Q & A with E.J. Dionne Jr.

Q: "...why should Congress be more concerned about protecting Paris Hilton's inheritance than grandma's Social Security check?"   E.J. Dionne in today's Washington Post

A: Let's look at it another way: instead of focusing on Paris, let's look at the rights of her parents. Do they have the right to bequeath wealth to their children? Do Mom and Dad Hilton have a right to give their justly earned fortune to another individual, in this case their daughter? By what moral authority is the State authorized to confiscate earned income and wealth from one citizen and give it to another?

It's also interesting that you speak of "grandma's Social Security check." As we all know, grandma's Social Security check comes from the confiscated earnings of the young. Grandma (relatively wealthier) uses government to steal from grandson (relatively poorer).

That, E.J., is why Congress should protect, not the inheritance of Paris Hilton, but the property rights of all citizens, including the right to discharge their property as they see fit.