Lies. The silent generation had a top income tax rate that was never less than 75%, and for a long time it was above 90%. Of course, not maybe people got hit by it because they found ways to avoid it. What ways? Well, by taking deductions that reduced their taxable income below those high brackets. What are tax deductible expenses? Things like charitable donations, and starting or growing a business.

So they had high taxes, massive redistribution that was basically compulsory. The policy was, use it or lose it. You spend it, or we spend it. You don't like how we're spending your money? OK, find a way to spend it differently, take a risk on a business, and deduct those expenses.

Taxes are so cheap at the top end that it's better to pay those taxes, and stuff the remaining money in real estate, the stock market, or bonds, than it is to take the risk on a business. Being a greedy hoarder should be very expensive in terms of taxes. WE've done it before, the country was not killed, instead it thrived. That era of high top end taxes built massive public and private infrastructure.

It's the greedy hoarders who are killing the country. Below a certain level of wealth, saving money is very good. Above a certain amount of wealth, it's very bad. Draw the line to make it really punitive to stay above that line.

Otherwise, you're just a cranky advocate for aristocracy, and oligarchy. And that's what'll kill a country.

People who save money for their families are "greedy hoarders"? I imagine in your eyes, then, people who want to take other people's money are somehow virtuous and charitable?

Key phrasing I intentionally left undefined, because there is valid room for debate, "certain amount". I have no idea what that amount is. $1 million? $10 million? Certainly above $100 million, yes greedy hoarders. And any civilized society would have a 100% inheritance tax on such "certain amounts" of wealth, to prevent the rise of aristocratic families.

Aristocracy is how you turn every damn thing into a product including life. Oh you're sick but you can afford health care, too bad, life is unfair, you die. Oh you're wrongly accused of murder, can't afford a good lawyer, have fun in jail, bye. It makes the entire society untrustworthy, and its stability is specious falling apart abruptly and violently. And that's what we should be trying to avoid.