To be accurate, your summation should read: "this headline should read: fringe group of 44 wealthy Germans demand higher taxes on German people deemed wealthy for a period of 2 years, strangely making the news."

"the rest of the country opted to kick out the socialists from government in recent national elections, replacing them with a libertarian party running on a tax cut platform"

The rest of the country was not a target of their demand. In fact, it was the rest of the country they want to help with their own money.