This is very interesting, I have been suspicious of this for the past 5-7 years. I would even go as far as to say that the baby boomers and the 40 to 60 generation themselves may be duped into supporting an estate tax as a way of avoiding an increase in current income  & consumption taxes.

Here is the scenario:  on one hand the government needs more cash; on the other hand the baby boomer being squeezed between high personal debt levels in mortgages & consumer debt, higher education costs for children, costs associated with elder care, the need to save for their own retirement and increase costs in health care; the gov't says, we can raise your income taxes or consumption taxes by 5-10-15% or we can tax your future inheritance by 2-4-6%, you can pay now or pay later, what would you like?

It should come as no surprize that the average taxpayer will choose to pay later, which amount to an estate tax or gift tax.