's reality, baby. ;)
MR HAUKOHL hat off for what you do for kids . Great man . God bless you and your wife .
Sharing will save the world.
Very important to mention that when a company or corporation have a surplus, it can make a foundation allocate part of the surplus to the foundation and thus be taxexempt for the amount of the surplus paid to the foundation. The same is true for individuals. The problem is the legal framework that regulate foundations because the foundations decide what happens to this money. Here in Denmark I can chose to make "donations" out of my salary to my own foundation or an existing foundation. The amount I donate reduces my taxable income by the same amount. The foundation does not get taxed on my donation as taxable income and is free to decide what to do with all these donations. Same thing for corporations and companies for their taxable income.
In USA and UK l an guessing they have even more power towards laws made
Very informative documentary
Not as much as some of them would like to think that they have....
This shows just how much the works of Karl Marx are still relevant today.
Lol. It proves how wrong he was.
@@aquilifergroup In what way if I may ask? Marx observed how capitalism accumulates wealth in the hands of a small elite, which makes that elite capable of exerting a great deal of economic and political influence. He also observed how the State (whether national or regional) becomes entangled with the interests of that elite, something that becomes clear in this video.
Wou …what a difficult question
Mr Altmann said it best! Public money should be for public use and expenses not for public shouldn't use public money. Smart man.
Hated how the school authorities were groveling to the rich man 🙄
It was a wonderful documentary shared by an excellent ( DW) channel. Documentary about the reality of Melionners,residents' taxes, and states directory of residence taxes for the financial interests of Gaint companies projects owned by German Melionners. It's a new feudalism and oligarch system wavering around the world 🌎 after the USSR collapsed
Was this written by an AI?
Feudalism? Not really. Listen to Italian fascist Benito Mussolini what it is: "Fascism is the merger of state and economy!"
Governments need to run like companies, mindful of incomes and expenses. It is not a wealthy donor who determines who 'has' or 'has not' with respect to things such as education. Non-critical management of resources is the fault - discretionary expenses should not be part of a core education, for example.
Ask this question to it's ppl ,at the anual WEF meeting in Davos
Governments mismanage public funds.