[extropy-chat] Inheritance

[Brent Neal]

 (7/28/05 20:43) The Avantguardian <avantguardian2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>--- Mike Lorrey <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Who decides what is rational?
>If it IS truly rational it shouldn't matter, just like
>2+2 should equal 4 no matter who does the math.

It shouldn't be a surprise to you that people can come to different, but perfectly rational conclusions.

Its perfectly rational to believe that I, as the person who earned the money, have more understanding and right to its final disposition than a group of bureaucrats, and thus there should be no inheritance tax at all.


>
>> Who decides what to do
>> with the excess?
>
>Well if people wrote their wills correctly, there
>would be no excess. I never mentioned taxes or the
>government. If you have 20 million dollars and only
>one kid, and you can't think of 19 other deserving
>people or organizations to give your money to, you
>might as well be a monkey.  

But what if the most deserving organization is your kid, who has been learning your business from you at your knee and who you know is just as capable (or moreso) than you are. You would prevent this person from having a source of capital just because you're afraid of a few slackers? That's hardly rational.


>
>> You want that money wasted by GOVERNMENT on stupid,
>> wasteful, and
>> unproductive luxuries for bureacrats, instead of the
>> kids for whom
>> their parents slaved to earn their fortunes? 
>
>Once again, the government SHOULD have nothing to do
>with it, except to enforce the inheritance caps on any
>individual heirs. 

Except. If the government should have nothing to do with it, then the government should have nothing to do with it.


>Sheesh, use your mind come up with a bunch of creative
>ideas, just don't give it ALL to one kid. 

Why not?


>
>Why have it wasted at all when you can, with a little
>extra work, truly help shape the world that you leave
>behind for the betterment of all? Or are you just a
>slave of your selfish genes?

You're framing the question in an unrealistic manner. If he is to be free to shape the world to the betterment of all, someone has to make a decision on what "betterment" means. The only person, ethically, who can make that decision in regards to the disposition of his estate is himself. You are proposing that SOMEONE ELSE make that decision for him. This is the problem with your position. It has nothing to do with greed or selfishness. Its a matter of pure ethics.

Brent
-- 
Brent Neal
Geek of all Trades
http://brentn.freeshell.org

"Specialization is for insects" -- Robert A. Heinlein