tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post3286710153957754802..comments2023-08-25T05:18:29.312-06:00Comments on Madville Times: SHS, Dems Pass Estate Tax Relief for 99.75% of Americanscaheidelbergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-81986273002979651692009-12-08T07:08:19.605-07:002009-12-08T07:08:19.605-07:00That's the idea, Stan. The estate tax seems to...That's the idea, Stan. The estate tax seems to be the government's version of the Warren Buffet philosophy: spread the wealth, and expect the grandkids to make their own money rather than living off the estate. If you grow up in a wealthy family, you already get a leg up on the rest of society, with better education, better health care, better networking, etc. Buffet doesn't think he needs to leave his descendants millions to play with. The estate tax on the wealthiest keeps the economic pot stirred.caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-38179377333137414722009-12-08T00:08:57.330-07:002009-12-08T00:08:57.330-07:00Wasn't the estate tax originally conceived wit...Wasn't the estate tax originally conceived with the goal of preventing, or at least reducing, the evolution of "dynasties" where well-to-do families could accumulate obscene amounts of wealth over time?<br /><br />Of course, it hasn't completely worked. Schemes exist by which those with massive estates can largely escape the intended effect of the tax.<br /><br />That said, the bill still must get through the Senate. I hope they'll include a provision (if one doesn't exist already) to index the threshold amount to inflation. In a couple of generations, USD 3.5M might not amount to all that much.<br /><br />As for serfdom, it seems to me rather like death. If Dick kills you or Jane kills you, does it matter much in the end? You are equally dead either way. If the corporations enslave me or the government enslaves me, does it matter much in the end?<br /><br />Shouldn't society strive to prevent either corporate or government feudalism from evolving? Unfortunately, some unseen force seems continually to steer humanity in one or the other of those two unsavory directions.<br /><br />At least this bill puts a damper on the one evil without building a fire under the other.Stan Gibiliscohttp://members.authorsguild.net/stangibnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-15166874069838465752009-12-07T20:22:57.720-07:002009-12-07T20:22:57.720-07:00No, not just like that, Linda. I didn't ask wh...No, not just like that, Linda. I didn't ask what you donate to charity. What was your point, anyway, about folks who receive government assistance, if not to villainize them and distract from the point, that SHS did a good thing by voting for this estate tax reform bill? Or do are the nearly universal exemptions from the estate tax another bad government policy "under the guise of helping those same people"?caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-5712238676140673922009-12-07T11:12:44.063-07:002009-12-07T11:12:44.063-07:00Just like Cory implying that I and conservatives d...Just like Cory implying that I and conservatives don't want gov't to help those who truly need help. He has no idea what we donate to charity. What we do not want is the gov't to make more people dependent on it under the guise of helping those same people.nonnienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-46023966500013134912009-12-07T11:05:23.681-07:002009-12-07T11:05:23.681-07:00"I think You and JohnSD are in favor of the r..."I think You and JohnSD are in favor of the rich being made to help people so you don't have to."<br /><br />Steve, how in the world would you know what kind of charitable contributions/volunteering Cory and John do?Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937655360187979029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-39513960516725785542009-12-07T06:14:27.264-07:002009-12-07T06:14:27.264-07:00JOhn,
Like we learned on teh farm subsidies issue...JOhn,<br /><br />Like we learned on teh farm subsidies issue, it is the government who is creating serfs and are a danger to the middle class.Steve Sibsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-91990805762550949762009-12-06T10:04:54.178-07:002009-12-06T10:04:54.178-07:00For years the estate tax was $675,000, double that...For years the estate tax was $675,000, double that for married couples with a trust until these last few escalating years with no tax in 2010. As Stan said if congress doesn't come up with something it reverts to 1M in 2011.<br /><br />The gossip: Someone told me the Stips purchased all that equipment which was rarely used to offset income and avoid income tax. If true, it was their tax strategy and not a hardship sale. <br /><br />Sibby: I do believe an escalating tax rate so the wealthy pay more. Left unchecked, the greedy FreedomWorks types would be happy for us to become serfs. If ever became filthy rich I probably wouldn't want to pay either, but we need to keep a middle class. No?JohnSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232529806415462712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-29834424389852568842009-12-06T07:45:56.957-07:002009-12-06T07:45:56.957-07:00So what, Steve, should we impose a flat estate tax...So what, Steve, should we impose a flat estate tax on everyone?caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-86509202643949258582009-12-06T07:39:30.662-07:002009-12-06T07:39:30.662-07:00"We should just stop helping people."
I..."We should just stop helping people."<br /><br />I think You and JohnSD are in favor of the rich being made to help people so you don't have to.Steve Sibsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-43156848143003010992009-12-06T07:36:19.916-07:002009-12-06T07:36:19.916-07:00JohnSD:
Exodus 20:17, “Thou shalt not covet thy n...JohnSD:<br /><br />Exodus 20:17, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."Steve Sibsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-17683196874413927932009-12-06T07:34:42.140-07:002009-12-06T07:34:42.140-07:00"There is no example, not one, of a farm or r..."There is no example, not one, of a farm or ranch or small business having to be sold or broken up to pay the estate tax."<br /><br />I heard the Stip auction was to pay the estate tax. Is that true?Steve Sibsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-80797799437034946622009-12-06T07:08:12.404-07:002009-12-06T07:08:12.404-07:00Stan: thanks for not sneezing on the blog. And yes...Stan: thanks for not sneezing on the blog. And yes, I think you're right: HR 4154 looks a lot more like an effective tax cut, with fewer people paying taxes than would have otherwise.caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-70307373018829418212009-12-06T07:02:18.910-07:002009-12-06T07:02:18.910-07:00"ANY tax we pay is a double tax"—well, L..."ANY tax we pay is a double tax"—well, Linda, that seemed to be the line of reasoning the DWC commenters were following. You should go point out to them their fallacious reasoning.<br /><br />Oh yes, and all those villainous ne'er-do-wells who get our help. We should just stop helping people. That would make America better, wouldn't it? but if we got rid of those people, whom could we scapegoat for all our problems?caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-24405606229375486922009-12-06T05:35:16.764-07:002009-12-06T05:35:16.764-07:00"sales tax on food or clothing, which is a do..."sales tax on food or clothing, which is a double tax on the money we've already worked hard for and paid our fair share of income tax for."<br /><br />ANY tax we pay is a double tax on our earned money if we follow the line of thought in your statement above, Cory. Does that mean we shouldn't be paying any taxes at all? <br /><br />Just pointing out the fallacy of the above quote. Based on that, I should not pay gas taxes, property tax, tax on repair services, county assessments, etc. <br /><br />And what about the majority of people who pay NO income tax? And on top of that get a check for thousands back from the gov't for earned income credit, housing subsidies, child care subsidies so they pay nothing for child care, food stamps, heat assistance, etc? This is true double dipping - pay essentially no taxes and get money back!nonnienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-23848961271517557622009-12-05T23:12:57.070-07:002009-12-05T23:12:57.070-07:00This is actually a long-term tax cut, isn't it...This is actually a long-term tax cut, isn't it?<br /><br />If Congress had taken no action, wouldn't the estate tax threshold go back to its original, much lower level, in 2011?<br /><br />Someone correct me if I am wrong.<br /><br />In my opinion, SHS and the Democrats got this one right.<br /><br />Now if only they could find a cure for the common cold ... sniff ... snooff ...Stan Gibiliscohttp://members.authorsguild.net/stangibnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-51501427408565339192009-12-05T19:54:36.322-07:002009-12-05T19:54:36.322-07:00John Kelley
Thanks for helping set the record stra...John Kelley<br />Thanks for helping set the record straight, Cory. There is no example, not one, of a farm or ranch or small business having to be sold or broken up to pay the estate tax.<br /><br />Complaints about the estate tax are Tory-throwback whining of the top 1%.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-63262525312410185122009-12-05T11:42:39.794-07:002009-12-05T11:42:39.794-07:00Nice report. This amount is very reasonable (3.5M...Nice report. This amount is very reasonable (3.5M) for families to hold on to a significant portion of their estate without any tax. Of course the same old rich Republicans don't want to pay a dime.JohnSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232529806415462712noreply@blogger.com