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The only appropriate death tax is 100%. The goal is not to raise money for the government, the goal is to protect society from oligarchy. Most oligarchs come fr
by lkrubner 9y ago
The only appropriate death tax is 100%. The goal is not to raise money for the government, the goal is to protect society from oligarchy. Most oligarchs come from wealthy families -- that kind of vast wealth accumulates over the course of generations.
So as to allow minor things, such as a house, to pass from parents to children, a low level exemption is reasonable, so the tax does not touch the poor or middle classes. Suppose the first $5 million are tax-free. That is more generous than the current system, and since $5 million is too small an amount to lead to oligarchy, it should not raise any concerns. But beyond $5 million, the appropriate tax should be 100% -- all of the wealth should go back to the society from whence it came.
The money raised from such a tax can help give poor children something to start with in life, and thus such a tax allows each child of each generation to start off with roughly equal assets. Thus everyone's accomplishments in life become truly their own, rather than being partly their own and partly their ancestors. The over-reliance on ancestors is a sad state of affairs that holds for many children of the wealthy.
- walshemj 9y agoSo you be happy for middle class JAMS (just about managing) to accept the state stealing the parents or grand parents home on death.
- rayiner 9y agoIt's on thing to say that the government should intervene in the state of nature to protect you from being dispossessed of property you've earned. It's a step further to say that the government should intervene to maintain the standard of living for your children after you can no longer do so by virtue of your death. It's an expansion in the concept of property from a personal right, to something that transcends the person.
- walshemj 9y agoI am fairly sure the Magna Charter which is part of UK common law which US law descends from explicitly has "the right of all free citizens to own and inherit property" The UNHCR also has Article 17(2) (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property
- lkrubner 9y agoI don't know if you are joking, but the Magna Charter was a deal worked out between a bunch of feudal lords and their king. It represents everything that we are trying to get away from in the modern era. As to UNHCR, obviously none of us would ever suggest taking someone's property arbitrarily. What I am suggesting is a tax, which would work just like any other tax, and would be just as lawful as every other tax that you pay.