Quote:
Originally posted by taxwonk
Or Jews. I guess I'm twice-screwed.
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Odd that your views are more in line with our Puritan forfathers than others on this board.
From a Puritan perspective, estate taxes are good because they tax free money. Not to the decedent, of course, but then again s/he's dead and his wealth is now determined by the stregth of his morals, not his business accumen. But to the heirs, it's money not earned. Money not earned is corrupting, and causes shiftlessness. Money earned is reflective of upstanding morality. Better - if one must tax - to tax money that corrupts than money rightfully earned by the sweat of the brow, as these earnings are righteous, and indicative of one's moral strength.
(A perspective which also allows one to not have very much pity on the poor - if one is poor, it must be due to a moral failing.)
