Fair Tax Book Debuts #1 NYT (Non-Fiction)

Neal Boortz ^ | August 14, 2005 | Neal Boortz

[RobFromGa]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!

We got the word just as we were arriving at our Gainesville, Florida hotel.  The FairTax Book will debut at No. 1 on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller's list.  In a word .... unbelievable.  Last winter I spent week after week doing my radio show, grabbing a sandwich for lunch, and then sitting down in front of the word processor and stacks of research to pound out my portion of this book.  Congressman Linder was doing the same thing at his home in Washington DC or Atlanta.  We both believe totally in the FairTax idea, and we wanted to have a book out there for people who were similarly dedicated, or who just had a curiosity that needed to be satisfied.  Neither of of ever imagined what would happen.  Neither, frankly, did the publisher.  It was only about six weeks ago that we started to wonder whether or not we might be able to make it to the New York Times bestseller's list.  Now that we know we will debut this Sunday as No. 1, we're just blown away.

This means so much for The FairTax movement.  Any book that rises to No. 1 creates a buzz ... whether it's about teenaged wizards or tax reform.  Well ... especially tax reform. This just doesn't happen.  Books on tax reform don't go to No. 1.  So now opinion makers, politicians, pundits, editorial writers, reporters, columnists and others will take notice and start paying attention. This will result in more and more efforts such as this opinion piece that appeared in the Clark Times-Courier in Berryville, Virginia. Late yesterday I was notified that a writer and photographer from a major national magazine will join the book tour today to see just what is going on here.  This will mean that more and more Americans will become aware of the essence of the FairTax, and what it can mean to both their personal financial picture and to the American economy.  As the people become aware this idea becomes more and more impossible for the political class to ignore.

Do we have hopes that The FairTax Book will stay at No. 1?  Well, that would be nice ... but I'm not expecting it.  Our best hope is that continued interest in this fantastic tax reform idea will keep the book up there in the top five for weeks ... and that the FairTax will continue to generate conversation across the country.  

Again.  Congressman Linder and I thank you ... as do the tens of millions of Americans who have been laboring under a punishing and confiscatory tax system for generations.  This is a great country, and a country of bold ideas.  The current income tax is beyond salvaging.  In 1986 we enacted what was supposed to be a wonderful tax reform plan that eliminated most tax deductions and instituted what was essentially a two-tiered flat tax. There were two tax brackets, 15% and 28%.  Simple as that.  But it didn't stay simple.  That tax law has now been amended and modified more than 10,000 times.  

Now ... speaking of the flat tax, just why would the FairTax be better?  OK, let's just count a few ways.  The flat tax keeps the IRS.  The flat tax means you still pay Social Security Taxes and Medicare taxes.  There will still be withholding from your paycheck. The money you save and invest?  Still taxed.  What's more, as we have seen over the past 19 years, the flat tax is still subject to manipulation by politicians.  They can come in any time with a little amendment raising the rate on that evil top one percent of income earners.  They can still create tax credits for other income groups in order to buy votes.  The embedded taxes in every item you buy?  Still there.  Get the picture?

OK ... time to pack my stuff, head to the Sky-97 studios in Gainesville and do another show.  Then it's off to Jacksonville where we hope to have a tremendous crowd this evening.  I'll turn over Nealz Nuze to the Boortz staff for some more program notes and your reading assignments.  Again ... thanks.  Let's keep this FairTax idea at or near the top of the list for a while now.  The politicians are taking note ... and they now know that they can't demagogue the FairTax with false claims that it will burden the poor.  The people know better.

Now ... for those of you who think that the FairTax idea is a good one, and would like to see it come to pass, but who just believe that it is so bold and monumental a change as to be all but impossible .... here's a quotation I yanked off a good friend's email.

The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.

[Echo Talon]

I like the flat tax.

[Always Right]

Well the chior has bought up the snake oil. The biggest problem with the book is it should in the fiction category.

[RobFromGa]

I'm not a Fair Tax proponent, but I read Boortz blog every day and this was on there.

I think the best bet at this point is making permanent the present reductions in the tax rates, further rate cuts, elimination of all corporate taxes, further capital gains cuts, elimination of death taxes, and the total privatization of Social Security. And most important reduced government spending.

[Echo Talon]

I like the Forbes flat tax. Makes sense. National Sales Tax has a risk of making a strong black market for goods. Flat tax would be better.

[mombrown1]

If we get the flat tax it goes something like this -

Flat tax 17% + FICA 7.65 = 24.65% (32.3% for self-employed)

It taxes corporations at the same rate who then pass the 24.65% onto the consumer in hidden taxes. So we dumb consumer will be paying close to 50% which is a tax increase.

Also, we are supposed to submit our tax return on a postcard with our name, social security number, and income. Now, I don't know about you but I don't want my SS# and income on public display.

The Fair tax is a one-time tax at the cash register. No tax return. No IRS.

Need I say more.

[Sounder]

Way to go Neal THANK YOU !!!!

[Echo Talon]

Need I say more.

yea you need to read Steve Forbes Book

[Echo Talon]

The Fair tax is a one-time tax at the cash register.

Yea and the raw materials bought by the "corporations" for their product are taxed and passed on to the stupid consumers who pay for the tax again at the cash register.

[goldstategop]

The FairTax has so much to commend it... but two things stand out - it will enable all Americans to pay a single tax rate ONCE. And it will enhance America's attractiveness to foreign investors by showcasing America as a low tax haven in which to do business. That means new jobs, goods ans services for Americans. And lower prices on everything they buy. And it will increase our low rate of savings since the FairTax is a tax on consumption, not on income. People can make huge incomes if they want and realize the American Dream for the first time. They're taxed ONLY if they spend their money. With some hard work, its fair to say the income tax is destined to be histoire. And Neal Boortz and John Lindner have drawn the public a map in their new book on how to get there.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

Yes, exactly. How does giving yourself a 25% tax cut sound? And there's more - you can give yourself a tax cut whenever you want by just changing your spending patterns. It puts YOU in control of how your dollars are spent, not that of politicians in far-off capitols.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[goldstategop]

No, they're not. Corporate and individual income taxes, Social Security, Medicare - all that's gone. Everything is taxed ONCE. The FairTax has nothing in common with the European VAT scheme where a tax is imposed on every stage of producing a good right down to the final sale at the cash register. In America, you will be taxed ONCE and that's it. That's how a fair tax system is supposed to work.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Echo Talon]

its "sounds" good, only pay tax once... but you are actually paying the Fair tax twice! Your goods will already have a tax built into the price, because the company had to pay the tax for their "materials" i.e. steel, paper, ink or whatever... then you will pay the tax again when you buy it. The fair tax will increase crime and black market. Robberies and black markets would increase. Trains sitting on tracks unattended carrying, TV's, radios, dishwasher, and refrigerators. would be subject to looters for sale on the black markets. Flat Tax is the best idea I have seen.

[kevkrom]

Yea and the raw materials bought by the "corporations" for their product are taxed and passed on to the stupid consumers who pay for the tax again at the cash register

You're confusing an NRST with a VAT. An NRST is a retail sales tax, it would not be levied on business-to-business purchases.

[Echo Talon]

You're confusing an NRST with a VAT. An NRST is a retail sales tax, it would not be levied on business-to-business purchases.

What about the crime it would cause? Looting, robberies and underground economy?

[Gvl_M3]

Yea and the raw materials bought by the "corporations" for their product are taxed and passed on to the stupid consumers who pay for the tax again at the cash register.

With the Fair Tax, nothing is taxed until there is a retail sale. So, raw materials would not be taxed. Only the end product purchased at retail would be taxed.

You must not have read anything on the Fair Tax if you do not know this keystone of the whole idea.

[kevkrom]

What about the crime it would cause? Looting, robberies and underground economy?

There is no such thing as a tax system that doesn't have people avoiding it. Using "black market" or "avoidance" as a reason to opoose a particular mechanism doesn't wash, because the same criticisms can be levied against any other system you compare it to.

[Echo Talon]

I haven't read fair tax. Just can see problems with black markets and looting.
Think the mafia is bad now.... sheesh.

[Echo Talon]

flat tax. people aren't getting hammered by going to the store to purchase their items. No need for the black market.

[kevkrom]

flat tax. people aren't getting hammered by going to the store to purchase their items. No need for the black market.

Absolutely incorrect. People are "getting hammered by going to the store to purchase their items" under the flat tax (just like the present income tax), they're just not seeing it because the taxes are hidden.

And if you don't think there's a labor "black market" to avoid income and payroll taxes, then you're really fooling yourself.