Don’t fall for ‘death tax’ hype from GOP
Repealing the estate tax is a key component of Donald Trump’s tax plan.
Many people are worried that they will lose the family farm or the small business their grandfather started because of the “death tax.” This is a common myth perpetuated by Republicans who want to help their ultra-wealthy donors.
Only 0.2 percent of estates are subject to the federal estate tax, which means that yours is probably in the 99.8 percent that will never pay it. The federal estate tax doesn’t kick in until after you get the first $5.49 million.
So, if you inherit $5.5 million, you would only pay taxes on the additional $10,000. You would get the first $5.49 million tax free!
How many of us has a relative who is going to leave us more than $5 million? Our forefathers left Europe to escape hereditary dynasties and did not want the U.S. to become an oligarchy.
Yes, you deserve to benefit from your ancestors’ hard work, and you can (to the tune of $5.49 million). After that you should give back to the country that allowed your ancestors to prosper.
Helen Stapleton, Sewanee, Tenn.
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Why are some lives valued over others?
Gallons and gallons of newspaper ink. Days and days of media coverage. Balloons, flowers, wreaths and candles stretching to the horizon. Countless tear-inducing interviews with family members lamenting the tragic and senseless shortening of innocent lives.
The loss of 58 innocent victims in the Las Vegas shooting is indeed a tragic and horrific event. It’s about the same number of innocent lives truncated, on average, each and every 30 minutes of each and every day of each and every year in our abortion-permissive country.
The silence is deafening.
Where is everybody?
The answer is that we, as a society, are largely a big bunch of phonies. Only when it suits our cause or casts us in a politically correct glow do we cloak ourselves in the mantle of outrage.
God is watching. One day, I believe, he will be quite interested in our response as to why we valued one of his creations differently than another.
Albert Colonna, Signal Mountain
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Pray and turn your eyes upon Jesus
Christians, please keep praying more often that this nation will once more return to being a God-fearing or God-respecting nation.
If more people had their mind on following God and Jesus, there would be less violence and people would once again be able to do what they want as long as it is legal. They will be fairly safe, too.
As you pray, remember what James 2:6 in the Bible says: “Faith without works is dead.” So during free time, talk to people about following God and Jesus. Do not let anyone talk you out of it because it is being forced on them.
Remember, bullets are forced in people. Christians are hoping if enough people are encouraged to follow God and Jesus, the random shooting of people will stop.
If people say talking about following God and Jesus offends them, do the murders and bloodshed offend you? Then why not talk about the blood of Jesus instead? It can take you to heaven.
Jennifer Riggins Bradford