Whom Do You Serve?

The idea that our country is trending toward a return to feudalism is becoming increasingly popular today.  I mean feudalism in a allegorical sense, where the citizen works to support the government, and expects certain duties or amenities in return.  I doubt most American's would agree that they willingly work to support government, but isn't that essentially what they are doing? 

A recent article from American Thinker describes William Bradford's commentary on how the Pilgrims initially suffered famine and failure.  By applying the feudal concepts of communal farming to their efforts to repay the investment of their creditors and escape servitude, their new world efforts failed miserably.  Ironically, as the Pilgrims sought to escape the remnants of feudalism in Europe, they applied the practices they had learned in that system without success in the New World.

In a radical departure from the thinking of the day, the Pilgrims finally made individual families responsible for farming an assigned plot of land. The results were astounding, and I think Bradford's description is apt:

This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted then other wise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content.

The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property, and bringing in community into a common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort.

The lessons learned here took root as our country grew, and I believe had a great effect on the philosophy of America's founders.  Certainly it had great effect on fostering the ideals of self reliance and both individual liberties and  freedom.  I would also argue that this influence spawned the American Dream, where anyone could succeed through hard work and effort.

This week the U.S. House of Representatives voted to permanently extend the estate tax, to a tune of 45% on estates larger than $3.5 million dollars.  $3.5 million is by no means chump change, but in the words of Yogi Berra, "The future ain't what it used to be."  I have seen houses worth over $1 million that were worth a fraction of that when purchased. A family business with a net worth of $3.5 million is a successful business, but is hardly noteworthy on a global, national or possibly even a local scope.  Yet, our federal government is potentially entitled to 45% of assets of that business upon the death of the mother, father or grandparent worked their whole lives to grow that business?  The logic in that confuses me.

Fortunately, there are folks inside the Beltway that can explain it for me.  You may want to sit down first.

"In America, it's not a sin to be rich nor is it a crime to die rich," said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. "This bill gives our nation's wealthiest families the ability to know exactly what their obligation to the nation that fostered their wealth will be, and it is fair and it is just."

Their obligation to the nation that fostered their wealth?  Really?  So these folks owe the government for possibly serving in the military to get the money to go to school, for paying taxes (probably at a higher rate to account for their success), and generally for contributing to the economy.  I guess we should now have to pay for the privilege of living in America if we have experienced a large enough measure of success (as defined by the progressive brain trust). 

I don't foresee the estate tax provision coming into play for my decedents, but you never know.  If my efforts in this life are rewarded to that degree, I will have done it in service of my family and not for my government.  While I will have "rendered unto Caesar that which is Caesar's", I am strongly opposed to supporting pseudo-feudalism and the new lords of the manor.  If they continue to tell me what to do, I will continue to tell them where to go.