>>As I understand it many first-world governments confiscate some portion of estates.
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>>Some people (myself included) consider "tax" as just a politically correct way to say "confiscate".
>>
>
>I think that's totally wrong, just as I object to the current right-wing characterization of taxation as "theft." When you get to vote for the government that imposes the taxes, it's neither confiscation nor theft. It's the price for being part of a civilized society.
>

I believe Oliver Wendell Holmes said that (price for being part of a civilized society.)

I'm sure the millions of lower middle class Americans who lost roughly $50-100$ a month after January 1, 2013 would beg to differ.

(Which would have happened regardless of who won the election)

The point is the totally perverted mindset where the govt has the power to dictate when a tax cut "expires". They are not creating the wealth (but sure doing a good job wasting it), but are in a position of power to seize on a whim.

You can object to the characterization as an opinion, but you can't say it's wrong. Taxation is absolutely seizure/confiscation. What happened to Americans at the beginning of 2013 was disgraceful, especially at a time where gas prices were shooting up and food prices began to rise. I'll grant that for practical reasons, a certain amount of public works and welfare are needed - but what we have today goes miles beyond that.