Bill Gates Sr on estate taxes

Society has a just claim on these fortunes. The facts are clear: The estate tax raises substantial revenue from those with the capacity to pay it.

~ Bill Gates Sr., "Senate’s Baucus Seeks Temporary Extension of Estate Tax in 2010", Bloomberg, December 15, 2009,

Kevin Duffy on why Warren Buffett supports the estate tax

[Warren] Buffett sells life insurance to... people attempting to protect their family businesses and family estates from the ravages of the tax man, just so they can keep them intact for their children. Buffett chooses to hand over the vast majority of his $57 billion fortune to charity, so why should he care? Repeal the exemption on charitable giving and you would see him go apoplectic.

~ Kevin Duffy, Bearing Asset Management, "Beam Me Up," LewRockwell.com, December 14, 2007

Hillary Clinton on the estate tax

I do not believe the estate tax should be repealed. I think it has been very cleverly designated as a "death tax." It's really a tax to prevent us from having inherited wealth generation after generation which would undermine the kind of spirit and meritocracy that the United States stands for. And there are a lot of economic reasons why it is just not affordable... I will strongly support the maintenance of the estate tax.

~ Hillary Clinton, as appeared on CNBC with Warren Buffett, December 11, 2007

David Lloyd George on the estate tax

Death is the most convenient time to tax rich people.

~ David Lloyd George, Lord Riddell's Intimate Diary
of the Peace Conference and After (1933)