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by SubiculumCode 1791 days ago
U.S. Centric Comment: I like to think about a system where major monetary and land inheritances are taxed 100%, put into a fund that is given out equally to all citizens, i.e. The American Inheritance.

Pros: Meritocracy which emphasizes personal responsibility and makes it clear that the whole ship rises or sinks together. Would diminish disparities.

Cons: Lot's of nitty gritty complications, loopholes, etc. attachment to places and things. Longevity, medicine, and wealth.

1 comments

Anyone with sense knows what will happen. Parents will pay exorbitant amounts for their children to receive accolades, and use up the inheritance before they die. The accolades will serve as signals to other rich as to whom to hire, put in charge, shower with large salaries funded by the sale of said accolades, etc.
Your argument falls into the typical "We might as well do nothing because the rich will just game the X" category, which is not only defeatist, but lacks nuance. When you tighten rules, there will be more effort to circumvent them, but that does not mean it would be nearly as ineffective as maintaining the status quo.
If you want to decrease economic inequality, this is not the way to do that. That's even assuming it's worthwhile.
That is not an argument, that is a statement of belief.
I'm sorry, we weren't having an argument. Every comment you've made is also a statement of belief.

I'm not interested in having a deep argument on this one (since it's all hypothetical). I was just replying to your feelings.