I would be supremely interested to see a Nate Silver style analysis of deaths of wealthy persons during 2010, to see if there is a statistically significant jump.
Personally speaking, I'm split on my opinion of the estate tax. On one hand, it helps fulfill the mostly empty promise of a true meritocracy. But considering the various horrors associated with the spending of taxpayer money, I'm fully sympathetic with those who are opposed to the tax.
The estate tax would likely be more acceptable if the deceased were able to provide some amount of direction in their wills about the use of the collected tax revenue, but I suppose that would open up a whole can of worms.
The estate tax would likely be more acceptable if the deceased were able to provide some amount of direction in their wills about the use of the collected tax revenue, but I suppose that would open up a whole can of worms.
Actually, they can do exactly that by donating their estate to charity instead of bequeathing it to their heirs.
Personally speaking, I'm split on my opinion of the estate tax. On one hand, it helps fulfill the mostly empty promise of a true meritocracy. But considering the various horrors associated with the spending of taxpayer money, I'm fully sympathetic with those who are opposed to the tax.
The estate tax would likely be more acceptable if the deceased were able to provide some amount of direction in their wills about the use of the collected tax revenue, but I suppose that would open up a whole can of worms.