Debate Over Estate Taxes

* Re “Drive to Kill Estate Taxes Loses Steam,” Feb. 15: I was glad to see the argument that repeal of the estate tax in higher estate brackets would promote income and wealth inequality. It could be noted further that such inequalities tend to create political inequality and that particularly harmful income and wealth inequalities are involved in the abolition of estate taxes. Income and wealth inequalities that arise from the ability and effort of those acquiring comparatively large incomes and wealth have a redeeming feature of promoting economic growth. But wealth that is inherited without ability or productive effort tends to create a hereditary aristocracy of people who have no need to do anything productive.

Though such an unproductive aristocracy may be small in numbers, it is big in its share of income and wealth and will get bigger for later generations, especially if estate taxes are ended.

BERNARD SOBIN

Laguna Woods

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Re “Even the Fat Cats Don’t Buy It,” editorial, Feb. 16: How can anyone justify taxing someone’s estate just because he or she dies?

SAM MATTHEWS

Niceville, Fla.

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President Bush says we need a huge tax cut in order to strengthen a weakening economy. In the next breath, he tells us the economy is so strong that the projected surpluses make it affordable to save this weak economy. Is the economy strong because it is weak and needs a tax cut or is it weak because it is strong enough to afford a tax cut?

This must be the “fuzzy math” in his education proposal.

JOSEPH NERI

West Covina