How would taxing stockpiled wealth have a "disastrous" effect on the US economy? And while we're on the subject, how does the stockpiling of wealth benefit the US economy? Pray tell.

Why does extravirgin believe that working people should be taxed at a higher rate than lucky sperm?

The Center for Budget and Policy calls bullshit on the "It will hurt small businesses" myth:

The law is against it because of the robber-barons like Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Morgan and Carnegie. Seriously. We still have laws now that prohibit wealth preservation and legacy leaving all across the U.S.

Of course! I think it's just about the lack of acknowledgment some people have when it comes to privilege. I was born if not on 2nd, pretty close, being a white middle class American from a stable home. My parents aren't rich and couldn't pay for my college, but were in the position to do loooads of other shit for me…

States vary but you just made a classic estate tax error: Forgetting about the exemption and its application to individuals.

The wealth will still be there even if different people have it.

Because it isn't preservation of wealth, it just facilitates the wealth flowing ever upward

How serious can it be? It's like one of those things you think about when you're stoned.

Even the upper middle class ones who DO work still get all douchey about it. I once had a major argument with a friend of mine who owns a business he inherited from his father. He's not a 1% by any means, he's comfortable upper middle class. But it's a successful business, and refuses to acknowledge that the vast…

There's a balance to be struck. Otherwise you'll end up with a permanent hereditary, and ostensibly ruling class that continually amasses more wealth. But as you point out, we need to keep in mind the thousands of family businesses out there that are generally good for the community and economy.

That's what incorporation is for.

Because maybe people should earn their money instead of inheriting it from daddy and granddaddy? Because if the fortunes are large enough, you have people who have never worked a day in their lives?

Ah, a world without inherited wealth.

Let's have a total estate tax. You can leave your kids a reasonable amount to survive on until the kids reach adulthood, but everything else goes back in the pot. It cracks me up to think about. How would that change people's behavior?

I was kind of hoping they pull a Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, where they win the case only to realize that all of the estate's gone to pay for lawyer fees.

It doesn't work?

I used to listen to a weight-loss hypnosis thing every night, and I suddenly started craving salads. It was weird. Never much liked them before, but I've liked them ever since.

There have been several small clinical studies that show gastric bypass surgery can actually cure diabeetus as well. Like, not even just ameliorate the problems: flat out cure it. So if you have weight-related health issues, you're probably better off just doing the real thing.

Oh Mark, could you post a link to something explaining how self-hypnosis is used for weight loss? A friend is asking for me. Also, there's self-hypnosis?? Where have I been, under a rock of solid Cartesian subjectivity, which, once it has overcome doubt, rests all perception and logic on the rock of my unitary self?…