Petition: Compromise Inheritance Tax

[Eluvatar]

I petition that issue response (3) be adopted by Taijitu Founder for "Where There's a Will, There's a Tax".

After the vast fortunes of a recently deceased oil tycoon in Taijitu Founder were left to a small cactus plant, citizens nationwide have been asking the same question: should the inheritance tax laws be changed?


1. "Every time I see a stupid rich kid having an easy ride of life with money they did nothing to deserve, I go into a jealous rage and start punching walls," says economically disadvantaged individual @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Abolish inheritance entirely! If the government takes the inheritance then we can spend all that cash on things that make ordinary people's lives better, like education, social welfare, and attack helicopters."

2. "This is a disgusting breach of my human rights," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, heir to an international widget empire. "Just think of all the poor families who have spent their lives scrimping and saving with the dream of passing on a modest luxury yacht to ensure the security of their children's children. All that sacrifice, all that toil, all those long nights working their fingers to the bone setting up offshore accounts - it brings a tear to my eye. Inheritance tax has got to go!"

3. "Surely we can arrange some sort of compromise here," says comfortable knitwear fan @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Yes, it's true that some people exploit the system - but a lot of people rely on inheritance for their basic support! Why don't we just set a sensible ceiling on how much you can inherit? That way you get to keep the family farm, but not the five mansions and the oil refinery."

If a quarter of the number of voters who voted in the last election or valid referendum sign the petition, a referendum will be held.

The last election had 11 votes so 3 signatures are needed to open a referendum. The Court is legally required to start such a referendum the second Thursday after the threshold is attained.

[Eluvatar]

The threshold has been attained!

[Delfos]

Just a question, why can't your majority push this through senate?

[Eluvatar]

A majority failed to vote in the Progressive Party poll so the Senators were unbound, and Senator mcmasterdonia joined with Senator Letonna (not Progressive) to support option 2.

[McMasterdonia]

Perhaps Senator Myroria could discuss this with me and we could reach another agreement.

It is my view, that parents work this hard to benefit their children. I don't think we should be snatching away the products of their hard work for the betterment of the state. It sounds like government control to me.

[McMasterdonia]

Also a note, that I'd hardly consider this to be a compromise solution. A compromise would be to dismiss the issue.

[Funkadelia]

I fully support option 2, because with the government taking unspecified portions of your property, what's the point in working hard your whole life to support your children?

[Delfos]

It's a ceiling, which would mean most people would get everything, this is for cases of people who have "too much", like 14 houses, millions of euros. If they didn't the social capacity of donating part of their money and properties to foundations or charity or investing in society then the state will do it for them. Many people that are wealthy do donations on their Will, I guess to avoid state possession if you really don't like the state, you can still donate...

[McMasterdonia]

Fair point. Though I don't think there is anything guaranteeing that the states will do things with the money, that will benefit those that really need it.

[Delfos]

I thought the senate governed the state, are you saying you're doing a bad job and the state is corrupt? It's the state's job to guarantee services to people to make society work properly, whether it makes a bad job or not it's not an excuse to not fund the state with money to properly do it's job. I also noticed I've been "eating" words, sorry but I guess everybody understands what I mean. Point is, in an almost perfect equality there can't be perversely rich people with 14 houses 5 jets and millions of taijis, they need to redistribute with a ceiling, and I guess you're the one that sets the ceiling on the inheritance.