Quote of the Day II: Chuck Grassley Thinks Estate Tax Punishes Good People Who Invest Wisely

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa defended the repeal of the estate tax in the new “tax reform” bills, saying that “many” farmers would have to sell their farms to pay the tax; actual figures show that less than 100 Iowan farmers a year could potentially owe an estate tax when they expire, and most would have additional assets on hand to avoid selling any land.  Even Grassley himself, who has farming interests, would probably not have enough to qualify.  But having an estate tax, to him, apparently helps people who waste their money instead of investing it– not people who never had any money to begin with.

“I think not having the estate tax recognizes the people that are investing,” Grassley said, “as opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”

Do you see a pattern here?  It is known, in philosophy, as Calvinism, the belief that those who are wealthy deserve their money because they are better people, and those who are poor are morally and mentally undeserving.  Somehow the reality of poor children and infants is contrary to Calvinism and makes it a poor philosophy.