re: #682 Olsonist

I almost agree with you. Taxes are a political tool and estate taxes are a tax. I just want taxes to be fair in their application (John and Joe have the same income … they should pay the same tax) Tax level is another matter and spending another matter again.

Full disclosure: I pay a lot of taxes.

Heh, we’re on exactly the same page here. I absolutely agree with your example (John and Joe). It seems to me that it’s because taxes are used as a political tool that in many cases, John and Joe end up in different categories. One example would be if John lives in NYC and can’t afford to buy a house (or condo), but Joe lives in Topeka and can afford a four-bedroom house - oops, same income for both, but different outcomes tax-wise.