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In reply to the discussion: On the Estate Tax [View all]SheilaT
(23,156 posts)6. First of all, money gets taxed multiple times
as it moves through the economy: income taxes, sales taxes, school taxes, and so on and so forth.
I honestly think one reason very rich people fight so very hard against estate taxes is that once that tax kicks in, it's very high. Of course, it does provide a great deal of employment for tax lawyers. It's my opinion that estate taxes should kick in at about a $1million point, but not go immediately to 46%, or whatever it actually is. I'd say start at about 15%, escalate to 25% at $10million, and maybe top out at 35% above $25million.
The up side of estate taxes is that it does tend to encourage the wealthy to give money away, and not just to their children or grandchildren.
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And that you don't want to give back to society which made it possible for you ...
Fantastic Anarchist
Mar 2014
#45
I give back plenty already. There is a point at which you've given back enough.
badtoworse
Mar 2014
#50
And your heirs need to give back enough too, especially enough of unearned income.
whatthehey
Mar 2014
#53
I pay at least a couple of families worth in income tax and have for quite a while.
badtoworse
Mar 2014
#56
My argument is simpler: I don't care if Paris Hilton inherits enough money to live in splendor ....
Scuba
Mar 2014
#9
Not to mention, it's not the governments responsibility to set up dynasties
TexasBushwhacker
Mar 2014
#23