Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Taro who wrote (229342)	4/15/2005 10:21:05 AM
From: combjelly	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 1584790

"I believe estate tax is immoral because it taxes the share of funds" I am not sure what morality has to do with it. The fact of the matter is that without estate taxes, there is a tendency for more and more of the wealth to be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Look st most any third world country for examples of how this works. The less gap there is between the wealthy and the middle class, and the middle class and the poor, the lower the incident of things like crime. So yes, estate taxes are a form of social engineering, and it is one that works.

To: Taro who wrote (229342)	4/15/2005 11:08:55 AM
From: Jim McMannis	Respond to of 1584790

The estate tax is double and triple taxation. I dunno about eliminating it. I'd rather see a larger exemption and/or a lesser rate. Right now they take like 50%. I'd rather see about 15% across the board for everything.

To: Taro who wrote (229342)	4/15/2005 2:26:12 PM
From: SilentZ	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1584790

>I believe estate tax is immoral because it taxes the share of funds left by the IRS after they have already taxed the original income once. >Sometimes it is called taxes of already taxed money. >Could you tell me what's wrong with my argument here? For one thing, the government's going to get the money somehow... maybe they should just charge it double the first time? Does it make a difference? Second, this strategy acknowledges that not all people are born with the same advantages in life, and it levels the playing field a bit. EDIT: Your logic is also a bit flawed in that, well, all money is taxed many, many times already... if I make a salary, I'm taxed on it. Then, when I buy a product, the vendor is taxed. Then, when he uses his profits to buy something, the next vendor is taxed, and so on... An inheritance is a transaction... we tax transactions! Ain't nothin' wrong with that. -Z