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When the government is telling someone "I'm sorry, but your father/mother earned that money, and you can't have it, despite what your father/mother wants", what else can you call it?

So instead of reading and understanding Jefferson's words of wisdom on the issue, you choose to become just another zero-tax ideolouge. Fine. Hiding behind ideology is the refuge of a lazy mind, but I suppose everybody needs to relax their weary noggins on occasion.

BTW - I'd prefer if you came up with some other name to call me - only my wife gets away with "doofus":-)

Hey, honestly, it was just a lucky guess.
How am I supposed to know that I happen to agree with your wife on this issue?
I'll concede to her greater familiarity, experience and judgement on the matter.

I didn't say a thing about zero-tax, friend. IMO, some form of "windfall" tax on fungible income that is transferred to inheritors is fine. But the death tax, as it exists now, is clearly punitive.

Inheriting land, especially a farm that is a family-owned enterprise, isn't really fungible - the value of the land is dependent on (1) long-term working of it to produce yearly income (which is also taxed) or (2) selling it. Using "market rates" to set the value of the transferred property ups the ante even further.

The same argument can be made for private corporations, including football teams. Money and stock in public corporations, on the other hand, are fungible.

Oh, yeah... I was attemtping to use a little humor to point out your ad hominem attack style, and to try and get you to stop. I see that's not going to be effective, so I'll be more direct: Your attack-laden style is offensive. I try to treat others with respect, and I expect them to do the same for me. To not do so, such as in this case, is childish. Clearly, you're more intelligent than that, but perhaps you would rather be offensive.