The Estate Tax

For the last six years, Bush has fought hard to repeal the Estate Tax. This is a tax on inheritance. It's been framed in many different ways, from Estate Tax if you're a Democrat (or progressive) to Death Tax if you're Republican.

To me, the non-America, it's a very American tax. Here's why: America is the land of opportunity. It's the only country with a dream named after it. There isn't a Canadian Dream. Or an Italian Dream. There is an American Dream. This is the country that was deliberately set up to be anti-England. At the time, England was all about class. It was generally clear at birth what class you fit into, and what class you would be as an adult.

America was meant to be different. Class doesn't matter. Millionaires come from everywhere. And while class has broken down in the rest of the world, America still tries to stand for a non-class country. This is meant to be a country where you call start from the same place, and hard work is what makes you rich.

You're allowed to get some help from inheritance, but in my opinion, it goes against what America is all about if you get it all. In my opinion, the estate tax levels the class playing field.

However, the Republicans, lead by the wealthiest families in the US, have fought hard to reposition the Estate Tax as the Death Tax. That was step one to repealing it.

It's not a death tax though. This website, likes to tell you it is killing family business. I pulled the chart below from their site.

Notice the legal at the bottom. The numbers in this chart are monies NOT TAXED. So if the 'family business' had an estate of 1.5 million in 2004, the inheritance was tax free. And they think this is killing the family business?

Anyway, I think all people who pay taxes in the US should read this speech. It's from the floor of the senate by Bernie Sanders. It gives you an idea of what's at stake.