The inclusive vs exclusive concept is not difficult. I have come to believe that the reason some people don’t “get it” is not because of ignorance OR stupidity. They don’t get it out of stubbornness. It is a filibuster. If we get hung up on an inclusive vs exclusive discussion, we will have less energy to spend on discussing the benefits of FairTax and how to deal with some of the likely problems that will need to be solved.
The necessity for a filibuster reveals there is a hidden agenda somewhere. I believe it is likely some people here are protecting their turf by picking at the FairTax. Lord knows there are a lot of people earning their livelihood in the tax compliance industry. That is a major part of the expense of the IRS system.
So to those tax lawyers, tax accountants, tax code instructors, tax preparers, and Turbotax code writers out there, I am sorry if the Fairtax would put you in the category of buggy whip makers. Some of you will find work in the inevitable (but smaller) bureaucracy of the FairTax. To the rest of you, welcome to the productive part of the American economy.
And I am going to spend time today trying to figure out how to pay the correct tax on some stock I sold last year. It was acquired at a discount in a company stock plan, which makes it a little more complicated. But that’s OK, because we love the income tax so much.
You are correct. The rate discussion is one of the reddest of herrings. And I am part of the tax compliance industry...an industry that arose not because we produce ANYTHING that is worthwhile or a real contribution to the GDP, but because the government instituted a make-work program for accountants and lawyers. It is a travesty. I appreciate your cogent thoughts.