FAQs

The Good Council dealt with the question of what the distribution of wealth in Austria means. In the end, however, it didn't just develop ideas and make recommendations - the Good Council was given 25 million euros to implement concrete ideas. In this way, it provides an example of how redistribution can look and function. Experts from science and practice were also invited to share their expertise in order to conduct this debate and make the decisions.

In a multi-stage process: First, FORESIGHT applied for a random sample of 10,000 addresses from the Central Register of Residents (ZMR) in summer 2023. This was approved and the sample was retrieved at the beginning of December 2023. On January 9, 2024, the invitations to Guter Rat (Good Council) were sent to these 10,000 addresses by post. Part of the registration is a short survey on personal data (place of residence, age, origin, etc.).

FORESIGHT used statistical methods to identify 50 people from all complete responses who best represent the composition of the Austrian population. The procedure is based on the scientific state of the art and has been used in over 50 citizen participation processes worldwide.

This is an opportunity to discuss difficult social issues. A group of people is selected at random to represent the population as accurately as possible. Age, place of residence, origin, education, etc. are taken into consideration. The topics for such citizens' councils are as diverse as they are important: democracy, climate change, regional development, abortion and much more. Such councils are also often set up at municipal level. There have already been nationwide councils in more than 20 countries, but only one in Austria - the Klimarat.

Among other things, the Council received input on asset distribution and redistribution. This also includes information on what kind of support makes sense in the first place and how it can be structured sustainably. On the basis of this discussion, the Good Council developed ideas on how we as a society want to deal with the distribution of wealth in Austria. And, on the other hand, decided what should happen with the money. Or rather, how the 25 million euros should be redistributed.

Yes, the money was not allowed to go to groups or individuals or flow into activities that are unconstitutional, anti-life or inhumane. Furthermore, redistribution does not mean investment: the money could not go to organizations that operate for profit. The Council could also not do anything else with the money that would run counter to the actual purpose of the Good Council - i.e. redistribution. For example: founding or financing parties with the money, paying out the money to themselves or related parties. There were no other guidelines.

The money comes from a transfer from Marlene Engelhorn's grandmother. Marlene Engelhorn comes from a wealthy industrialist family, the Boehringer Mannheim company was sold in 1996/97 and this is where the fortune came from. Marlene Engelhorn wanted to have the money distributed back to the company because she believed it belonged there.

Find out more here in our mission statement.

No. Marlene Engelhorn withdrew from the project after the start, after the Good Council was set up - and thus also relinquished decision-making authority. Of course, she reserves the right to continue commenting on the topics of asset distribution and redistribution, but she had no veto or similar rights with regard to the results of the discussion in the Council and the 25 million euros. The Good Council decided freely.

If the state does not fulfill its task by redistributing wealth - then it is distributed unequally in society. Rich people can then decide for themselves whether and how to distribute money. A donation is an individual decision that primarily considers the needs of the donor. Donations of a certain size can also be used for manipulative purposes. Redistribution, on the other hand, is based on the idea that wealth has been distributed unequally by society to individuals - and that large fortunes cannot be created without society. Civil society is actively involved in the question: What should happen to the money? Redistribution is also about wanting to change not only the symptoms of crises as a result of unequal distribution - but also the causes of unequal distribution in the system. It is about listening to those who are directly affected by social and ecological problems. Moreover, it is about trusting them and letting them help decide what good solutions are.

Find out more here!

NGOs already exist, so it would make more sense to support existing structures instead of setting up another organization. She wanted to redistribute the money now, because it is needed now. And she is convinced that if she alone decides how the money should be redistributed, then she is once again exercising power that she should not actually have. Power that only arises from the fact that she inherited wealth.

To take part, you had to be at least 16 years old and be listed in the Central Register of Residents - in other words, be registered in Austria. This was the only way to be included in the random sample. There were no other conditions; participants did not have to be Austrian citizens or speak German. They did not have to be familiar with taxes, redistribution or redistribution, nor did they have to agree with Marlene Engelhorn's ideas. The Good Council has provided interpreters and experts, invited people regardless of their opinion and also ensured barrier-free access to the meetings so that no one is excluded.

On six weekends from March to June 2024 in Salzburg.

Yes, unless they wanted or want to make a public appearance of their own accord and take a stand.

Yes, all members received an expense allowance of 1,200 euros per weekend. And the Good Council covered all travel costs, meals, accommodation and other expenses incurred as a result of participation (e.g. childcare).

The issue of wealth distribution affects us all. The aim of the Good Council was to initiate a discussion and set up a participatory citizens' council for this purpose. In order to carry out the Good Council, the FORESIGHT Institute submitted a request to the Federal Ministry of the Interior to obtain address data from the Central Register of Residents (ZMR). The Good Council's concern to discuss the issue of distribution was classified as "public interest".

The FORESIGHT Institute was therefore provided with 10,000 randomly selected addresses to send out an invitation letter on behalf of Guter Rat (Good Council). The FORESIGHT Institute works together with Jaksch & Partner and is obliged to treat this data confidentially and carefully. The address data will only be used for the one-time mailing and will be deleted immediately afterwards. All information will be treated confidentially and will not be passed on to third parties.

Without the consent to participate (by specifically expressing this by calling the hotline or registering online) of the person contacted, personal data will not be passed on to Guter Rat (Good Council).

The timing is purely coincidental, especially because it is never guaranteed that election dates will hold and elections will not simply be brought forward. The issue has been central for years: distributive justice is a political debate, but not necessarily a party-political one. Guter Rat (Good Council) is independent of all parties and interest groups.

They all work or conduct research on the issues that the participants dealt with during the process. On the one hand, they are experts on wealth distribution, on the effects of this distribution on politics and society and on questions of system change. On the other hand, they are experts on the practice of redistribution - although they do not talk about substantive issues, but about how NGOs, associations and interest groups are usually financed. So that the Council can structure the redistribution of the 25 million euros in a sensible way. In such a way that society benefits the most.

The results of the Good Council were here published here. What ideas the Council developed for dealing with the distribution of assets; what happens to the 25 million euros. This also includes how the Council reached its decision. The Good Council had 3 million euros at its disposal for the entire organization and implementation. In total, it cost around 2.1 million euros to carry out the project to a high standard and as barrier-free as possible. The amount of expenditure incurred can be seen in the final reportt report.

Marlene Engelhorn is the initiator of the Good Council. She wants to stimulate public debate on wealth distribution - and have 25 million euros redistributed. You can find out more about her motives here to read. Marlene Engelhorn withdrew completely after the launch. A team then took over the organization of the Council.

Firstly, it is in any case a great success that we have initiated the debate on wealth and distribution. Secondly, the Council has provided an example of what redistribution can achieve - by redistributing 25 million euros. Thirdly, the Good Council was also scientifically evaluated externally. From the selection process of the members to the joint weekends to the question of how the result was achieved and what it triggered in the public.

The evaluation of the Good Council has followed the model of a storytelling evaluation. The focus is on listening closely and discovering the stories, discussions and processes that arise from the preparations to the implementation and follow-up. On the one hand, this means many conversations with the team and the Council members - from long, scientific interviews to conversations over coffee and repeated silent participation and observation. In addition to this monitoring, the evaluation delves into the scientific review of the individual work steps. This ranges from the selection process to the composition of the Good Council, the work of the team, the individual moderation and training methods and the training documents provided for the Council members, through to the actual debates and the atmosphere in which everything takes place.

In the style of the Council, which regards community as a great value in society, this evaluation should be carried out in the form of constructive criticism and a watchful eye. In this way, we observe, analyze and - if necessary in the middle of the process - point out where things are working particularly well, what can be learned and what could be done differently.

If you have any further questions, please contact us: hallo@guterrat.info

Bosanksi / Hrvatski / Srpski:

"Guter Rat" je građanski savjet od 50 ljudi koji što bolje moguće predstavljaju austrijsko stanovništvo. Tih 50 ljudi trebaju pronaći ideje o tome kako želimo postupati s raspodjelom imovine u Austriji. Jer imovina je ovdje vrlo nejednako raspoređena: Najbogatijih jedan posto posjeduje polovicu cijele imovine u zemlji. Drugu polovicu deli ostalih 99 odsto ljudi. Građanski savjet treba odlučiti kako 25 milijuna eura vratiti u društvo. Taj novac potječe od vrlo bogate Marlene Engelhorn. Ona je pokrenula "Guter Rat" jer smatra da sadašnje stanje treba promeniti. Toliko bogatstva i moći ne bi trebalo biti u rukama pojedinaca. Velika bogatstva zahtijevaju demokratske odluke. Zato "Guter Rat" zasjeda od ožujka/marta do lipnja/juna 2024. Tijekom šest vikenda se raspravlja i odlučuje o podjeli imovine bez vanjskog utjecaja.

Türkçe:
"Guter Rat" vatandaşlar kuruluşudur. "Guter Rat", Avusturya nüfusunu mümkün olduğunca iyi yansıtan 50 kişiden oluşur. Bu 50 kişi, Avusturya'daki servetin dağıtımıyla nasıl başa çıkmak istediğimizi bulmalıdır. Çünkü servet burada çok eşit dağılmış değil: en zengin yüzde, servetin yarısını elinde tutuyor. Diğer yüzde 99, diğer yarısıyla başa çıkmalıdır. Öte yandan, bu 50 kişi, topluma geri dağıtılması gereken 25 milyon Euro'nun nasıl kullanılacağına karar vermelidir. Bu servet, yani 25 milyon Euro, Marlene Engelhorn'dan gelmektedir. Çok zengin bir kadın. O, Guter Rat'ı hayata geçirdi, çünkü mevcut durumun bu şekilde devam edemeyeceğini düşünüyor. Bu kadar zenginlik ve dolayısıyla bu kadar güç, bireylerin elinde olmamalıdır. Çünkü: Büyük servetler demokratik kararlar gerektirir. "Guter Rat", Mart'tan Haziran'a kadar altı hafta sonu boyunca toplanır ve dış etkilenmeye tabi olmadan tartışır ve karar verir.

Română:
"Guter Rat" este un consiliu cetățenesc. "Guter Rat" este format din 50 de oameni care reprezintă cât mai bine posibil populația austriacă. Acești 50 de oameni ar trebui să găsească idei cu privire la modul în care dorim să abordăm distribuția averii în Austria. Deoarece averea este foarte inegal distribuită aici: unu la sută dintre cei mai bogați dețin jumătate din avere. Cei 99 la sută trebuie să împartă cealaltă jumătate. De asemenea, acești 50 de participanți ai consiliului "Guter Rat" în final o să decidă cum să fie împarțite 25 de milioane de euro înapoi la societate. Această avere, adică cele 25 de milioane de euro, provine de la Marlene Engelhorn, o foarte bogată moștenitoare. Ea a înființat consiliu "Guter Rat", avînd convingerea că lucrurile nu mai potcontinua așa ca în prezent. Atât de multă bogăție și, prin urmare, atât de multă putere nu ar trebui să fie în mâinile câtorva persoane. Pentru că: Sume mari de bani necesită decizii democrațice. "Guter Rat" se reunește în șase weekenduri din martie până în iunie 2024 la Salzburg și discută și ia decizii fără influență externă.

Polski:
"Guter Rat" to rada obywatelska. "Guter Rat" składa się z 50 osób, które najlepiej odzwierciedlają austriacką ludność. Ci 50 ludzie powinni z jednej strony znaleźć pomysły, jak chcemy postępować z rozdziałem majątku w Austrii. Ponieważ bogactwo jest tutaj bardzo nierówno rozłożone: najbogatszy jeden procent posiada połowę majątku. Pozostałe 99 procent musi podzielić drugą połowę. Z drugiej strony ci 50 ludzie powinni zadecydować, w jaki sposób 25 milionów euro powinno być ponownie rozdzielone w społeczeństwie. To bogactwo, czyli 25 milionów euro, pochodzi od Marlene Engelhorn. Bardzo bogatej kobiety. Założyła "Guter Rat", ponieważ uważa, że nie może tak dalej iść. Takie bogactwo i tym samym tak duża władza nie powinny być w rękach jednostek. Ponieważ: Duże bogactwa wymagają decyzji demokratycznych. "Guter Rat" obraduje od marca do czerwca 2024 roku przez sześć weekendów i dyskutuje oraz podejmuje decyzje bez zewnętrznego wpływu.

Magyar:
"Guter Rat" egy polgári tanács. "Guter Rat" 50 embert foglal magában, akik a lehető legjobban tükrözik az osztrák lakosságot. Ennek az 50 embereknek egyrészt ötleteket kell találniuk arra, hogyan kezelhetnénk az osztrák vagyont. Mert itt a vagyon nagyon egyenlőtlenül oszlik meg: a leggazdagabb egy százaléké a vagyon fele. A másik 99 százaléknak meg kell osztania a másik felét. Másrészt ennek az 50 emberrnek el kell dönteniük, hogyan kellene elosztaniuk vissza a társadalomnak a 25 millió eurót. Ez a vagyon, azaz 25 millió euró, Marlene Engelhorn-tól származik. Nagyon gazdag nő. Ő hozta létre a "Guter Rat"-ot, mert úgy érzi, így, ahogy van, nem folytatható tovább. Ennyi vagyon és így ennyi hatalom nem lehet magán emberek kezében,mert a nagy vagyonok demokratikus döntéseket igényelnek. A "Guter Rat" 2024 márciusa és júniusa között hat hétvégén ülésezik, és külső befolyás nélkül tárgyal és dönt.

Українська / Ukrayins'ka:
"Guter Rat" - це громадська рада.
"Guter Rat" складається із 50 людей, які якнайкраще репрезентують австрійське населення.
Ці 50 людей повинні, з одного боку, знаходити ідеї, як михочемо вирішувати питання розподілу майна в Австрії. Оскільки майно тут дуже нерівномірно розподілене: найбагатшому одному відсотку належить половина майна. Інші 99 відсотків повинні поділити іншу половину.
З іншого боку, цих 50 людей повинні вирішити, як розподілити 25 мільйонів євро назад у суспільство.
Ці кошти, а саме 25 мільйонів євро, отримані від Marlene Engelhorn. Дуже багатої жінки. Вона створила "Guter Rat", бо вважає, що так, як є зараз, не може тривати далі. Таке велике накопичення коштів, а отже і така велика влада, не повинні знаходитися в руках окремих осіб. Тому: Великі багатства потребують демократичних рішень. "Guter Rat" засідає з березня по червень 2024 року протягом шести вікендів. Ця рада обговорює та приймає рішення без зовнішнього впливу.

Čeština:
"Guter Rat" je občanská rada, kterou tvoří 50 osob, které co nejlépe odrážejí strukturu rakouských obyvatel. Těchto 50 lidí by mělo jednak najít nápady na to, jak bychom měli zacházet s rozdělením majetku v Rakousku. Neboť majetek je zde velmi nerovnoměrně rozdělen: nejbohatší jedno procento vlastní polovinu majetku. Ostatních 99 procent se musí podělit o druhou polovinu. Dále by těchto 50 osob mělo rozhodnout, jak by mělo být 25 milionů eur vráceno zpět do společnosti. Tento majetek, tedy 25 milionů eur, pochází od bohaté ženy, paní Marlene Engelhorn. Založila občanské fórum "Guter Rat", protože je přesvědčna, že současný stav nemůže takto pokračovat. Tak velké bohatství a tím pádem taková moc by neměly být v rukou jednotlivců. Protože: Velká bohatství vyžadují demokratická rozhodnutí. "Guter Rat" zasedá od března do června 2024 během šesti víkendů, kdy diskutuje a následě rozhoduje bez vnějšího ovlivňování.

Slovenčina:
"Guter Rat" je občianska rada. "Guter Rat" pozostáva z 50 ľudí, ktorí čo najlepšie zrkadlia rakúskych obyvateľov. Týchto 50 ľudí by mali na jednej strane nájsť nápady, ako by sme mali zaobchádzať s rozdelením bohatstva v Rakúsku. Pretože bohatstvo je tu veľmi nerovnomerne rozdelené: Najbohatšiemu jednému percentu patrí polovica bohatstva. Ostatných 99 percent musí rozdeliť druhú polovicu. Na druhej strane týchto 50 ľudí by malo rozhodnúť, ako by sa mala vrátiť do spoločnosti suma 25 miliónov eur. Toto bohatstvo, teda 25 miliónov eur, pochádza od Marlene Engelhorn. Veľmi bohatá žena. Ona založila "Guter Rat", pretože si myslí, že to takto ďalej nemôže ísť. Takéto veľké bohatstvo a tým pádom taká veľká moc by nemali byť v rukách jednotlivcov. Pretože: Veľké bohatstvá potrebujú demokratické rozhodnutia. "Guter Rat" zasadá od marca do júna 2024 počas šiestich víkendov a diskutuje a rozhoduje bez vonkajšieho ovplyvňovania.

عربي
مجلس الخير هو مجلس المواطنين. يتكون مجلس الخير من 50 شخصًا يمثلون السكان النمساويين بأكبر قدر ممكن. فمن ناحية، ينبغي لهؤلاء الأشخاص الخمسين أن يتوصلوا إلى أفكار حول الطريقة التي نريد أن نتعامل بها مع توزيع الثروة في النمسا. لأن الثروة يتم توزيعها بشكل غير متساوي هنا: نصف الثروة تنتمي إلى أغنى نسبة. أما الـ 99 بالمئة الباقية فعليهم أن يتقاسموا النصف الآخر. ومن ناحية أخرى، ينبغي لهؤلاء الأشخاص الخمسين أن يقرروا كيفية توزيع 25 مليون يورو على المجتمعهذه الثروة، أي 25 مليون يورو، تأتي من مارلين إنجلهورن.امرأة غنية جدا. لقد أنشأت مجلس الخير لأنها تؤمن: لا يمكن أن تسير الأمور كما هي على الحال . لا ينبغي أن يكون هذا القدر الكبير من الثروة وبالتالي الكثير من السلطة في أيدي الأفراد لأن: الثروات الكبيرة تحتاج إلى قرارات ديمقراطيةسوف يلتقي أعضاء مجلس الخير في ستة عطلات نهاية الأسبوع من مارس إلى يونيو 2024 ويناقش ويقرر دون تأثيرخارجي.

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