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I think you're only making this argument because it doesn't apply to you. If you were rich, that would be because you cared to generate wealth on that scale. Y

by swombat 14y ago

I think you're only making this argument because it doesn't apply to you. If you were rich, that would be because you cared to generate wealth on that scale. You worked your bollocks off and created vast amounts of wealth at the cost of blood and sweat and your life. I am not rich, but I am earning decent money through my business now and trust me when I say that every penny the government takes on the money that I earned through my hard work creating something from scratch is painful. I shudder at the thought that when I die, a large percentage of what I earned would be snatched away from those I love "just because the state can".

brudgers 14y ago
My comments have been motivated by the characterization of the inheritance tax as liable to leave the heirs as waifs. Sonnabend's heirs are middle aged adults, who like their mother were raised in wealth. There is nothing wrong with that, nor even with owning a $30,000,000 stuffed bald eagle (the prohibition on the sale of which I think is absurd). However, the basis of my opinion regarding the inheritance tax in general is based on a simple political philosophy similar to that of Socrates - when one has enjoyed and benefited from the rule of law for a life time, the only ethical course is to accept those parts of the law which may be to one's detriment. Sonnabend clearly benefited from the laws of the US for many decades - among those the ability to own private property, enforce contracts, and exchange goods for fungible currency. Indeed, it was US immigration policy which allowed her and her family to immigrate and transfer their wealth from Europe on the eve of the Second World War. The US tax code allows wealth to be transferred between generations in accordance with American values. The creation of a permanent aristocracy has not traditionally been consistent with those values. As for me, I shudder at the the thought of money constituting my most important legacy to those I love.
jquery 14y ago
I shudder at the thought that some people's motivation for working is to enable aristocratic ideals.

by swombat 14y ago

brudgers 14y ago

My comments have been motivated by the characterization of the inheritance tax as liable to leave the heirs as waifs. Sonnabend's heirs are middle aged adults, who like their mother were raised in wealth. There is nothing wrong with that, nor even with owning a $30,000,000 stuffed bald eagle (the prohibition on the sale of which I think is absurd). However, the basis of my opinion regarding the inheritance tax in general is based on a simple political philosophy similar to that of Socrates - when one has enjoyed and benefited from the rule of law for a life time, the only ethical course is to accept those parts of the law which may be to one's detriment. Sonnabend clearly benefited from the laws of the US for many decades - among those the ability to own private property, enforce contracts, and exchange goods for fungible currency. Indeed, it was US immigration policy which allowed her and her family to immigrate and transfer their wealth from Europe on the eve of the Second World War. The US tax code allows wealth to be transferred between generations in accordance with American values. The creation of a permanent aristocracy has not traditionally been consistent with those values. As for me, I shudder at the the thought of money constituting my most important legacy to those I love.

jquery 14y ago

I shudder at the thought that some people's motivation for working is to enable aristocratic ideals.