Brenda wrote: "I have no idea who coined the phrase, but my impression has been that it was positioned not to appeal to common people but to business owners, particularly small ones (of which there are many in this country) who may have assets that meet the minimum value even though their actual income places them below upper middle class."
I would consider small business owners "common people." And it sounds like, in that particular instance, the repeal of the tax actually had some direct applicability. Beyond that, however, I do think that once the term "death tax" got out into common usage, it took on a life of its own, with many thinking it applied to people with far fewer assets than small business owners. And I think whoever dreamed up the term knew that that's exactly what would happen, even thought it's obviously the responsibility of each and every citizen to keep herself/himself well informed. My final word (probably) on my pet bugaboo! Mary P. P.S. Brenda, why were African-American business groups in particular involved in this effort? I hadn't heard that, and would like to know more. E-mail me privately, if you like.
