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Why The Fair Tax WILL Work, A response to Bartlett's Unfair Attack on the FairTax
www.FairTax.org and Tax Notes ^ | January 15, 2008 | Laurence J. Kotlikoff

Posted on 02/17/2008 7:34:33 AM PST by DivaDelMar

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To: xcamel; lewislynn

If the government has an unbridled ability to print money, which they do, why do we need any system of taxation, be it based on income, consumption, flatulence, eye color, number of children, pets or any other stupid basis upon which taxes are inflicted? Why can’t they just print more peachy-green pieces of paper called money to pay all the bills?

Answer: They could and they do. The system of taxation serves only as a means by which to contract the money supply. Period.

For a bit of irreverent, contrarian, somewhat off-color humor on the subject, see: http://www.dailyreckoning.com/Writers/Mogambo/DREssays/MG021508.html


121 posted on 02/17/2008 6:00:57 PM PST by DivaDelMar (CRAm member-- (Conservative Republicans Against mcCain) Think you're entitled to my vote? CRAm It!!!)
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To: DivaDelMar

“Are we impotent? Did we not defeat the amnesty bill? Why do you attribute unbridled power to members of Congress? Do they not answer to us?”

They are. And in this age of the internet, even more so.

But, give them the Fair Tax and they will strangle us with it.

I greatly admire your passion. However, I rarely, if ever, bet against human nature. We are just going to have to agree to disagree.

Thanks for the intellectual give and take. The grey matter needs a little exercise like this now and then.


122 posted on 02/17/2008 6:35:37 PM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Life is too short to go through it clenched of sphincter and void of humor - it's okay to laugh.)
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To: Buckeye Battle Cry
Right now, it’s too hard

Then why aren't liberals feasting on the idea of the FairTax? Why is it mostly conservatives? And why didn't the legislative and executive branches put your goblins in place before the 1994 Republican sweep?

123 posted on 02/17/2008 7:03:18 PM PST by groanup (Don't let the bastards get you down.)
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To: xcamel
Did I mention that my business has been around since 1827

No, you never mentioned that you were a trust fund baby.

and in the family for the last 5 consecutive generations, with generation 6 working on his business degree?

I'll bet he's a FairTax supporter. Does your family let him think for himself?

You have no concept whatsoever of what it means to "give back" for future generations.

One of the reasons I'm such a FT fan is the idea of what it will leave my grandchildren.

You OTOH, are simply trying to justify all that money you spent avoiding the generational tax that the rest of us would have to pay for your share.

You are just a shallow petty person with a big set of "net nuts" that in reality probably punches in as the pivot man in a large Dilbert pool.

My, my. Aren't we brave hiding in our mother's basement playing with our computer.

And go ahead and mash the BooHoo button, I could not possibly care less at this point.

I don't have to. Your posts seem to disappear all by themselves.

124 posted on 02/17/2008 7:13:55 PM PST by groanup (Don't let the bastards get you down.)
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To: groanup

I give up. Pass the kool-aid.


125 posted on 02/18/2008 6:34:49 AM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Life is too short to go through it clenched of sphincter and void of humor - it's okay to laugh.)
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To: groanup
One of the reasons I'm such a FT fan is the idea of what it will leave my grandchildren.

Of course it will be taxed at 30% as soon as they spend it.

126 posted on 02/18/2008 7:33:05 AM PST by lucysmom
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To: Buckeye Battle Cry

Don’t run and hide. I raised legitimate questions. Please respond.


127 posted on 02/18/2008 9:21:41 AM PST by groanup (Don't let the bastards get you down.)
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To: DivaDelMar

I could go for the fair tax.


128 posted on 02/18/2008 9:22:33 AM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: lucysmom
Of course it will be taxed at 30% as soon as they spend it.

Bingo!! Right on the money!!. They won't HAVE to pay the tax because they won't HAVE to spend it. And it will all be there, not just 45% of it.

129 posted on 02/18/2008 9:24:12 AM PST by groanup (Don't let the bastards get you down.)
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To: groanup

You did not raise legitimate questions. You have yet to respond to my legitimate points about how easily it could be turned into a VAT.

You are avoiding the thrust of my arguments and changing the subject.

As a true-believer, I will not change your mind. You will always have a “wait, but what about....” I’ve just grown tired of playing the game. Let me know when you wish to lay down a counter-argument worth the effort of responding to that is directly responsive as to HOW a liberal majority in congress and a liberal president in the White House will not expand the Fair tax into a VAT.

Stop with the attempts to change the subject or to side-track the subject on a tangent.

Either respond directly and legitimately, or take your self-smug attitude elsewhere by telling yourself that you “won” because I refused to run-down your red-herring.

Either way, I’m tired of Fair Tax zealots ignoring the reality I have laid out and trying to drag me down blind alleys to get me away from the reaility I point out that they fear as being fatal to their dream.

Furthermore, I have not even approached the subject of how your fantasy law will double-tax life time savers. I have yet to see a legitimate response to how you manage that little nightmare for grandma and grandpa.

Don’t run and hide now. Drink up some more kool-aid and come back at me with legitimate discussion of my direct comments on this thread, or trot off down your dead-end tangent where I refuse to amuse you anymore in an effort to keep you focused on the legitimate criticisms of a fantasy that will never become reality anyway.


130 posted on 02/18/2008 9:30:40 AM PST by Buckeye Battle Cry (Life is too short to go through it clenched of sphincter and void of humor - it's okay to laugh.)
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To: DivaDelMar

My motive for opposing the scheme is selfish. We are retired and have run the numbers. We will pay significantly more tax with it.

Let’s correct the problem, rampant socialist entitlement program spending, rather than messing collection system.


131 posted on 02/18/2008 9:34:12 AM PST by Proud2BeRight
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To: groanup
Bingo!! Right on the money!!. They won't HAVE to pay the tax because they won't HAVE to spend it. And it will all be there, not just 45% of it.

So, then, what's the point?

If your estate is large enough that inheritance taxes are a worry, then perhaps you should do some estate planning. Its easier and faster than counting on the passage of a bill.

132 posted on 02/18/2008 9:36:51 AM PST by lucysmom
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To: Buckeye Battle Cry

With respect to double taxing Grandma and Grandpa, I ask you to consider the following:

1. They are doubly taxed now to the extent that they bear any of the economic incidence of entity level taxation; something that is impossible to predict or quantify. Grandma and Grandpa pay it in the form of higher prices and reduced nominal return on investments.

2. The Fair Tax repeals the RMD rules for qualified plans, which are designed to trigger a taxable event whether Grandma or Grandpa needs the money.

3. The net present value of the Medicare Part D entitlement is estimated at $10 trillion. Perhaps Grandma and Grandpa should pay for that instead of our children and grandchildren? The Bush inspired expansion of the welfare state raises genuine generational equity issues. I would prefer to repeal Medicare Part D, but failng that, I’m not sure it is inappropriate to tax those who benefit from the program.

4. If Grandma and Grandpa are truly wealthy, the Fair Tax repeals the estate and gift tax; greatly simplifying their estate planning and reducing their lifetime tax burden.


133 posted on 02/18/2008 9:59:39 AM PST by DivaDelMar (CRAm member-- (Conservative Republicans Against mcCain) Think you're entitled to my vote? CRAm It!!!)
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To: Buckeye Battle Cry
Spoken like a true over-charging and under-performing estate planner.
134 posted on 02/18/2008 10:24:47 AM PST by xcamel (Two-hand-voting now in play - One on lever, other holding nose.)
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To: Digital Sniper

“Sorry...the only ‘fair tax’ is an across the board Flat Tax.”

Which flat tax proposal do you support?


135 posted on 02/18/2008 10:36:47 AM PST by phil_will1 (My posts are in no way limited or restricted by previously expressed SQL opinions)
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To: MeanGreen2008
Once again, this is one of many things misunderstood about HR 25. Everyone gets the rebate, not just the "poor."
136 posted on 02/18/2008 10:52:40 AM PST by SALChamps03
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To: mad_as_he$$

“Lower end wage makers will suffer...”

With the combination of the rebate plus the pre-tax drop in prices, those living at or below the poverty level will see an actual INCREASE in their purchasing power. That seems inconsistent with your claim that lower end wage earners will suffer.

“It will throw hundreds (if not thousands)out of work in the first year.”

The economic studies have indicated that GDP growth would be in the double digits in year 1. That would create many new jobs. Just the removal of the bias that the current system provides to foreign producers in the global economy is very significant in terms of job creation, as is the making of the US as a magnet for investment capital.


137 posted on 02/18/2008 10:55:32 AM PST by phil_will1 (My posts are in no way limited or restricted by previously expressed SQL opinions)
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To: xcamel

“I’m starting to think ......”

Congratulations!! It wasn’t that painful, was it?


138 posted on 02/18/2008 11:01:39 AM PST by phil_will1 (My posts are in no way limited or restricted by previously expressed SQL opinions)
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To: xcamel

“Stumping for the FT that doesn’t address any real problems?”

So these are not “real problems”?
1. a huge and growing trade deficit
2. enormous and growing compliance costs
3. an individual savings rate now in negative territory
4. the looming insolvency of SS and Medicare

Just to name a few off the top of my head.


139 posted on 02/18/2008 11:06:32 AM PST by phil_will1 (My posts are in no way limited or restricted by previously expressed SQL opinions)
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To: phil_will1

Must have been “off the top” of your head because there is obviously nothing in it.


140 posted on 02/18/2008 11:10:39 AM PST by xcamel (Two-hand-voting now in play - One on lever, other holding nose.)
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