just who controls this cabal of capital?  All that is missing from this "analysis" is an instruction on who to burn once we gather with torches in the town square....

The purpose of inheritance taxes is to steadily shave down big piles of capital.  Notice any Vanderbuilts with much money left? nope.  You think Paris Hilton will end up with more or less than she starts with?  Michael Jackson is turning $500 Meg into dust.  Gates and Buffet are giving it away.

While time lets the rich pile up more and more within their lifetime, they tend to produce kids that piss it away.  Clogs to clogs in 3 generations is the Dutch expression I believe.  Is there anyone on the world's top 10 richest list from money older than 50 years?  not that I see.  The Mars heirs are still loaded but are also ready to croak.  Ka ching for Uncle Sam.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/54/biz_06rich400_The-400-Richest-Americans_Rank.html?boxes=custom

Buffet, Gates, Walton heirs (big funder of the anti inheritance tax as they are getting old), Dell, Ellison (Oracle).   I don't see any ancient money dating to the Knights Templar or Rothschilds.  

Last time I looked we had this thing called central governments that take in a fairly large portion of the national/world's earnings in order to fund the things you desire.  The percentage is what we argue over in the political arena.