Death & Taxes

3 weeks before the year ends, and they are toying around with this? 45% vs, Zero?  I swear much of this recession is just about regime uncertainty. No one can make any financial decisions because you never know what this gaggle of idiots is going to impose on us next. With so much uncertainty, no investments are made.

"In less than three weeks, the hated death tax is scheduled to expire—with the rate falling from 45% to zero for 2010. Then the tax will be resurrected in 2011 at a rate of 55%. This bizarre policy dates back to 2001 when Democrats wouldn't let President Bush permanently kill the death tax, so Republicans bet that if the tax were eliminated for one year, it would never come back.
Well, the moment of truth has arrived, and House Democrats recently voted 234-199 to cancel the 2010 repeal and hold the rate permanently at 45% with a $3.5 million exemption."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703558004574579932066655144.html?mod=djemEditorialPage