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True, Sam, true. I note that it's a Bourdieuian signal of cultural capital to understand what Bourdieuian refers to.

Also, in the tax code as it stands right now, there's a multiplicity of ways to reduce if not eliminate inheritance taxes. Lifetime exclusions per individual is $13.6 million. At least through 2025. That doesn't include annual gift tax exclusion of $18,000 per recipient. And that's just the simple stuff.

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Totally lol! A status signifier if there ever was one!

That's interesting. I may well be wrong in thinking that the system-as-it-is has largely eliminated direct inheritance as a conduit of status. I guess more important than that is the importance of being "self-made" in Americans' conception of self. Everybody has this idea that they're supposed to make it from the ground up - in a way that's very different from traditional aristocracies - even if that's not at all the reality of how the meritocratic system really works.

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It's still a powerful conduit of money but self-made money is a much more powerful conduit of status. Could be at the subject of a post.

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A system that sets you up for success while also making you feel like you’ve totally earned it. Beautiful!

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