Replies

I think we disagree on this one....

At least we agree on something finally....that we disagree. I was beginning to think we'd never agree on anything...smile.
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Some consider it a weakness of the FairTax that there will be "sticker shock" when Americans see their tax burden for the first time. Supporters of the FairTax consider that a benefit.

Sticker Shock??? Are you kidding. I think everyone knows that taxes are too high. Tell me...do you know anyone personally who truly believes that taxes are too low? I highly doubt it. That's why Republicans have held on to the House, Senate and now the Presidency for so long. The problem is, they didn't control SPENDING like we thought they would. Now the "not a dimes worth of difference" people have a spending history to point at in spite of the fact that they've held the line on tax rates and have done many other good things.

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I can't join you in your all out quest for the so called "Fair Tax." I just don't believe it's the panacea that you think it is. Figures lie and liars figure, I've always heard.

I can be and often am proven wrong, but this one just doesn't pass my smell test. I believe it to be spinning wheels and wasting valuable rubber on something that won't make one bit of difference in the long run. Just MHO.

"Sticker Shock??? Are you kidding. I think everyone knows that taxes are too high."

Not at all true. Have you ever heard anyone respond when asked how much taxes they paid last year "oh, I didn't pay, I got a refund"? Even on FR, you can hear objections that we will never get this passed because of all those who pay little, if any, income taxes and they will have little reason to support it for that reason. That ignores the fact that many on the lower end of the income ladder pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income taxes and that much of our tax burden is hidden in the price of the goods that we pay.

If all the FairTax did was ........

eliminate several hundred billion per year in compliance costs ..... that alone would make it worthwhile.

make US produced goods more competitive in the global marketplace .... that alone would make it worthwhile.

eliminate the most abusive and un-American federal agency in existence, the IRS ..... that alone would make it worthwhile.

The fact that it also makes the federal taxes we pay more visible and would therefore exert downward pressure on tax and spending rates is frosting on the cake.

As you say, we simply disagree. FairTaxers see a major benefit in making the tax burden more visible to all Americans who pay it; you don't.