[adamlett]

Look at inheritance as a payment for providing happiness and support.

In that case, shouldn't inheritance be taxed as income?

I don't understand people who have problems with other people giving their money to those they love

The problem I have is that some people receive large fortunes effectively tax-free that they have done literally nothing to deserve. I have no objections to people donating their wealth to whomever they choose, just as long as those who receive are taxed like everyone else.

[gambiting]

>>In that case, shouldn't inheritance be taxed as income?

But it was taxed as income already. I literally don't see any reason to tax it as such again. And there's plenty of people to get money they don't "deserve" - I would argue a lot of us software programmers don't deserve to be paid what we get paid and yet, we are. If I want to leave my child money that I earned and paid tax on - who are you to say if my child deserved that money or not?

[adamlett]

That's a silly argument. All money has already been taxed many times over. If you hire a plumber, she has to pay taxes on the amount you pay her, even though you've already been taxed once. Why should it be any different with gifts or inheritance?

I didn't express myself clearly when I talked about deserving money. What I meant was that you don't pick your parents. Weather you are born to wealthy or poor parents has enormous impact on your opportunities in life. You may not agree, but I believe society should strive to ensure that we all have the same opportunities in life. Only when the playing field is level, can one person's success in life really be labeled deserved.