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Actually I don't think inherited money is that dangerous. Unless it's coming from more than a generation back, you don't even get it till you're old yourself. And when people inherit money young, if anything it seems to screw them up rather than giving them an advantage.

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if anything it seems to screw them up

That's why it's dangerous :)

Buffet has it right: leave them enough so that they can do anything, but not enough so that they can do nothing.

It's dangerous, but not to society as a whole.

I.e. Paris Hilton has the money that she uses for hedonistic purposes, but she won't be put into a position of power.

I'm assuming that you mean national power. Plenty inherit the family business and/or money and wield local power.

In formulating my reply, I think I came around to the other point of view. Bad things can happen, but inherited money is probably a minor enabler in this, and just the opposite can happen as well (inherited money can do much good).

Paris Hilton is a bad example she makes like 200 million a year. Perfume sales at Target, clothing lines, etc.

And she didn't inherit any money, just status.

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