Estate-tax debate affects only very rich

Pioneer Press ^ | HANK SHAW

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The politics of envy serves some on the right as well as the left.

I wouldn't exactly call the Teamsters "right," which is the basic mentality of envy going on with Willie Boy.

[Night Hides Not]

I know what you mean...I tried that line out with a couple of my clients, and they didn't think it was very funny either.

I know just enough about estate taxes to know that I'm better off focusing on the strength of my practice: income taxes!

[Protagoras]

Inherited wealth dissipates after a few generations.

Why is this germaine to the converation? It's no one else's business what you do with your property. It is immoral to steal property, no matter who it belongs to or for how long. Either property is privately held or it belongs to the government and you are only allowed to keep it under certain conditions, those decided at their pleasure.

To engage a thief in the details of his plunder is to miss the fundamental point and concede that it is ok to set rules on things like private property.

[Protagoras]

I wouldn't exactly call the Teamsters "right," which is the basic mentality of envy going on with Willie Boy.

The poster in question poses as being from the right. His presence on this forum is partial proof of that.

He is an authoritarian. Left or right is kinda irrelevant in any case I suppose.

[FreedomPoster]

I've come to the conclusion that being a good tax accountant is a noble calling, as it keeps money, and therefore power, out of the hands of government. Conversely, quoting P.J. O'Rourke, giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. Nothing good can come of it.

My wife is really, really good at what she does as a tax accountant, and I love her all the more for it.

[Sam Cree]

Did Madison agree with that letter?

In reading F.A. Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty, I did see that, while in France (which fits, I think with 1784), Jefferson became something of a believer in the "top down" planned egalitarianism of the French revolution.

However, the egalitarianism of the French Revolution formed the basis of what soon became socialism. It's in direct contradiction with the English tradition of individual liberty that most of us believe to be the basis of American freedom.

[ex-snook]

Once the GOP recogizes that what they need to win elections is tax cuts for the dead, another tax deal for big investors and a few more NAFTA job out-sourcing agreements, the stupid party will be on its way to big campaign contributions and big election wins. (/ sarcasm)

The GOP is 'reaching out' even to the dead. The only group on their no-no sh't list, is payroll Reagan Democrats, but then again they have nowhere to go, right?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

To engage a thief in the details of his plunder is to miss the fundamental point and concede that it is ok to set rules on things like private property.

I did nothing of the kind, Sir High-Horse. I pointed out to Willie Boy that he was wringing his hands in jealousy completely gratuitously, as an exercise in mental masturbation.

[Protagoras]

We don't need the government's help, no matter what Jefferson thought.

This statement assumes some help is needed at all. That it is immoral somehow to accumulate wealth and pass it on to one's heirs. It is not.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The poster in question poses as being from the right. His presence on this forum is partial proof of that.

Anybody with Internet access and an email address can post here. There presence is partial proof of nothing.

[Pagey]

Congress has, in a way, already abolished the estate tax. It is being slowly phased out and is scheduled to disappear entirely in 2010. But in a strange twist, the law is then slated to expire — restoring the tax in 2011.

This is outrageous that this was passed by a majority of the Senate and the House, and includes this caveat.They have no shame at all,and it makes me ill the amount of money the Gov't takes from our company.Tax This Tax That, Tax the grieving family after the parents are dead.Go ahead,Tax them when their dead,one more time.Don't give that family a chance to keep a small business growing,just tax us to death.That is disgusting.You can see why I loathe most politicians.Can't we just brand (Like they do a Steer)the people who voted for this?

[Sam Cree]

You know, the whole premise of an estate tax is that your stuff is only your stuff to the extent government feels like saying it is.

[Willie Green]

Invoking communism in the name of Jefferson.

No. You intentionally ignored my description of individuals being able to travel both up and down the "escalators" of economic success based on their individual merit. That certainly isn't communism.

It's apparent that you're not interested in intelligently discussing the distinction -- only spouting ideological hyperbole whether it makes any intelligent contribution to the discussion or not.
Go back to playing in your sandbox.

[Protagoras]

I did nothing of the kind, Sir High-Horse.

I'll give some thought to changing my screen name to that, It has a nice ring to it. :-)

In the mean time, you made the statement that it (wealth) dissapates after a while. Which sounds to me like you addressed his point, namely that it is a problem if it doesn't. His point should be discarded or disputed at it's fundamental level along with his class envy, not engaged as if it had intrinsic value.

My point wasn't personal, although it may have sounded that way. I apologise.

[wallcrawlr]

Right now its $1,000,000.

[wallcrawlr]

The IRS would come in and use market rate to impute a value. This isnt the way of getting around it.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I agree with your post #2.

Taxing the rich MORE THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN is nothing but revenge and ENVY, and it would be wrong under our form of Government.

Everyone should pay a tax during war, but it should be EQUAL TAXATION. We are ALL overtaxed, and it is the epitomy of "UN-constitutional" to tax groups of people differently based on their ability to earn a wage.

Heck, we wish we were rich, and good for those who were smart enough and wise enough to become rich. But we don't think they should pay more because of it.

EQUALITY!! For everyone, rich or poor. We all enjoy living in the greatest country on earth.

What we don't like is the idea of a WELFARE state, where some are fed, housed and become accustomed to that way of life, even feeling they are entitled to it. That they are entitled to RIDE OUT LIFE on the backs of everyone else. If you can work, you should work! Pay your fair share of taxes, and thats that.

If you are on welfare, you should be out cleaning up highways, or babysitting in facilities that would give affordable babysitting to families who are out there earning their way in life. There should be NO free rides!!

Don't work, don't get benefits!!

So yeah, 10 percent tax, around the board. Some rich people would actually end up paying way more, and it would definelty be more fair. We're with you!

[Teacher317]

Call it what it really is: The Widows and Orphans Tax

Well put.

[Teacher317]

Where is the justice and equality in treating people differently simply because of their wealth or income? Why is it acceptable to have the tax at all "even though it only affects the super-rich"? Where in the Constitution does it say that they are a class of citizens who do not deserve equal protection and equal rights?

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, I agree with what you say. Our country is founded on equality before the law, not egalitarianism. The two are not compatible.