Should the estate tax be repealed?

[sallybutler]

The Catholic Church is a world wide “organization” (aside from being simply a Religion). The Vatican is, in fact, a recognized sovereign nation. While not the United States, it IS a governing body. It is supported by benevolent voluntary contributions. My premise is that a secular government (U.S.) should be able to function on voluntary contributions rather than theft it the point of a gun.

Since no one would voluntarily contribute, that would be the end of the United States.

Most people give very little to their churches. Those that do often give out of fear that they will not get into heaven. There are, of course, those who give a high percentage of their income to their local church, but most do not.

Would you donate to the United States if there was a voluntary tax system? Would you give as much or more as you do now if it was voluntary? Do you give as much to the Church as you are ‘forced’ to give the United States?

Or would you say ‘It’s mine, it’s mine, it’s mine’

 

[Zoltan_Cobalt]

Since no one would voluntarily contribute, that would be the end of the United States.

Most people give very little to their churches. Those that do often give out of fear that they will not get into heaven. There are, of course, those who give a high percentage of their income to their local church, but most do not.

Would you donate to the United States if there was a voluntary tax system? Would you give as much or more as you do now if it was voluntary? Do you give as much to the Church as you are ‘forced’ to give the United States?

Or would you say ‘It’s mine, it’s mine, it’s mine’

Warren Buffet and many liberal celebrity types have all made statements and gone on record claiming that they would gladly pay more taxes.

If wealthy people would be happy paying more taxes…why do we need an IRS?

Of course we all know that we need to support our government if we want a government.
What we have now is a very bloated government rather than a small efficient one. It is so bad that it spends more than it takes in…and it takes in TRILLIONS of $$$.

Something is wrong.

I believe you pointed out in a previous post that the U.S. government did very well prior to the income tax. The fact is the U.S. had grown into an economic world power before income tax. Why did we need it?

 

[sallybutler]

Warren Buffet and many liberal celebrity types have all made statements and gone on record claiming that they would gladly pay more taxes.

If wealthy people would be happy paying more taxes…why do we need an IRS?

Of course we all know that we need to support our government if we want a government.
What we have now is a very bloated government rather than a small efficient one. It is so bad that it spends more than it takes in…and it takes in TRILLIONS of $$$.

Something is wrong.

I believe you pointed out in a previous post that the U.S. government did very well prior to the income tax. The fact is the U.S. had grown into an economic world power before income tax. Why did we need it?

The income tax was implemented in 1861 to help pay for the Civil War. The United States became a world power after it was implemented.

If we want to be a world power, we need to spend money on the military and on internal infrastructure. In order to that we have to impose taxes. Since we aren’t supposed to tax the job creators, we have to charge individuals. We’ve cut down on tariffs because of trade agreements. We’ve cut back on corporate taxes as a result of a decrease in the rates and generous deductions. We don’t charge property or sales taxes at the federal level.

Pretty much all that is left is the estate tax and income tax. Unless, of course, we want to stop being a world power.

 

[Zoltan_Cobalt]

The income tax was implemented in 1861 to help pay for the Civil War. The United States became a world power after it was implemented.

If we want to be a world power, we need to spend money on the military and on internal infrastructure. In order to that we have to impose taxes. Since we aren’t supposed to tax the job creators, we have to charge individuals. We’ve cut down on tariffs because of trade agreements. We’ve cut back on corporate taxes as a result of a decrease in the rates and generous deductions. We don’t charge property or sales taxes at the federal level.

Pretty much all that is left is the estate tax and income tax. Unless, of course, we want to stop being a world power.

After the Civil War in 1868, Congress again focused its taxation efforts on tobacco and distilled spirits and eliminated the income tax. It had a short-lived revival in 1894 and 1895. **In the latter year, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the income tax was unconstitutional because it was not apportioned among the states in conformity with the Constitution.
**

In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution made the income tax a permanent fixture in the U.S. tax system.

The Constitution REQUIRES congress to provide for the common defense. (Military spending) We are a wealthy country we can afford a military that makes us a world power.
The Constitution does not require congress to spend money on charity, education, welfare or hundreds of programs that do not benefit all citizens equally.

Job creators pay taxes…lots of taxes.

Corporate income is taxed twice – once as corporate income and once as either capital gains or dividend income (which are both counted under personal taxes)

Corporations are just legal constructs owned and operated by people who pay taxes.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

Karl Marx said that in order to have Communism a government must have Inheritance tax, Income tax and Property tax. The US jumped right on that in its headlong descent into Communism.

 

[pnewton]

Karl Marx said that in order to have Communism a government must have Inheritance tax, Income tax and Property tax. The US jumped right on that in its headlong descent into Communism.

This is simply not logical. Just because communism needs something, does not make that thing bad. Communism also needs a standing military. Should the US avoid having a military because communism needs one.

I would bet no one here can find anywhere the Catholic Church is condemning of an inheritance tax. Let us think like Catholics.

 

[stinkcat_14]

This is simply not logical. Just because communism needs something, does not make that thing bad. Communism also needs a standing military. Should the US avoid having a military because communism needs one.

I would bet no one here can find anywhere the Catholic Church is condemning of an inheritance tax. Let us think like Catholics.

Actually, what Marx said was:

Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

That is quite a bit different that our current estate tax with its $5 million exemption. Like I have said before, I have always been fine with the estate tax, since I only have to pay it after I am dead. That is a whole lot less burdensome than the taxes I pay while I am living.