Adjusting My Position on Inheritance Taxes

Inheritance taxes are one area I've never been particularly libertarian or right-wing on.

It has always bothered me that some children are born with every advantage while others basically start out homeless, and a confiscatory inheritance tax goes a long way towards leveling that playing field. And the Paris Hiltons of the world really undermine the argument that with inheritance comes some enhanced ability (presumably from the environment they were raised in) to manage that wealth better than someone else could.

However, a random Slashdot comment has shown me the light.

Inheritance tax like many other ideas has merit to it, but when implemented is not actually a good idea. I do not stand to inherit much in the scheme of things, but would be pissed if the government took it away. I do chores and general upkeep at my parents house. I save them money and keep the house valuable.

What I got out of this comment is that inheritance is why people die with anything of value. If you have no control over what happens to your possessions when you die, why would you not just burn them all for heating? If your house will go to the government after your death, your kids have no reason to maintain it, and every funeral will have to be accompanied by the condemning of the decrepit primary residence.

It is the chain of ownership that provides the incentive for well maintained property. The higher the inheritance taxes, the closer we are to the Tragedy of the Commons.