>>Don't you think that in a supposedly egalitarian society inherited wealth is a problem ?
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>>No I don't. If one has amassed a fortune through hard work, it is their prerogative to do whatever they want to with the fruits of their labors (after taxes, of course). That includes leaving it to their children when they die. Anyway, with inheritance taxes, the government still gets to steal a good potion of the dead person's estate by taxing money that has already been taxed.
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>>I'm not talking a few thousand or tens of thousands here. Maybe we could draw a line at say over 10 million . Maybe you could suggest a number
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>>I would never dream of such a thing! I am sure that their are governments that have tried to do this very thing with living people. Who are you or anyone else to tell me that I have earned too much money and don't need all of it for myself so you are going to take it away and give it to someone else who needs it more than I do? IMHO, such a notion has no place in a free society.
>>
>>Now, let me set the record straight. Andy and I are not millionaires even though we would like to be <g>. But I do not envy or begrudge other people who have more than I do. It sound to me like you are envious of those that are wealthy and feel like you are entitled to some of their wealth since you have less than they do. Sorry, Nicholas, but you are not entitled to steal someone else's wealth just because, in your opinion, they have too much.
>
>I'm not telling you you've earned too much money but when your dead you don't need it any more. And I don't want it but why shouldn't it be recycled into the common pool.
>
>For example when the founder of Walmart died employees could have been given shareholding in the company.

There is an interesting article (and the comments) on the Walton's and estate taxes here (click Skip this ad):

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/How-WalMart-Waltons-Maintain-Billionaire-Fortune-Estate-Taxes-68034-1.html