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If all fortunes were earned, wealthy people would be much more likely to be conservatives, since they would have to understand how the world really works in order to become successful. This would cut down on the Kennedys and Rockefellers.

Not all inherited wealth is multi-millions of dollars. When my Dad died, his wealth including his own home, equaled about 1.1 million. We had to sell his home, which when dead you do not get the $250,000 capital gains exemption any more, sell his car, all his stocks and pay over 50% on the 100,000. Remember it is 46% fed, another 9+ percent state!! So my brothers and I, at 50 years old inherited about $300,000 each. We all bought real estate, and businesses with that money. Then hired people to help us with our investments and that $300,000 is worth much more, to then pass onto our children. In most cases when "children" inherit money they are 50 or more years old and don't automatically turn into slackers and spend it all blindly.

The main point here is my Dad already paid tax on all the money he left to us. And those that say we win life's lottery, believe me I would rather have my Dad and Mom than their money.