Comments on: Friday Talking Points [72] -- The Unfairness Doctrine http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/ Reality-based political commentary Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:32:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4655 Chris Weigant Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:36:26 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/index.php/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4655 ChicagoMolly - The estate tax is a very targeted tax in America, and its purpose is to lessen the rise of any monitary-based aristocracy. People like Paris Hilton, instead of getting $100 billion when her parents die, would get something like $55 billion. The argument against it is that this is somehow taxing money "twice" but this argument falls apart upon examination (plus, money is taxed multiple times anyway as it flows through society). I will check out your link, this is a subject that interests me. Thanks for posting it. -CW ChicagoMolly -

The estate tax is a very targeted tax in America, and its purpose is to lessen the rise of any monitary-based aristocracy. People like Paris Hilton, instead of getting $100 billion when her parents die, would get something like $55 billion. The argument against it is that this is somehow taxing money "twice" but this argument falls apart upon examination (plus, money is taxed multiple times anyway as it flows through society). I will check out your link, this is a subject that interests me. Thanks for posting it.

-CW

]]> By: ChicagoMolly http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4631 ChicagoMolly Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:52:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/index.php/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4631 This http://pgt.liebertpub.com/pgt/articles/mt_rushmore_and_a_history.htm should still be a good link to an article by Jim Grote in <i>Planned Giving Today</i> on the Estate Tax (and <i>always</i> remember to say 'Estate Tax', not 'Death Tax'). He brings together such unlikely bedfellows as Thomas Paine, Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, and Warren Buffett on the same side! For instance, he says of Carnegie: <blockquote>While more suspicious of government intervention than Paine, Andrew Carnegie heartily endorsed estate taxes. The greater part of this steel magnate’s little magnum opus, The Gospel of Wealth, is devoted to a discussion of the three possible ways to dispose of wealth: (1) leave it to the families of decedents, (2) bequeath it for public purposes, and (3) administer it during one’s life. Carnegie abhorred the first, tolerated the second, and encouraged the third.</blockquote> Carnegie didn't leave huge bequests to his children because he felt they would have learned from him how to make their own fortunes; having bagsful of money dropped in their laps would only have spoiled them. This http://pgt.liebertpub.com/pgt/articles/mt_rushmore_and_a_history.htm
should still be a good link to an article by Jim Grote in Planned Giving Today on the Estate Tax (and always remember to say 'Estate Tax', not 'Death Tax'). He brings together such unlikely bedfellows as Thomas Paine, Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, and Warren Buffett on the same side! For instance, he says of Carnegie:

While more suspicious of government intervention than Paine, Andrew Carnegie heartily endorsed estate taxes. The greater part of this steel magnate’s little magnum opus, The Gospel of Wealth, is devoted to a discussion of the three possible ways to dispose of wealth: (1) leave it to the families of decedents, (2) bequeath it for public purposes, and (3) administer it during one’s life. Carnegie abhorred the first, tolerated the second, and encouraged the third.

Carnegie didn't leave huge bequests to his children because he felt they would have learned from him how to make their own fortunes; having bagsful of money dropped in their laps would only have spoiled them.

]]> By: kevinem2 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4626 kevinem2 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:57:53 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/index.php/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4626 Matt (Osborne Ink) - I just tried to let you know how much I enjoyed your Friday post on your site. However, being a dweeb with no help available; I had no idea how to tell you on your comments section... Anyhow, congrats and good stuff...I'm glad Chris has added you to his blogroll. Matt (Osborne Ink) -

I just tried to let you know how much I enjoyed your Friday post on your site. However, being a dweeb with no help available; I had no idea how to tell you on your comments section... Anyhow, congrats and good stuff...I'm glad Chris has added you to his blogroll.

]]> By: Osborne Ink http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4624 Osborne Ink Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:27:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/index.php/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4624 Really, all the right wing is left with is Dominionist theology and Randist "Objectivism." When Krauthammer complains about "fairness" and "leveling," he's really saying that his movement is bankrupt -- that the Masters of the Universe are naked. Their only goal is power; it is both means and end. The GOP is morally bankrupt but cannot stop its habits of language. For a generation, they have turned 'liberal' into a four-letter word. They have done that to so many words now, Krauthammer is forced to overreach and try to change the meaning of 'fairness.' The problem is, it won't work -- some words are just so fundamental that you cannot change what they mean. I'd be interested to hear George Lakoff on the subject! Really, all the right wing is left with is Dominionist theology and Randist "Objectivism." When Krauthammer complains about "fairness" and "leveling," he's really saying that his movement is bankrupt -- that the Masters of the Universe are naked. Their only goal is power; it is both means and end. The GOP is morally bankrupt but cannot stop its habits of language.

For a generation, they have turned 'liberal' into a four-letter word. They have done that to so many words now, Krauthammer is forced to overreach and try to change the meaning of 'fairness.' The problem is, it won't work -- some words are just so fundamental that you cannot change what they mean.

I'd be interested to hear George Lakoff on the subject!

]]> By: fstanley http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4623 fstanley Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:09:58 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/index.php/2009/04/03/friday-talking-points-72-the-unfairness-doctrine/#comment-4623 I am a big fan of fairness and I have been very disappointed in the lack of fairness in our society. I am hopeful that the new administration will right this wrong however I think it may be a difficult task. The "haves" will hold on to their wealth (and power) and fight any redistribution efforts all the while kicking and screaming at the unfairness of it all. I wish that our politians were not so focused on getting re-elected all the time. It is one of the reasons why it is so hard to apply real systemic changes to our society that would make it a fairer place for everyone. ...Stan I am a big fan of fairness and I have been very disappointed in the lack of fairness in our society. I am hopeful that the new administration will right this wrong however I think it may be a difficult task. The "haves" will hold on to their wealth (and power) and fight any redistribution efforts all the while kicking and screaming at the unfairness of it all.

I wish that our politians were not so focused on getting re-elected all the time. It is one of the reasons why it is so hard to apply real systemic changes to our society that would make it a fairer place for everyone.

...Stan

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