David Blunkett wants a death tax.

[Danthus]

A Labour grandee has called on the party to readopt the so-called “death tax” on old people’s homes to pay for social care.

David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, questioned why it was fair that children of rich pensioners “win the lottery” by inheriting the family home when they die.

He said houses in London and the South East had boomed in price and the profits from such rises should be better redistributed to families in the North when the inhabitants pass away.

Labour was forced to abandon plans for a 10 per cent levy on estates to pay for social care before the 2010 general election following a wave of criticism.

However speaking at a Policy Exchange event in London, the former Labour frontbencher under Tony Blair said he supported bringing back the policy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pol...t-Labour-should-bring-back-the-death-tax.html

This is pretty disgusting in my opinion.

Let me be really controversial: Why should their sons and daughters or nephews and nieces win the lottery when they die?

"Because that's what it amounts to compared with people in the rented sector and particularly in low terraced housing, even if they own it, in the North and Midlands.”

 

[Danthus]

Would you care to explain why you think it's disgusting. So we have a starting point for discussion.

I doubt many people consider they have won the lottery when a loved one dies.

 

[Danthus]

That's not a reason to think this is disgusting - everyone has loved ones who die. Not everyone gets a large cash windfall, though.

So can you explain why you think it disgusting to equalise that position somewhat?

Correct, but if they do why should the state have a claim to it?

 

[Danthus]

Because we all pay taxes on money we earn.

Why is is disgusting?

To suggest you have in some way won the lottery is disgusting.

 

[Danthus]

Good. I'd prefer to see inheritance more heavily taxed and redistributed tbh.

Stops the concentration of wealth.

We have worked hard, made decisions to provide for our future and that of our daughter, why do you think it is acceptable to be punished for being responsible?

 

[Danthus]

So you started this thread to complain about the suggestion that getting an inheritance is akin to winning the lottery?

How interesting of you.

"PC gone mad"

Quite the opposite.

 

[Danthus]

So it's the terminology used rather than the thinking and proposals made that you have a problem with?

What a waste of time.

It is both, the language and the principal.

 

[Danthus]

Your daughter can earn her own money.

Let her work hard like you have, rather than giving her a silver spoon she has no real appreciation of.

So what should happen to our estate when we die?

 

[Danthus]

One problem with taxation is the fact that it all goes into one big pot and is spent willy nilly so to speak.

Would I like a 1% increase in income tax, not really, would I accept a 1% increase if that money would only be used to fund the NHS, yes.

 

[Danthus]

Allowing poor and poorly educated people to have kids damages social mobility by perpetuating the cycle of poor choices, but you don't see people advocating abusing rights as a solution.

Jesus christ.