Not all taxation is theft. But one tax that comes about as close as possible to being theft is the estate tax. After all, dead people aren’t getting any more services from government. I suppose there are a few people who are buried in pauper’s graves at county expense. But those are not the ones whose estates are being confiscated.
I have never understood the logic behind seizing a part of the estates of the recently departed. If there is a valid argument for doing so, why doesn’t it apply with equal force to the estates of the living?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2015/04/27/why-do-we-have-a-death-tax/
Fantastic article. Salient points noted below for those who are click averse.
I have never understood the logic behind seizing a part of the estates of the recently departed. If there is a valid argument for doing so, why doesn’t it apply with equal force to the estates of the living?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2015/04/27/why-do-we-have-a-death-tax/
Fantastic article. Salient points noted below for those who are click averse.
- Implemented in 1797 to fund war
- Still here today because once a government gets it, they ain't giving it back
- Who will fight it? I mean the main guy is dead, right? The family wants to grieve.
- As we all know, the government has already taxed something......
- The tax effects the living
- "Socialist" Sweden eliminated it as did many others nations - long ago
