Quote Originally Posted by Dreadnaught View Post
Several of you seem to be acting as if I am against taxation whatsoever, which is far from the case. You're also acting as if these kinds of taxes actually raise a lot of revenue, which is also far from the case.

My position is that this tax is immoral, because I think it's immoral to tax assets. And that it's immoral to tax someone's savings that they intend to give to their children. It doesn't matter the amount or the exemptions, I find the concept to be odious.

A few points:

1) For the record I mostly support progressive income taxes. But this tax puts progressivism in the wrong place by taxing savers and threatens to destroy intergenerational capital appreciation. A society that can't look forward to building up assets over time turns the money side of life into a zero-sum game.

2) A reasonable tax code should encourage savings, thrift and helping the next generation through gifts, investments, etc. It shouldn't leave people with the option of blowing out their cash on an obnoxious lifestyle to die broke or seeing their hard-earned money disappear into a government black hole.

3) The idea that the wealth one accumulates over time should be "returned" to society via government confiscation is frankly bonkers. Someone's savings and assets have already been taxed as income when they made it. Taking it away after they die is senseless. The main goal of life isn't to feed government, it's feeding your children and giving them something to build their lives from.
Quoting for new page reference.

He said it's Immoral to tax assets. Shouldn't matter whose assets, it's just Immoral.

Also Immoral to tax savings. Would it matter who the recipient of that savings is? He said the amount and exemptions don't matter, so why should the beneficiary matter? He finds the whole thing ODIOUS.

1) Ah, liberalism's fault is.....failing to recognize special people?

2) Right-o. It's those damn taxes that keeps us from saving? Or is it those damn kids, that next ungrateful and spoilt generation for whom you've blown your gifts?

3) You're right, the wealth I inherited has already been taxed. Some of that was CONFISCATED to help others less fortunate. Pretty sure my grandparents and parents had no objections to that. In fact, they expected that. As do I. I know full well that when I die, my Estate will provide for my children plus some others. I can't name them all, but the tax money will find its way like water follows gravity.

The main goal of life isn't to feed government, it's feeding your children and giving them something to build their lives from.
Re-write: The main goal of life is feeding your children and giving them something to build their lives from. By giving some tax dollars to the government, you're also helping others outside your family unit. It's called Community.