In my opinion, if we took away all the wealth in America and redistributed it equally to all the 380 Million people, in 30 years the money would all end up with the same distribution as it was before the redistribution.
I might agree that we would end up with a similar distribution, but we definitely would not end up with the same distribution to the same people. Your ranking on the global wealth list has almost nothing to do with how hard you work, and everything to do with the circumstances of your birth.
"Our meritocracy" is a self-satisfied joke, a pleasing lie we tell ourselves to justify the gross privilege we enjoy. You are not rich because you are superior, you are rich because your are lucky. Just because other lucky people have thrown it all away does not mean that you aren't incredibly lucky, compared to street orphans in Indonesia, or farmers in Chad, or basically anyone in North Korea.
Life isn't fair for anyone. Luck plays a major role in all of our lives.
Our race, gender, citizenship, IQ, genetics, height, natural abilities, blood type, sexual preference, birth date, etc........ are all things that can work for or against us.
Does a person that is naturally better at math and science deserve a higher paying job? Does that person deserve to make less money than a person that is 6'11" and is good at basketball?
Corporations never die and can't be imprisoned for breaking laws. Are they fair? Is it fair that we can buy shares of corporations and profit from their unfair advantages?
How are any of these things more fair than a self-made person leaving the assets that they have personally accumulated in their lifetime to whomever they choose?
What wonderful things do you thing the government would do with all of the extra funds that a 100% death tax would provide?
[size=78%] [/size]