Hi Alice,
i have a sadly harrowing empirical observation that seems to problematize any abstract arguements for a simple inheritance tax.
My housemate is only 19. he recently lost his father to skin cancer, having lost his mother ten years ago to the same disease. he has a younger sister who is 17, and a younger brother who is 12. His father was a well-off man, being a judge and because my friend is technically an idependant adult, but also the gaurdian of his younger siblings, the whole iheritance is subject to the highest inheritance tax. I propose (admittedly, not very objectively) that this is a travesty which arises because such a tax seems too indiscriminate.
I am not arguing with your main points, only pointing out that, whether or not inheritance tax is increased, it needs some futher regulation.
My point also higlights a small but important problem with the seemingly essential abstract nature of political philosophies. Are there always cases that can only be dealt with in a justified way by applied politics, not by philosophy?
What do you think?