Why the FairTax Army Grows

More than 8,000 people of every political persuasion recently came to the Carolina Coliseum to make a point.

They wanted America and every GOP presidential candidate at the debate to know that there is a better way to collect federal revenues for the common good.

It is called the FairTax, and it is an extensively researched proposal and legislation to replace the dysfunctional income tax system with a progressive national retail consumption tax.

The FairTax is gaining national attention and widespread grassroots support because, unlike every other tax debate over the past fifty years, it does not pit one income group or political view against another.

At the same time that all federal taxes on the poor are eliminated under the FairTax (through a universal rebate), capital gains taxes, corporate taxes, and “inheritance taxes” are eliminated as well as all payroll taxes and federal withholding. Elimination of federal withholding and payroll taxes means, of course, that every wage earner takes home their entire “gross” pay.

As well, the FairTax gives the middle class a tremendous tax improvement, reducing effective lifetime tax rates dramatically. Every income level can be benefited because the FairTax creates a far broader base for taxation consumption than the current ineffective, loophole-ridden, and costly system of taxation of earnings. The “underground” economy totaling trillions of dollars contributes to the federal government for the first time, and 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants become taxpayers as consumers.

There is a “catch,” however, and that is why so many people were inspired to travel to Columbia from all over the country for a Tuesday evening FairTax rally. The “catch” is that enactment of the FairTax eliminates Congress’s ability to grant favors in the income tax system. Taking power away from Congress is, of course, a huge political challenge requiring overwhelming grassroots pressure and an abiding belief that public policy can be made to simply favor the public, despite the self-interest of Congress.

While the FairTax has the potential to unite a divided country against the self-dealing of Congress, the growing popularity of the FairTax has also inspired bipartisan distortions of the proposal by Washington, D.C.-based political operatives threatened by the very idea of a tax system free from congressional mischief.

Most commonly, the proposal is derided from the left as being unfair to the poor despite the fact that, unlike every other sales tax, the FairTax is not regressive and actually untaxes the poor entirely. From the right (and sometimes the left), D.C. operatives like to claim that the FairTax represents a tax increase on everyday goods, conveniently ignoring the fact that every respected economist who has studied the FairTax has concluded that retail prices will actually drop as huge “embedded” income tax costs are eliminated from the cost of producing everything from a loaf of bread to a gallon of gasoline.

FairTaxers, passionate in their desire to see the broken income tax system jettisoned, take such criticism in stride as the cost of advancing an issue that did not start in Washington, D.C. They are less understanding of why national media sources have been so ill-tuned to the growing national movement that has won 60 congressional co-sponsors and at least one fervent presidential candidate (Mike Huckabee).

In the last 11 months, FairTax rallies in Columbia, Atlanta, and Orlando have seen thousands of citizens, bedecked in FairTax shirts and hats and waving placards, wildly cheer advocates like talk show host Neal Boortz, Fox News pundit Sean Hannity, and ABC News reporter John Stossel. But more than celebrating their celebrity, FairTax supporters have welcomed these men as fellow citizens embarked on a democratic journey to force the public will on a largely unresponsive representative government.

Even if the fact that the current income tax system is killing the “Made in America” label, from textiles in South Carolina to automobiles in Michigan to steel in Pennsylvania, and is driving trillions of American dollars offshore, Congress will only be moved on this issue by direct grassroots advocacy that threatens the tenure of elected officials. In this, the FairTax grassroots army largely sees our campaign as a test of whether our Founding Fathers’ promise of a government “of, by, and for the people…” can still be made to come true.

The irony that a nation first conceived in the midst of a tax protest should, hundreds of years later, have citizens struggling again to overturn a universally despised tax system primarily supported by tax lobbyists and elected representatives jealously guarding their own power to manipulate taxes has not been lost on the growing FairTax army. While sometimes indignant, increasingly this citizen army has simply adopted the attitude that “the world is what we make it.”

Our nation has wondered long enough about the complex and destructive patchwork quilt of political favors called the income tax system and asked “why?” It is high time, in Bobby Kennedy’s words, to instead ask “why not?” about a fairer, simpler, and more effective means of collecting federal taxes.

From original post above: Most commonly, the proposal is derided from the left as being unfair to the poor despite the fact that, unlike every other sales tax, the FairTax is not regressive and actually untaxes the poor entirely. From the right (and sometimes the left), D.C. operatives like to claim that the FairTax represents a tax increase on everyday goods, conveniently ignoring the fact that every respected economist who has studied the FairTax has concluded that retail prices will actually drop as huge “embedded” income tax costs are eliminated from the cost of producing everything from a loaf of bread to a gallon of gasoline.

This is well answered below.

From #4 -- I’m a little vague on the concept. Is this like a value-added tax?This was sritten by the Neal Boortz, co-author with Congressman John Linder (R-GA)who, along with more than 60 other Congressmen are presenting a bill to Fair Tax bill to the Congress. It will give you a good start on what it is all about:

TAX REFORM ... FINALLY?>

By Neal Boortz -- Tuesday, August 3, 2004

I'm certainly not holding my breath here, but House Speaker Dennis Hastert is indicating that Republicans will put tax reform --- complete tax reform --- on the front burner next year.

Those of you who listen to me know that I am a long-time supporter of the idea of replacing the federal income tax with a national retail sales tax. It is the ONLY tax reform plan out there that allows for the complete removal of the IRS from the national landscape and for the complete elimination of the income tax.

It just happens that I'm toying with the idea of a book on the Fair Tax plan. Now seems to be as good a time as any to run just one chapter by you. Here's a chapter entitled "But What About the Poor?" Let me know what you think. >P?BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POOR?

OK ... let's put on our sensitivity hats for a few minutes here and think of the consequences of the Fair Tax Act on our nation's poor, poor, pitiful poor. After all, they can hardly afford a 23% sales tax when they're living paycheck-to-paycheck in the first place, right? We're actually going to forget, just for now, that poverty is largely a behavioral disorder and consider how they would survive under the fair tax.

We begin with a reality check. Right now, for the most part, those whom we define as "poor" aren't paying any income tax anyway. In fact, many of them are getting checks from the government. The absurdly named Earned Income Tax Credit, for example. So right now the government is actually supplementing their income. How can they endure a 23% sales tax?

The implementation of the Fair Tax would fail in short order if, as the question presupposes, the net effect on the poor would be the that they would be paying today's prices for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread, plus a 23% sales tax. But ... that would be far from the reality under the Fair Tax. Under the Fair Tax the poor won't only survive, they'll positively thrive! The Fair Tax could turn out to be the best poverty-fighting tool devised in this country since the concept of hard work. Let's begin by considering two realities. First, remember, please, that the poor, along with everybody else, will no longer have Social Security taxes or Medicare taxes withheld from their paychecks. Whatever they earn, they get on payday. For most of them this means an immediate 10 to 15% increase in their earnings. Second. Don't forget the 22% in imbedded taxes. It's lurking there in virtually everything poor Americans have to buy. As soon as the competitive forces of the free market work their magic these people will be paying 20% or more less for virtually retail purchase, including the basics of food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Yes .. they'll have to pay the new national sales tax, but when you factor in the lower prices caused by the disappearance of the embedded taxes you'll see that the total price paid for consumer goods will remain very nearly the same. So ... just considering these factors, the Fair Tax delivers a winning hand to people living in or near to what we call poverty. They get every penny they earn on payday, and when you factor in the Fair Tax and the lower prices, they're actually spending less of their money for a retail purchase than before. Pull out the calculators. Say that a single mother with two children spends $45 a week on groceries. The removal of the 22% embedded tax would bring the price of those groceries down to $35.10. The sales tax would be $8.07. This brings the total price to $43.17. That's less than would have paid under today's tax system. This single mother, whom we'll consider "poor," has just received a 10% to 15% increase in her weekly paychecks, and she's paying less at the grocery story for her basic necessities. Well, at this point you should be thoroughly convinced that the Fair Tax would actually benefit, rather than harm the poor. But, then again, maybe not. So, here's the clincher.

THE REBATE

Under the Fair Tax plan every consumer will receive a check from the federal government every single month equal to the sales tax that person would be expected to pay on the purchase of the basic necessities of life for that month. The size of the monthly payment will be based on the government's published poverty levels for various sized households.

Here's an example of how the rebate payments would have worked in 2003.

Let's say you're a married couple with two children. The Fair Tax Act sets forth a formula for computing the poverty level, based on government figures, which negates any marriage penalty. Under the Fair Tax Act in 2003 you would have been granted an annual consumption allowance of $24,240. This is what the government would assume you would have to spend during that one year to buy the basic necessities of life for your family. The sales tax on this amount would equal $5,575. The government will rebate this amount to you in 12 equal monthly installments of $465.

What about a single woman with one child? Her monthly rebate in 2003 would have been $232. The lowest payment would be to a single person with no dependents. That person would receive $172 per month.

Now ... bear in mind, this rebate isn't only paid to the poor. It is paid to everyone, rich and poor alike. The purpose here is to make sure that no American has to pay the Fair Tax sales tax on the basic necessities of life. Unlike the present income tax system, the Fair Tax treats each and every person in this country exactly the same.

This, of course, presents somewhat of a problem to politicians who like to use the tax code to foment class distrust or outright warfare.

OK ... let's add it up for America's lower income citizens:

They get their entire paycheck.

Even with the sales tax, and considering the drop in prices, they'll be paying essentially the same for everything they buy.

They get a check from the federal government every month to rebate any sales taxes they had to pay.

Though their tax returns aren't that complex, let's also include the time these the poor (all of us, really) will save by not having to keep tax records or file tax returns.

So, my friends, if you're looking for some reason to oppose the Fair Tax plan, you're going to have to find a better excuse than its effect on the poor.

*Please note that I titled this chapter "But what about the poor?" and not "But what about the less-fortunate?" Look, I can't be expected to write this entire book without getting in a few digs at the language of political correctness, can I?

To say that the poor are poor because of a lack of good fortune presupposes that those who aren't poor were just lucky. Sorry, but for the vast majority the benefits of an affluent lifestyle aren't a matter of luck, they're the result of attention to education, hard work and good decision making.

Luck counts on the Las Vegas Strip, not Main Street. http://boortz.com/nuze/200408/08032004.html

For the complete scoop buy the book they wrote

The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS by Neal Boortz and John Linder Tuesday, August 3, 2004 TAX REFORM ... FINALLY? I'm certainly not holding my breath here, but House Speaker Dennis Hastert is indicating that Republicans will put tax reform --- complete tax reform --- on the front burner next year. Those of you who listen to me know that I am a long-time supporter of the idea of replacing the federal income tax with a national retail sales tax. It is the ONLY tax reform plan out there that allows for the complete removal of the IRS from the national landscape and for the complete elimination of the income tax. It just happens that I'm toying with the idea of a book on the Fair Tax plan. Now seems to be as good a time as any to run just one chapter by you. Here's a chapter entitled "But What About the Poor?" Let me know what you think. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POOR*? OK ... let's put on our sensitivity hats for a few minutes here and think of the consequences of the Fair Tax Act on our nation's poor, poor, pitiful poor. After all, they can hardly afford a 23% sales tax when they're living paycheck-to-paycheck in the first place, right? We're actually going to forget, just for now, that poverty is largely a behavioral disorder and consider how they would survive under the fair tax. We begin with a reality check. Right now, for the most part, those whom we define as "poor" aren't paying any income tax anyway. In fact, many of them are getting checks from the government. The absurdly named Earned Income Tax Credit, for example. So right now the government is actually supplementing their income. How can they endure a 23% sales tax? The implementation of the Fair Tax would fail in short order if, as the question presupposes, the net effect on the poor would be the that they would be paying today's prices for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread, plus a 23% sales tax. But ... that would be far from the reality under the Fair Tax. Under the Fair Tax the poor won't only survive, they'll positively thrive! The Fair Tax could turn out to be the best poverty-fighting tool devised in this country since the concept of hard work. Let's begin by considering two realities. First, remember, please, that the poor, along with everybody else, will no longer have Social Security taxes or Medicare taxes withheld from their paychecks. Whatever they earn, they get on payday. For most of them this means an immediate 10 to 15% increase in their earnings. Second. Don't forget the 22% in imbedded taxes. It's lurking there in virtually everything poor Americans have to buy. As soon as the competitive forces of the free market work their magic these people will be paying 20% or more less for virtually retail purchase, including the basics of food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Yes .. they'll have to pay the new national sales tax, but when you factor in the lower prices caused by the disappearance of the embedded taxes you'll see that the total price paid for consumer goods will remain very nearly the same. So ... just considering these factors, the Fair Tax delivers a winning hand to people living in or near to what we call poverty. They get every penny they earn on payday, and when you factor in the Fair Tax and the lower prices, they're actually spending less of their money for a retail purchase than before. Pull out the calculators. Say that a single mother with two children spends $45 a week on groceries. The removal of the 22% embedded tax would bring the price of those groceries down to $35.10. The sales tax would be $8.07. This brings the total price to $43.17. That's less than would have paid under today's tax system. This single mother, whom we'll consider "poor," has just received a 10% to 15% increase in her weekly paychecks, and she's paying less at the grocery story for her basic necessities. Well, at this point you should be thoroughly convinced that the Fair Tax would actually benefit, rather than harm the poor. But, then again, maybe not. So, here's the clincher. The Rebate Under the Fair Tax plan every consumer will receive a check from the federal government every single month equal to the sales tax that person would be expected to pay on the purchase of the basic necessities of life for that month. The size of the monthly payment will be based on the government's published poverty levels for various sized households. Here's an example of how the rebate payments would have worked in 2003. Let's say you're a married couple with two children. The Fair Tax Act sets forth a formula for computing the poverty level, based on government figures, which negates any marriage penalty. Under the Fair Tax Act in 2003 you would have been granted an annual consumption allowance of $24,240. This is what the government would assume you would have to spend during that one year to buy the basic necessities of life for your family. The sales tax on this amount would equal $5,575. The government will rebate this amount to you in 12 equal monthly installments of $465. What about a single woman with one child? Her monthly rebate in 2003 would have been $232. The lowest payment would be to a single person with no dependents. That person would receive $172 per month. Now ... bear in mind, this rebate isn't only paid to the poor. It is paid to everyone, rich and poor alike. The purpose here is to make sure that no American has to pay the Fair Tax sales tax on the basic necessities of life. Unlike the present income tax system, the Fair Tax treats each and every person in this country exactly the same. This, of course, presents somewhat of a problem to politicians who like to use the tax code to foment class distrust or outright warfare. OK ... let's add it up for America's lower income citizens: They get their entire paycheck. Even with the sales tax, and considering the drop in prices, they'll be paying essentially the same for everything they buy. They get a check from the federal government every month to rebate any sales taxes they had to pay. Though their tax returns aren't that complex, let's also include the time these the poor (all of us, really) will save by not having to keep tax records or file tax returns. So, my friends, if you're looking for some reason to oppose the Fair Tax plan, you're going to have to find a better excuse than its effect on the poor. *Please note that I titled this chapter "But what about the poor?" and not "But what about the less-fortunate?" Look, I can't be expected to write this entire book without getting in a few digs at the language of political correctness, can I? To say that the poor are poor because of a lack of good fortune presupposes that those who aren't poor were just lucky. Sorry, but for the vast majority the benefits of an affluent lifestyle aren't a matter of luck, they're the result of attention to education, hard work and good decision making. Luck counts on the Las Vegas Strip, not Main Street.

http://boortz.com/nuze/200408/08032004.html

For the complete scoop buy their book at

Tuesday, August 3, 2004 TAX REFORM ... FINALLY? I'm certainly not holding my breath here, but House Speaker Dennis Hastert is indicating that Republicans will put tax reform --- complete tax reform --- on the front burner next year. Those of you who listen to me know that I am a long-time supporter of the idea of replacing the federal income tax with a national retail sales tax. It is the ONLY tax reform plan out there that allows for the complete removal of the IRS from the national landscape and for the complete elimination of the income tax. It just happens that I'm toying with the idea of a book on the Fair Tax plan. Now seems to be as good a time as any to run just one chapter by you. Here's a chapter entitled "But What About the Poor?" Let me know what you think. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE POOR*? OK ... let's put on our sensitivity hats for a few minutes here and think of the consequences of the Fair Tax Act on our nation's poor, poor, pitiful poor. After all, they can hardly afford a 23% sales tax when they're living paycheck-to-paycheck in the first place, right? We're actually going to forget, just for now, that poverty is largely a behavioral disorder and consider how they would survive under the fair tax. We begin with a reality check. Right now, for the most part, those whom we define as "poor" aren't paying any income tax anyway. In fact, many of them are getting checks from the government. The absurdly named Earned Income Tax Credit, for example. So right now the government is actually supplementing their income. How can they endure a 23% sales tax? The implementation of the Fair Tax would fail in short order if, as the question presupposes, the net effect on the poor would be the that they would be paying today's prices for a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread, plus a 23% sales tax. But ... that would be far from the reality under the Fair Tax. Under the Fair Tax the poor won't only survive, they'll positively thrive! The Fair Tax could turn out to be the best poverty-fighting tool devised in this country since the concept of hard work. Let's begin by considering two realities. First, remember, please, that the poor, along with everybody else, will no longer have Social Security taxes or Medicare taxes withheld from their paychecks. Whatever they earn, they get on payday. For most of them this means an immediate 10 to 15% increase in their earnings. Second. Don't forget the 22% in imbedded taxes. It's lurking there in virtually everything poor Americans have to buy. As soon as the competitive forces of the free market work their magic these people will be paying 20% or more less for virtually retail purchase, including the basics of food, clothing, shelter and transportation. Yes .. they'll have to pay the new national sales tax, but when you factor in the lower prices caused by the disappearance of the embedded taxes you'll see that the total price paid for consumer goods will remain very nearly the same. So ... just considering these factors, the Fair Tax delivers a winning hand to people living in or near to what we call poverty. They get every penny they earn on payday, and when you factor in the Fair Tax and the lower prices, they're actually spending less of their money for a retail purchase than before. Pull out the calculators. Say that a single mother with two children spends $45 a week on groceries. The removal of the 22% embedded tax would bring the price of those groceries down to $35.10. The sales tax would be $8.07. This brings the total price to $43.17. That's less than would have paid under today's tax system. This single mother, whom we'll consider "poor," has just received a 10% to 15% increase in her weekly paychecks, and she's paying less at the grocery story for her basic necessities. Well, at this point you should be thoroughly convinced that the Fair Tax would actually benefit, rather than harm the poor. But, then again, maybe not. So, here's the clincher. The Rebate Under the Fair Tax plan every consumer will receive a check from the federal government every single month equal to the sales tax that person would be expected to pay on the purchase of the basic necessities of life for that month. The size of the monthly payment will be based on the government's published poverty levels for various sized households. Here's an example of how the rebate payments would have worked in 2003. Let's say you're a married couple with two children. The Fair Tax Act sets forth a formula for computing the poverty level, based on government figures, which negates any marriage penalty. Under the Fair Tax Act in 2003 you would have been granted an annual consumption allowance of $24,240. This is what the government would assume you would have to spend during that one year to buy the basic necessities of life for your family. The sales tax on this amount would equal $5,575. The government will rebate this amount to you in 12 equal monthly installments of $465. What about a single woman with one child? Her monthly rebate in 2003 would have been $232. The lowest payment would be to a single person with no dependents. That person would receive $172 per month. Now ... bear in mind, this rebate isn't only paid to the poor. It is paid to everyone, rich and poor alike. The purpose here is to make sure that no American has to pay the Fair Tax sales tax on the basic necessities of life. Unlike the present income tax system, the Fair Tax treats each and every person in this country exactly the same. This, of course, presents somewhat of a problem to politicians who like to use the tax code to foment class distrust or outright warfare. OK ... let's add it up for America's lower income citizens: They get their entire paycheck. Even with the sales tax, and considering the drop in prices, they'll be paying essentially the same for everything they buy. They get a check from the federal government every month to rebate any sales taxes they had to pay. Though their tax returns aren't that complex, let's also include the time these the poor (all of us, really) will save by not having to keep tax records or file tax returns. So, my friends, if you're looking for some reason to oppose the Fair Tax plan, you're going to have to find a better excuse than its effect on the poor. *Please note that I titled this chapter "But what about the poor?" and not "But what about the less-fortunate?" Look, I can't be expected to write this entire book without getting in a few digs at the language of political correctness, can I? To say that the poor are poor because of a lack of good fortune presupposes that those who aren't poor were just lucky. Sorry, but for the vast majority the benefits of an affluent lifestyle aren't a matter of luck, they're the result of attention to education, hard work and good decision making. Luck counts on the Las Vegas Strip, not Main Street. http://boortz.com/nuze/200408/08032004.html

For the complete scoop read the book --

The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS by Neal Boortz and John Linder

From about $7.50 + S&H

www.amazon.com

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