On 31 Oct 2002 at 14:25, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > P.S. One of the examples of "spin" I hate the most is the Republican > characterization of the estate tax as the "death tax." In > exasperation, I say, repeat after me: The ESTATE TAX only kicks in if > you DIE with an **ESTATE**!!!! And currently, the worth of the estate > in question is somewhere between $1 and $2 million (I should know the > exact amount, but I don't practice in this area). > > Now I concede that that amount means that the tax does not apply > merely to the filthy rich, but to a significant portion of the upper > middle class. Granted. But to style it as a "death tax," when the > vast majority of Americans who die will never, ever have to pay it, is > simply, in my view, intellectually dishonest. And I see it as a slick > attempt to come across as the party of the common people rather than > the rich that, in this instance, just doesn't work. >
I have no idea who coined the phrase, but my impression has been that it was positioned not to appeal to common people but to business owners, particularly small ones (of which there are many in this country) who may have assets that meet the minimum value even though their actual income places them below upper middle class. Republicans were not the only ones who supported this repeal; there was a significant portion of the Congressional Black Caucus that supported it as well, along with other African-American Democratic groups. Brenda ------------------------------ Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.
