Inheritance Tax

[RobertN]

a.k.a. the death tax
a.k.a. the Paris Hilton tax
a.k.a. the Marie-Andre tax


OK. Time to get your socialist thinking caps on. I'm fed up of people these days saying "Lets get rid of Inheritance Tax". I think it is one of the best things ever invented (aside from Income Tax, Corporation Tax, The Welfare State, the NHS, etc!).

It is one of the few ways to get the lazy rich off their backsides and into work.

Just the thought of having to pay half your wealth to the government upon your death is going to make most idle rich people think about doing some work (and earning money and contributing to society) so that their offspring can inherit a decent amount of money. The people listed above are examples of the idle rich. I'm sure everyone knows Paris Hilton. Marie-Andre is my grandfather's wife (NOT my grandmother) and she is an idle cow who does nothing but laze around and make fun of the working class. It makes me sick!! Never done a day's work in her life.

I believe the rich should have to work damn hard to keep their wealth, and I will make sure they work damn hard. Inheritance Tax does this job very nicely.

Otherwise, the rich would keep their wealth in the bank. Live off the interest. Not work. Not pay tax or contribute to society. Get free public services. Pass their wealth down to their kids, who would do exactly the same.

In the UK, large amounts of farmland is owned by absentee Landlords (especially in Scotland). Inheritance Tax breaks up these estates, forces the owners to sell so the workers (yes the people that hold the country together) can actually buy the land they work on.

I can't wait to pay Inheritance Tax. Probably the only contribution to society I am capable of making.

[DivaD]

but the money would go to tony bliar!!!

i don't think you thought that through...

[RobertN]

but the money would go to tony bliar!!!

i don't think you thought that through...

Oh no. The money would go into the NHS, Benefits, Public Transport, tax-cuts for the working class, renationalisation of major industry, and renewable energy.

[Lucifer]

not in the real world, robert.

anyway, who the fuck is alic... sorry, marie-andre?

[CuriousPrimate]

I can't wait to pay Inheritance Tax. Probably the only contribution to society I am capable of making.

Tought choice: QFT or 

 

[RobertN]

not in the real world, robert.

anyway, who the fuck is alic... sorry, marie-andre?

What are you going on about now!! Are you supporting the feudal lords now, eh!!! Tax the poor to keep the rich?

Perhaps if you paid more attention to what I was saying in my posts rather than thobbing me off all the time you would know.

[Lucifer]

supporting the feudal lords?  don't make me laugh.  it would be wonderful is taxes were spent on the issues and situations you describe, but, in the real world, it don't work like that.

get your pale-pink coloured specs off, and try on some red ones, eh?

[RobertN]

supporting the feudal lords?? don't make me laugh.? it would be wonderful is taxes were spent on the issues and situations you describe, but, in the real world, it don't work like that.

get your pale-pink coloured specs off, and try on some red ones, eh?

Cynicism. The ally of ignorance and the enemy of progress. If everyone had your attitude, we would still be in the stone age.

[Lucifer]

robert, please stop - i am at risk of doing myself a serious injury from laughing.

how the fuck are you extrapolating all these things from what i'm posting?  not only here, but on other threads, too.  do me a favour and recalibrate your interpretation button, would you?  either that, or at least have the same conversation as i'm having, or, if not, at least make your responses relevant to something i've said, eh?

[RobertN]

robert, please stop - i am at risk of doing myself a serious injury from laughing.

how the fuck are you extrapolating all these things from what i'm posting?? not only here, but on other threads, too.? do me a favour and recalibrate your interpretation button, would you?? either that, or at least have the same conversation as i'm having, or, if not, at least make your responses relevant to something i've said, eh?

Its you that is so narrow minded and can't think outside the box. I was simply saying that your cynical tone has never done mankind any favours and it never will. Therefore, perhaps taking a more optimistic approach and agreeing with my anti-capitalist sentiments might be the first step into having a meaningful discussion about Inheritance Tax, who should pay it, and who should not.

[Lucifer]

don't need to discuss it - i agree with you that it's fair, as, generally, it doesn't affect people who aren't coming into vast sums of money.  the only thing i'd say it that there should be some sort of system whereby those inheriting could be... hmmmm, i was going to say "means tested", but those words are a bit loaded.  you know what i mean, though - pointless stinging someone with three kids and a hefty mortgage for the few extra pennies it might generate for mr brown, whilst someone with a fortune in stocks and shares and a sizable disposable income (and who therefore can afford to shell out) gets the same deal.

not sure how such a system could be worked out in a practicable way, though.  i'm never likely to suffer from it, that i do know...

oh, and which box would you have me think outside of?  i tend to juggle several at one time - makes for wonderful arguments with oneself.  and i'll be as cynical as i like, ta - i prefer to call it "living in the real world, based on thirty odd years of political experience", though, myself. 

[RobertN]

Well I do agree with you there Vivi. The system isn't perfect, and there should be exemptions to Inheritance Tax for certain people. I think all chronically disabled (been unable to work for 10 years and never likely to again) should be exempt on principle that what they inherit may help them to enjoy life and be more independent of the State than if they were left with nothing and living on Benefits.

However, there is no reason why I shouldn't pay. Both my grandfathers are millionaires, and I expect to pay my dues when the sum eventually passes down to me and my brother. I find the idea of wringling out of it quite repugnant even though I would be better off.

[Draggon]

I actually agree with ya on this Robert... While I do believe in capitalism, I am sick to death of seeing spoiled talentless shit-heads shuffle from failure to failure, hiding behind daddy's bank account (ie George W Bush bankrupting something like four oil companies)

[CuriousPrimate]

...oh, and which box would you have me think outside of?

I've got a spare box (not a doos) - I moved into a crate, less embarrasing.

Or parhaps you need to think out of the doos?

[DivaD]

Well I do agree with you there Vivi. The system isn't perfect, and there should be exemptions to Inheritance Tax for certain people. I think all chronically disabled (been unable to work for 10 years and never likely to again) should be exempt on principle that what they inherit may help them to enjoy life and be more independent of the State than if they were left with nothing and living on Benefits.

However, there is no reason why I shouldn't pay. Both my grandfathers are millionaires

hold it, now hang on a minute there... millionaires you say?

RobertN, will you marry me??