I'll just fear both Cindy and Tep, it'll save time.

In fact, I might just crawl under the bed with the dog. Who is terribly pleased that the risers that actually fit under the bed legs finally came. I think he will share his den with me.

(Fred Pete, it was Sonny and Cher)

I love Sonny and Cher's I've Got You, Babe. In fact, I'll go so far as to say it is the one true version. LOVE.

A report recently released shows that children in the U.S. are doing worse economically in recent years with the number of children in poverty rising. [link]

Also, the senate will be voting to repeal the estate tax today.

Sometimes I think I'm not cynical enough.

Also, the senate will be voting to repeal the estate tax today.

Ugh.

You know, the Republicans have tried to sell this by talking about all the family farms that have had to be sold to pay the estate tax after the owner dies. They spent about three months looking for actual cases of this happening. Know how many they found? None. But that didn't stop them from making TV commercials showing this happening to a fictitious family.

Who is terribly pleased that the risers that actually fit under the bed legs finally came.

Oh yay! Lucy crawled under my bed this morning and I was thinking of you. (My bed has about a foot of clearance, so not such a thing.)

Honestly, I think the estate tax is wrong. I don't care if the rich are the beneficiaries of eliminating, either. People pay tax on their income. They often pay tax on purchases. They often also pay tax on their real estate. I think estate tax is overkill. That estate has already been taxed in the building up of it.

Well, I see your point, but the estate tax only kicks in for the wealty (I think it only applies for a million dollars or more (eta: 1.5 million)). Also the estate tax was created (in the 1890's, IIRC, a time with a huge gap between the rich and the poor) in an attempt to prevent a wealthy "aristocracy" from coming to dominate the American economy.

Also,

Unrealized capital gains constitute the bulk of the largest wealth accumulations. These unrealized gains have never been taxed and without the estate tax, they would remain untaxed forever.

[link]

Since appreciated wealth is only taxed by an estate tax upon inheritance or by capital gains taxes upon sale, wealth that appreciates and is passed down from generation to generation is NEVER taxed until it is sold. To avoid this result, during the year of repeal the capital gains tax law is changed to apply to appreciated wealth when it is inherited. This method was attempted before and proved so difficult (because people had to figure out the worth of the asset when it was first purchased) that it was rescinded. Ironically, the capital gains tax may cause some people to have to pay MORE than they would have under the estate tax. The estate tax is the best way to tax appreciated wealth.

I think the estate tax should be adjusted, but not repealed. I think it does serve a purpose and provides revenue that isn't an excessive burden.

Unrealized capital gains constitute the bulk of the largest wealth accumulations. These unrealized gains have never been taxed and without the estate tax, they would remain untaxed forever.

Oh, no. God forbid they should be untaxed FOREVER! Why exactly should unrealized gains be taxed at the death of the original holder? You realize this is stock or property that has not been sold yet, and so there is no profit made, right? If someone holds on to it FOREVER without realizing any profit from it, it's perfectly fair for them not to be taxed on it until they do. The original investment was already taxed.

Ironically, the capital gains tax may cause some people to have to pay MORE than they would have under the estate tax. The estate tax is the best way to tax appreciated wealth.

WHAT? This argument means you have to pay BOTH!