Death Tax

[KB1KIX]

The other tread started getting twisted, so I figured I'd start one here.

Personally, I'm against the death tax - no proof that it actually succeeds in doing anything.

I'm strongly against economic redistribution of wealth. It's nothing but a commie sham.

The argument that it will create two classes, extremely apart from one another is moot - you're comparing the medieval days to today - apples and oranges on so many levels.

Death tax must go - it's what Kennedy would do (John F for the libs).

Read his state of the union address to get a grasp on his fiscal policy - in most cases, it was rather conservative!

Jonathan

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KB1KIX @ June 21 2007,11:39)]I'm strongly against economic redistribution of wealth.
What other kind of wealth redistribution is there? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[kl7aj]

Excellent Essay (http://www.paulgraham.com/inequality.html)

Read what Paul Graham, writer of Hackers and Painters has to say on the subject!

eric

[KB1KIX]

OK.... Government Redistribution of Wealth through Redundant Taxation......

[KA8NCR]

First, the term "death tax" is from the Republicans who continually want to get rid of it for their wealthy friends. You're probably never going to encounter this tax.

The tax is intended to stop having an aristocratic class that produces nothing. The founding fathers had seen how Europe had been corrupted by wealthy nobles who had nothing better to do but go around and create trouble. These people would sit idle until one took offense to something another one did, and they'd lay siege to one another destroying the countryside. Of course, in modern times, history is hyperbole. But the intent remains and that's to avoid a class of people who have incredible power through wealth and no real world experience in which to direct their application of power.

The modern benefit of the estate tax is that it forces the uber wealthy to think about what they're going to do with their money. Pay a lot in taxes, set up shelters and get it moving or create foundations and endowments that put the money into the public. Most people, obviously, are loathe to give the money to the government, so the wealthy do other things with it.

Paris Hilton is the poster child of why the estate tax can be a good thing. Do you want this woman in a position of power attained by wealth she didn't earn? She didn't finish high school.

Unfortunately, the estate tax also ends up causing family farms and businesses to be sold to pay for the taxes. This is pretty much a reason to at the very least fix the bad points.

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (ka8ncr @ June 21 2007,10:20)]First, the term "death tax" is from the Republicans who continually want to get rid of it for their wealthy friends. #You're probably never going to encounter this tax.

The tax is intended to stop having an aristocratic class that produces nothing. #The founding fathers had seen how Europe had been corrupted by wealthy nobles who had nothing better to do but go around and create trouble. #These people would sit idle until one took offense to something another one did, and they'd lay siege to one another destroying the countryside. #Of course, in modern times, history is hyperbole. #But the intent remains and that's to avoid a class of people who have incredible power through wealth and no real world experience in which to direct their application of power.

The modern benefit of the estate tax is that it forces the uber wealthy to think about what they're going to do with their money. #Pay a lot in taxes, set up shelters and get it moving or create foundations and endowments that put the money into the public. #Most people, obviously, are loathe to give the money to the government, so the wealthy do other things with it.

Paris Hilton is the poster child of why the estate tax can be a good thing. #Do you want this woman in a position of power attained by wealth she didn't earn? #She didn't finish high school.

Unfortunately, the estate tax also ends up causing family farms and businesses to be sold to pay for the taxes. #This is pretty much a reason to at the very least fix the bad points.
There are much better ways of doing this than estate taxes, which don't require any convoluted loopholes, and is completely fair and just...and PROMOTES at all levels economic growth. My dad was a real advocate of this.

It's called the NET WORTH tax. Very simple....every man woman and child pays a (reasonable) fixed percentage of their net worth to the government. No loopholes. The rich never miss it, and the poor....well they never miss it either. It doesn't stunt economic growth like the graduated income tax does, and actually creates MUCH more revenue for the government. And it's so simple, all the IRS agents would have to go out and get real jobs.

eric

eric

[KC0VWU]

I am against the death tax because that money has already been taxed once and the government should not be double dipping.

And who cares if the children of the wealthy do nothing? Mind your own business.

[w4wtf]

Quote[/b] (ka8ncr @ June 21 2007,10:20)]First, the term "death tax" is from the Republicans who continually want to get rid of it for their wealthy friends. #You're probably never going to encounter this tax.

The tax is intended to stop having an aristocratic class that produces nothing. #The founding fathers had seen how Europe had been corrupted by wealthy nobles who had nothing better to do but go around and create trouble. #These people would sit idle until one took offense to something another one did, and they'd lay siege to one another destroying the countryside. #Of course, in modern times, history is hyperbole. #But the intent remains and that's to avoid a class of people who have incredible power through wealth and no real world experience in which to direct their application of power.
The estate tax did not even exist until 1916, so the founding fathers had nothing to do with it. In fact they were anathema to the idea of most forms of taxation.

I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious.

To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

Thomas Jefferson

Quote[/b] ]


The modern benefit of the estate tax is that it forces the uber wealthy to think about what they're going to do with their money. #Pay a lot in taxes, set up shelters and get it moving or create foundations and endowments that put the money into the public. #Most people, obviously, are loathe to give the money to the government, so the wealthy do other things with it.

Paris Hilton is the poster child of why the estate tax can be a good thing. #Do you want this woman in a position of power attained by wealth she didn't earn? #She didn't finish high school.
So you feel you and I are more fit than her father to choose what becomes of his money?

What are your qualifications for that?Quote[/b] ]
Unfortunately, the estate tax also ends up causing family farms and businesses to be sold to pay for the taxes. #This is pretty much a reason to at the very least fix the bad points.
The whole idea is a bad point. If a person has earned money thier whole life, and been taxed on it every step along the way, it should be thiers to leave for thier families or however they wish without governmnet getting its greedy hands into it.

[K3XR]

When you ask "Redistribution of wealth or Robin Hood," it's both. #Taking from those who worked hard to achieve success/wealth and giving it to the folks in the HOOD.