Maybe you should wait to comment on this book until it comes out in an audio version because you obviously had a difficult time understanding it as it is written. Many of your comments about the book and plan are wrong. I will just give a couple of examples which will include your own contradictory comments.
Your "Lie # 1" section is completely absurd. Your claim that the fair tax would not be voluntary is way off the mark. You ask "what happens if someone decides that they don't want to pay any taxes to the federal government?" Then you reply with: "The same thing that happens now: fines and imprisonment." Fines and imprisonment could occur if someone buy or sells goods without charging or paying the tax. As is pointed out in the book, that requires two parties (the buyer and seller) to consciously avoid the system.
This is so simple! Even an under-worked, over-educated idiot should be able to understand it. If I don't make any purchases on new goods or services I won't have to pay any tax. That would not be illegal. I would earn my wage, keep ALL of my earnings, then save (if I choose to) in an interest bearing account without paying taxes. That would be completely legal.
If on the other hand I wanted to buy a bunch of goods that I don't need, I would be VOLUNTARILY paying more in taxes.
Your "Problem #1" section is also flawed. "Go stand in front of a store and ask the typical American how much federal sales tax he paid on the item he just bought for $139? Give him a calculator and ask him again. Unless he is familiar with figuring percentages, the average American will not be able to tell you how much sales tax he just paid."
Do you think that same individual has any idea how much is deducted from his paycheck? I pay attention and have good math skills but I still don't know in advance how much is going to be confiscated by the government; sometimes it's 22%, other times it's 23%, when I work several hours overtime it's 31%. At least the fair tax is a consistent percentage.
As far as the typical American being unable to do simple math.......well, that's a different debate for a different day.
Now it is time to point out some contradiction. "The FairTax is not a voluntary tax at all. The whole idea is a contradiction in terms." You made that assertion in "Lie # 1" but in "Problem #2", you state, "Millions of Americans will pay no taxes at all." By whom is the contradiction being made?
I will now admit that I didn't read your entire posting. I will, however, if you will actually read all of the book and the proposed legislation.
Do you think that same individual has any idea how much is deducted from his paycheck?
A line item on the receipt shows how much the tax was -- 23% of the total. It's no different than a person walks out of the computer store with a new computer -- he or she knows how much tax they paid. Except under the FairTax the shopper knows not just the exclusive tax rate, but also the inclusive tax rate. A different situation applies before purchase and the product price doesn't include the tax. The shopper will add the 30% exclusive tax figure to get a total price for the product.
Factor food into the equation. To avoid all taxes, you'll need to hunt or grow your own food, make your own clothes, etc. The same is already true today: if you start a self-sufficient farm, you'll pay no income taxes.
Your "Lie # 1" section is completely absurd. Your claim that the fair tax would not be voluntary is way off the mark. You ask "what happens if someone decides that they don't want to pay any taxes to the federal government?" Then you reply with: "The same thing that happens now: fines and imprisonment." Fines and imprisonment could occur if someone buy or sells goods without charging or paying the tax. As is pointed out in the book, that requires two parties (the buyer and seller) to consciously avoid the system.First, I didn't write this. Second, it does not require 2 people to cheat the FairTax. The buyer or the seller could do it, easily, by themselves. As a seller I could collect the tax and not remit it. As a buyer I could provide a business-use certificate to purchase a product that is for personal use. As a buyer I could also order from out of the country and not remit the tax.