>>>>>>>>>Doesn't it seem a shame to destroy family farms with a tax that raises very little money?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I already answered that it should be set up so that family farms are below the exemption. How many family farms do you think land above the current exemption of $5M+?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>If we think it is wrong to take a family farm away from the family when the farm is worth $2m, or $3m or up to $5m
>>>>>>>then why are we forcing more successful families to suffer the loss of the their farm?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>To raise tax money that is a rounding error in the federal budget?
>>>>>>>It is simply not a significant source of revenue.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>So what is the point? Punish the rich?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At some point, it's not just a "family farm." If it's worth $100M and has, say, 100 paid employees, is it still a "family farm"? What, exactly, is a "family farm"? Is it one in which only family members work there? One with a limited number of outside employees?
>>>>>
>>>>>You have nailed the crux of the issue.
>>>>>Somebody else gets to decide how much is too much.
>>>>>
>>>>>You seem comfortable with $5m being "too much"
>>>>>
>>>>>There are many hard working poor people in the world who would evaluate your families material success and
>>>>>they would be very happy to vote themselves a piece of it.
>>>>>
>>>>>A big piece of it.
>>>>>
>>>>>You would probably disagree.
>>>>
>>>>No, I wouldn't. You haven't heard me complaining about paying taxes. Beyond that, we give generously of our money and our time to charity. I know that I've been far more fortunate than many and I live my life accordingly.
>>>
>>>I am sure you are generous and kind, that was not the issue.
>>>
>>>I was perhaps too subtle, or too un-subtle.
>>>
>>>Being generous with your own property, money, and time to charities and noble causes is a good thing.
>>>
>>>Demanding that those on the economic rungs above ours give much higher percentages of their wealth - I can't see how that is a good thing.
>>>
>>>What gives us the moral right to demand such a thing?
>>
>>The fact that those who are making enormous fortunes are doing so in part because we, the taxpayers, have given them the opportunity by building infrastructure and provided educated workers and so forth.
>
>By that logic, the folks in the economic tier under yourself have the right to demand you surrender your family's wealth.
>
>Hmm.. that rung includes me.
>Fork it over!

I pay my taxes, and while I'll occasionally grumble while writing the check, you won't see me saying that I think taxes on my bracket should be lower. In fact, you can probably find me saying they should be higher. I acknowledge freely that American taxpayers have contributed greatly to my success.

Tamar