The government and "our resources"
I wonder if letter-writer Elaine Mejia represents an attitude that is on the ascendancy in our country.
Addressing Sen. Kay Hagan's vote against an amendment that would have reduced the estate tax, Mejia wrote:
"We expect our representatives in Washington to use our resources wisely and to establish priorities that most affect the people back home.
"These funds would be better used to reform health care or reduce the deficit."
By "our resources," she apparently means the money taxed from individual's estates. "These funds" can be "better used" for government purposes than by those who would inherit the estates.
Mejia is a project director of the N.C. Budget and Tax Center, an arm of the N.C. Justice Center in Raleigh. She is someone whose job it is to influence public policy and opinion.
I'm not much invested in the estate tax issue, although in principle I'm not warm to the idea of heavily taxing wealth that already was taxed when it was earned. I don't have anything against even the very rich leaving their fortune to whomever they choose.
Obviously, some other people have a much different view.
What jumped out in Mejia's letter was her opinion that someone's private fortune should be considered "our resources" collectively and that it is the right of government to determine their best use.
That idea seems to fit the sudden direction of our country, where the federal government indeed is taking control of a much greater share of the nation's wealth.
Is there a developing consensus that Washington's claim to "our resources" should increase because it will use them more wisely, productively and fairly than those who created those resources?
I suspect there is and will be, until the government inevitably takes too much.
Comments (1)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Excellent Mr. Clark, I give you a raise if I owned the company.
Before anyone follows this advice, I suggest they talk to a lawyer and their tax advisor.
This may work fine for husband and wife, however there are different rules for passing along to others, including children.
That why rich people are rich.
The government already takes to much.
If I were a paper running this, I would have had a disclaimer. Deep pocket laws, may get you.
Posted on April 10, 2009 6:50 AM