How much influence do the super rich have? | DW Documentary

“Let's start with Marburg's concentration training. “We would really like to continue with this, we already offered it last year.” “Exactly, we did it at our school last year and it worked well.” “Year 5 class's new trip: they want to swim, is that something you would help with? With a focus on swimming and children who

have

not yet learned.” “We are open to that idea, my wife in particular. Everyone in Lübeck needs to be able to swim, as there is all the water here. I'll take my chances for my board of directors. You'll

have

to back me up.

But my wife is on my side.” A total of 14 projects are discussed at the meeting. Some costs have increased. Now it's time to do the math. Is the benefactor on board? "Now we have to get to the heart of the matter, Mr. Haukohl." “So, that's three, four, plus two, plus another nine, I'm just adding it up roughly, and another two point two, right? So it's 20 thousand. What did we do last year? "Sixteen thousand." "That's more than a brandy." “Last time the parents association contributed a good amount, about three thousand euros.” "If we agree on a number, the school association will agree." "Okay, that puts us in the same ballpark as last year, so we can approve it." "Fantastic." "Great, we can keep the whole wish list." "What a relief." "That is incredible." “I noticed that everyone was a little silent at that moment, waiting… is he going to say yes or no?” "Yeah." “Whether the cash flows or not depends on your vote.

Doesn't it seem old-fashioned to you, taken from another century? “Well, I have to say that I am very grateful that this is the case. Other specialists will have

much

more to say about free market economics, about taxpayer money flowing into the public treasury. But I think it's difficult to strike a good balance between what is needed and what ordinary citizens can raise for themselves. And basically we are grateful that there are people who say: I am going to donate the profits of my company to good causes.” Michael Haukohl inherited a real estate empire. Selling it made him

rich

.

More than 20 years ago, he and his wife decided to invest his money in a foundation. In the years since, philanthropic boundaries have become increasingly blurred: what should the state pay for? And where should foundations intervene? “Previously, foundations considered that they should not finance anything that was the responsibility of the State. But that changed 17 years ago, when the Possehl Foundation financed the improvement of heating systems in Lübeck schools. And everyone said: that's incredible. Is the State not in a position to adequately heat schools? That's not something a foundation should do... We don't say things like that anymore.” “Do you think that's right?” “To some extent, no. “Sometimes we are horrified that the State does not take certain things into its own hands.” “For example, to this day digitalization has not yet mastered.

There is no Wi-Fi everywhere and the list goes on.” “But we also say: OK, if we can help, we will. Things that the State simply cannot manage. “Schoolchildren need tablets NOW, not three months from now.” “In fact, I think it is good that there is some competition between state and private financing. If it is something completely new and the State is not willing to take responsibility, foundations can try it.” Your donations do good. But not even the Haukohls can escape the customers' dilemma. In the end, deciding who gets help and who is left empty-handed is entirely up to them.