If you agree the system is broken I encourage you to reconsider your prior statements about the rich not paying their fair share.

Rich people do a variety of shady stuff and keep it hidden (Panama papers), I wouldn’t trust your lack of data points to mean it isn’t a pervasive problem.

I wouldn’t be surprised if those loans are repaid without realizing the gain of the collateral. Step-up basis is a huge tax dodge, and tax dodge is theft from all the people who would benefit from the things those taxes could pay for.

The way the rich use loans as income is unfair. Therefore the rich do not pay their fair share.

“buy borrow die” is totally income, dude. It’s just not taxed, and step-up basis makes it worse.

The net worth is used to fund everyday expenses, it is effectively income.