[thekoma]

What kind of capitalism-apologist hot take on parents/families caring for the well-being of their children/members is this? Surely the world is not frequent with Tom-like Oxford-educated actors feeling bad about how good they have it. If some people arrived to the conclusion that they don't have to work because their parents provide for them, then I would argue their parents have failed them in other ways, but not because of what they provided.

Should we decide on a different social contracts where people return things when they die? Sure. But start with the wealthiest please.

[Dalewyn]

>But start with the wealthiest please.

(Very) wealthy families already face stiff inheritance and/or estate taxes at both Federal and State levels. Important note, most middle class and all lower class families and individuals will never face inheritance/estate taxes.

[mattnewton]

Minor note, on the federal level and most states, the “estate” is taxed, not the inheritance which has some subtle differences and loopholes. Also, very very wealthy families can pass much of their wealth through family office funds, blind trusts and company share transfers while living, that are taxed differently.

Between the very high caps before an estate tax is used and the loopholes, extremely few dollars are taxed this way.

https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/how-many-people-pa...

[Dalewyn]

Indeed! Estate taxes are subtly different from inheritance taxes.

My dad and I got a crash course introduction when my mom passed; he inherited everything being the survivor so it was all very simple with next to no paperwork, but all the debtors (banks) my mom owed money to when she passed graciously explained to us that any such debts were the responsibility of my mom's estate and not us.

In practical terms the difference meant little, debts are supposed to be repaid and we were happy to clean up her financial affairs as estate executors, but it's a good fact to know now rather than later.

[thekoma]

I understand your point and thank you for raising it. The article mainly discussed the UK where a similar steep 40% estate inheritance tax exists for values above a certain threshold. There is also the 7 year rule that completely avoids inheritance tax. Elsewhere in Europe the situation is not as "progressive" and it's more frequent to face inheritance taxes. At the same time, it feels like there are many loopholes around these for the truly wealthy.

Though, the perspective of the article reads like it's accusative of upper middle class families (and not higher).