Steve Swanson
Letter to the Editor: Death Tax
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Death tax impact
David Sarasohn's column on the death tax is a perfect opportunity for me to teach my children about the logical fallacy known as a "straw man" ("On estate tax, Senate stages its own death scene," April 17).
Sarasohn tries to minimize the destructive impact of the death tax on family-owned businesses using the definition of such a business as one which has only $7 million in assets. Using this definition, he can argue that only 100 businesses in America are impacted.
Yet many family-owned businesses such as mine are valued well in excess of $7 million. Many family businesses such as mine have created thousands of jobs. Our death tax liability is a concern for the entire local community.
The death tax is no straw man for America's family business owners and employees.
STEVE SWANSON
President, Swanson Group Inc.
Glendale
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/letters_to_the_editor_psu_foot.html