Except if your families wealth isn't in liquid assets which many middle class families aren't. In 2001, the estate tax kicked in at just $645,000. The problem with this tax is it is an arbitrary number based on whoever gets what bill put through. Depending on where your family owns property, 5.1 million in appraised…

That is not the same. This would be closer to the equivalent of your dad giving you a rifle or a pool table. Suppose you inherit some priceless family jewels and don't have the money to pay taxes for their appraised value. Should you be forced to sell them because you couldn't afford them otherwise? That is the big…

Well that money has already been taxed once when their relatives earned it in the first place.

Well before the IRS we primarily paid for the government with Excise Taxes and Tariffs. At one point you didn't see a tax collector unless you were in the import business.