In 1976, the estate tax applied to 7% of all descendants at a top rate of 70%. Today, just 0.07% of descendants owe money; a 99% decline! To reduce inequality, don’t impose confiscatory wealth taxes of 2% or more, tax inheritances like ordinary income subject to some reasonable exemption. As for the deceased having already paid taxes on bequests, according to Fed data most inheritances consist of untaxed capital gains.