Comments on: This is going to sound radical http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:02:54 -0500 hourly 1 By: Barbara http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/comment-page-1/#comment-3343 Barbara Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:24:04 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=278#comment-3343 Eric, you made me laugh, but it'd be funnier if it wasn't true, huh? I didn't realize that was the original intent of estate tax, and I'm quite sure the wealthy don't want us to realize that---or accept it themselves. Susan, you're right, in our current world it's a Utopian idea. (Likely the money would be squirreled into offshore accounts.) And yes, maybe there should be a certain amount that a middle-income family can pass on, like a house or car or enough to put away for a rainy day, heirlooms that have sentimental value. Of course minors whose parents die need to be taken care of. I also think people need an incentive to work beyond a paycheck to live on. I believe in free enterprise, but not in corporate capitalism run wild (which seems to allow corruption to pour in). We have to force some constraint on the constant grasping for more and more money in the hands of a few. I believe we have to start thinking differently, and stop letting the wealthy own us. We have to let them know we're a force to be reckoned with, because right now they just look on the rest of us as either invisible, or as suckers, or as chattel. That's not right. Edited 07-29-2006 to add: I've gotten to thinking about people I've known who expected to inherit a lot of money, and how they lived their lives as if tomorrow was much more important than today. Living as if there is something to come that will change everything for you can be a kind of no-life, in a way. You live dreaming a dream instead of living. You think "tomorrow, tomorrow," instead of being present in today. You think of today as of less value and can fritter your youth away. Maybe people are better off thinking that what they have today is all they will ever have, and learning to accept, be content, and do their best within that framework. Eric, you made me laugh, but it’d be funnier if it wasn’t true, huh? I didn’t realize that was the original intent of estate tax, and I’m quite sure the wealthy don’t want us to realize that—or accept it themselves.

Susan, you’re right, in our current world it’s a Utopian idea. (Likely the money would be squirreled into offshore accounts.) And yes, maybe there should be a certain amount that a middle-income family can pass on, like a house or car or enough to put away for a rainy day, heirlooms that have sentimental value. Of course minors whose parents die need to be taken care of. I also think people need an incentive to work beyond a paycheck to live on.

I believe in free enterprise, but not in corporate capitalism run wild (which seems to allow corruption to pour in). We have to force some constraint on the constant grasping for more and more money in the hands of a few. I believe we have to start thinking differently, and stop letting the wealthy own us. We have to let them know we’re a force to be reckoned with, because right now they just look on the rest of us as either invisible, or as suckers, or as chattel. That’s not right.

Edited 07-29-2006 to add:

I’ve gotten to thinking about people I’ve known who expected to inherit a lot of money, and how they lived their lives as if tomorrow was much more important than today. Living as if there is something to come that will change everything for you can be a kind of no-life, in a way. You live dreaming a dream instead of living. You think “tomorrow, tomorrow,” instead of being present in today. You think of today as of less value and can fritter your youth away. Maybe people are better off thinking that what they have today is all they will ever have, and learning to accept, be content, and do their best within that framework.

]]> By: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/comment-page-1/#comment-3342 Eric Mayer Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:42:37 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=278#comment-3342 Although the rates aren't 100% the Estate Tax was actually intended to prevent wealth from being endlessly accumulated to the detriment of our whole society. It isn't just a revenue enhancer but based on the philosophy that the few rich should not be allowed to grow endlessly richer at everyone else's expense. Which latter idea is the prime motivaton of our current leaders. I think our society is approaching the breaking point. Even slaves have to be able to live to continue working for the masters. If your scheme was in place we sure wouldn't have the pitiful nitwit we have for president. He'd either be on welfare or more likely dead from drink or drugs. This guy couldn't get a job as a greeter at WalMart. Can you imagine his job interviews? A man who can't even form a oherent sentence? Yeah, there are good reasons to limit what we can pass on and the limi now is more than most people can accumulate, at least the federal tax. Although the rates aren’t 100% the Estate Tax was actually intended to prevent wealth from being endlessly accumulated to the detriment of our whole society. It isn’t just a revenue enhancer but based on the philosophy that the few rich should not be allowed to grow endlessly richer at everyone else’s expense. Which latter idea is the prime motivaton of our current leaders. I think our society is approaching the breaking point. Even slaves have to be able to live to continue working for the masters.

If your scheme was in place we sure wouldn’t have the pitiful nitwit we have for president. He’d either be on welfare or more likely dead from drink or drugs. This guy couldn’t get a job as a greeter at WalMart. Can you imagine his job interviews? A man who can’t even form a oherent sentence?

Yeah, there are good reasons to limit what we can pass on and the limi now is more than most people can accumulate, at least the federal tax.

]]> By: susan http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/comment-page-1/#comment-3341 susan Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:29:57 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=278#comment-3341 While it's a great thought, reality can't help but interfere. The truly wealthy, as usual, will be able to get around the system. Those who have worked hard all their lives with the thought of never asking or requiring government assistance will have saved and done without things all their lives (like my folks) so that they will remain independent. They also have the frame of mind to provide for their children if they can. Those are the folks who would lose out. My dad, by the way, died two years ago and drove a 1972 Olds Cutlass which is still in running condition. While it’s a great thought, reality can’t help but interfere. The truly wealthy, as usual, will be able to get around the system. Those who have worked hard all their lives with the thought of never asking or requiring government assistance will have saved and done without things all their lives (like my folks) so that they will remain independent. They also have the frame of mind to provide for their children if they can. Those are the folks who would lose out. My dad, by the way, died two years ago and drove a 1972 Olds Cutlass which is still in running condition.

]]> By: Barbara http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/comment-page-1/#comment-3339 Barbara Fri, 28 Jul 2006 03:44:41 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=278#comment-3339 I'll probably be labeled by someone as a communist or socialist, which I'm not. But I think things have gone too far, and something has to give. Less tax loopholes, less legislative pandering to corporate interests. Something! It's time to stop controlling people's lives and let them take control. I’ll probably be labeled by someone as a communist or socialist, which I’m not. But I think things have gone too far, and something has to give. Less tax loopholes, less legislative pandering to corporate interests. Something! It’s time to stop controlling people’s lives and let them take control.

]]> By: Sarah http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2006/07/27/this-is-going-to-sound-radical/comment-page-1/#comment-3338 Sarah Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:53:08 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/?p=278#comment-3338 It's a very thought-provoking idea, that a person's wealth belongs to him only and not to his heirs, but to society at large. I wonder how that would change our world if that were true? It would make an interesting story. It’s a very thought-provoking idea, that a person’s wealth belongs to him only and not to his heirs, but to society at large. I wonder how that would change our world if that were true? It would make an interesting story.

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