The Death Tax

That is what Republicans call the federal estate tax in one of the cleverest bits of “rebranding” ever seen.  

Everyone should support the federal estate tax for the following reasons:

• it is a small step to prevent the formation of an inherited aristocracy based on wealth.  That is one of the quickest ways to end democracy in this country.  It might end anyway, since the estate tax is not particularly onerous.

• the federal estate tax now applies only to estates larger than $5.49 million for an individual.  That applies to about one-fifth of one percent of Americans.  I doubt if any readers are in that group.

• even if you are in that one-fifth of one percent, your kids will still be rich.  You should welcome the opportunity to contribute your fair share.  Be like Bill Gates or Andrew Carnegie.  Spend your money on good works before you die.

The Trump tax proposals at least explain why people like Senator Toomey and the Koch Brothers and NFL owners have supported Trump though all of his blustering and misogyny and childishness and obvious lack of qualifications to be president.  This is their payoff.  It always seems to come down to the money.