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> but the majority did put extreme amounts of energy to get to the point where they can make lots of money and that can't be said about everyone. Did their chi

by snarfy 7y ago

> but the majority did put extreme amounts of energy to get to the point where they can make lots of money and that can't be said about everyone. Did their children also? Then why do they inherit it? I'm all for a 100% estate tax. You shouldn't be able to take it with you. Society doesn't need dynasties. Their children were raised with the benefit of extreme wealth with all of the advantages it brings. They shouldn't also get to keep it.

antidesitter 7y ago
Because in a free society you can donate your property to whomever you please.
- AngryData 7y ago
  So in a free society, power should be given out according to the whims of the already powerful? Rather than earned of their own merits and general public accord?
  - DoreenMichele 7y ago
    An actual free society does its best to balance different things, like individual rights versus the good of the whole. When done well, protecting individual rights enhances the good of the whole. The reality is that a 100% estate tax mostly will hurt the middle and lower classes. The ultra rich will get with their lawyers, set up trust funds while they yet draw breath and find other loopholes. Same as it ever was. And while wealth inequality is a genuine issue, there's much worse things that grow out of trying to prevent people from being wealthy at all. It's absolutely the wrong goal. The goal should be to not exclude people from the benefits of living in a wealthy, developed nation. It shouldn't be trying to arbitrarily and spitefully rob the rich.
  - antidesitter 7y ago
    > So in a free society, power should be given out according to the whims of the already powerful? It depends on what you mean by “power”. If by “power” you mean money then the answer is yes, if it’s their money. The same applies for the not-so-“powerful”.
- anoncake 7y ago
  You can. It's just pointless because your heirs can't keep it.

by snarfy 7y ago

antidesitter 7y ago

Because in a free society you can donate your property to whomever you please.

AngryData 7y ago
So in a free society, power should be given out according to the whims of the already powerful? Rather than earned of their own merits and general public accord?
- DoreenMichele 7y ago
  An actual free society does its best to balance different things, like individual rights versus the good of the whole. When done well, protecting individual rights enhances the good of the whole. The reality is that a 100% estate tax mostly will hurt the middle and lower classes. The ultra rich will get with their lawyers, set up trust funds while they yet draw breath and find other loopholes. Same as it ever was. And while wealth inequality is a genuine issue, there's much worse things that grow out of trying to prevent people from being wealthy at all. It's absolutely the wrong goal. The goal should be to not exclude people from the benefits of living in a wealthy, developed nation. It shouldn't be trying to arbitrarily and spitefully rob the rich.
- antidesitter 7y ago
  > So in a free society, power should be given out according to the whims of the already powerful? It depends on what you mean by “power”. If by “power” you mean money then the answer is yes, if it’s their money. The same applies for the not-so-“powerful”.
anoncake 7y ago
You can. It's just pointless because your heirs can't keep it.