Ending the Death Tax

I have long been in favor of getting rid of the death tax or as it is actually known, the Estate tax. It just doesn't make any sense to me that the Government should receive your property when you die - I don't sense the logic behind it.

Boortz points out:

"I have to give the Democrats an attaboy here. They've come up with a nifty little rhetorical gimmick to make any attempt to permanently repeal the Death Tax nothing more than pandering to the rich. They're making Paris Hilton the symbol of repeal of the Death Tax. If the Death Tax is repealed Paris Hilton will be able to inherit her share of the Hilton Hotel fortune without forking over half of it to the feds. Never mind the thousands of small farmers, land owners and small business owners who will be victimized by the Death Tax this year .... let's focus on that ridiculous tart Paris Hilton."

My take is that I'm fine with Paris Hilton getting all her millions. Her parents wanted her to have it. Who are the Democrats to say she shouldn't have it? Who would they prefer to have it. I just want someone to explain to me how it is fair that the government gets the benefit of the hard work of a private citizen upon their death (especially since they were taxed in life).

Anyway, the problem with the Estate Tax is that it doesn't generate very much revenue for the government, and the people it hurts are not the extremely wealthy. Rather, the people it hurts are people whose wealth is tied up in land - like farmers - or in their small businesses.