When thinking about the estate tax, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not the moon. However, one pundit, made an interesting connection between the two.
Bill Maher is a well-known liberal pundit who is often at the center of controversy over his statements. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that he recently addressed the estate tax.
Maher took on the claim that the estate tax hurts small farmers.
Maher declared that more Americans have walked on the moon than farmers who have paid the estate tax in 2013.
Is this just hyperbole or is in fact?
According to a recent article in Pundit Fact, titled “Bill Maher says more Americans have been to the moon than farmers who paid the estate tax in 2013,” there may be some truth to Maher’s claim.
More Americans have not walked on the moon than farmers who paid the estate tax. However, if you add up all of the Americans who have walked on the moon and who have orbited the moon, then Maher’s claim turns out to be true.
To date, 24 Americans have walked on or orbited the moon, while 20 small farmers paid the estate tax in 2013.
Of course, just because Maher’s statement happens to be somewhat accurate does not mean that it is a telling statement.
The real question is whether the 20 small farmers who paid the estate tax should have had to have paid it.
Read the original article for a good overview of the estate tax/death tax issue.
Please contact our office today at 239-225-7911 to schedule an appointment with Barbara M. Pizzolato if you are interested in protecting your legacy and need to create or update your estate plan. You may also wish to attend one of our free seminars.
Reference: Pundit Fact (April 23, 2015) “Bill Maher says more Americans have been to the moon than farmers who paid the estate tax in 2013.”
