FairTax - The Advocates Strike Back

Mike Moffat and Al Ose | June 2006 | Mike Moffatt and Al Ose

[pigdog]

FairTax Strikes Back - Introduction On April 8, 2003 I wrote my first article on the FairTax proposal. The article FairTax - Income Taxes vs. Sales Taxes detailed the costs and benefits of moving from a system of income taxes to a system of sales taxes. In the article I concluded that "[the]FairTax is an interesting proposal which is unlikely to ever be implemented." The response I received to this article was overwhelming. I've gotten hundreds and hundreds of e-mails on the article, every last one of them from a FairTax supporter. While many of the supporters had something negative to say about the article (and its author), one FairTax supporter wrote a number of intelligent, passionate e-mails about the benefits of the FairTax system, and pointed me towards studies supporting the FairTax.

That supporter is Al Ose, author of the book "America's Best-Kept Secret: FairTax." I was quite impressed with Al's e-mails, so I invited him to write a pro-FairTax article for Economics at About.com. This is that article.

[pigdog]

Al's article is well worth the read (and his book is excellent also if you haven't seen it). The text by Mike M. is merely a lead-in to Al's article. The link is here.

[pigdog]

Apparently the website about.com &/or FR have some copyright difficulties so that you'll need to check the site using the link. Good article, however.

[goldstategop]

I agree with Al. But I also agree with Mike Moffat it will never become law. As unfair and frustrating as the income tax is, people are used to working with it and they're afraid of the devil they don't know. And changing the status quo in this country is very difficult. So yes, a Fair Tax would be better for this country in the long run but you're fighting powerful entrenched interests who stand a lot to lose if the income tax system ever bit the dust. Just think of all the tax preparers who would have to find another line of work. I like the Fair Tax a lot but the politics and every thing else militate against its adoption.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[pigdog]

Perhaps, but H&R Block has said that it would be fine with them as they believe that could then concentrate on what are actually higher-margin types of advisory work.

My CPA insists he'd LOVE to give up his IT practice and do something productive and worthwhile.

The biggest entrenched areas are probably centered around K Street and a handful of Beltway Bastards. But keeping in mind that reelection is Job One to most politicos (else all - or at least most - of the goodies cease), then the job for us is to make sure we get this communicated to them ... and frequently.

[groanup]

Outstanding. Not only does Warren Buffet own those housing tax credits, Microsoft is one of the largest buyers too. Another point about Buffet and the estate tax, as Conservative Goddess pointed out to me, Buffet owns large insurance interests that need the estate tax to generate life insurance premium.

Big bump bttt.

[xcamel]

FairTax:

All your brains are belong to us...

[pigdog]

An old SQL shibboleth:

"The first 90% of a project takes 90% of the time, the last 10% takes the other 90% of the time." -- xcamel

[xcamel]

ping

[ancient_geezer]

A Taxreform bump for you all.

If anyone would like to be added to this ping list let me know.

John Linder in the House(HR25) & Saxby Chambliss Senate(S25) offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and SS/Medicare payroll taxes outright and replace them with with a national retail sales tax administered by the states.

H.R.25,S.25
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Refer for additional information:

• AllTheWeb search: "national sales tax" OR "national retail sales tax" OR "fairtax"

[maine-iac7]

I like the Fair Tax a lot but the politics and every thing else militate against its adoption.

that's the attitude the lib/socialists are hoping to instill...

go to Senator Linder's site - for one - and start thinking positive...

Sitting in the corner, sucking thumbs and saying "can't be done" isn't the answer.

http://linder.house.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Resources.Home&Resource_id=1

[Your Nightmare]

Al's article is over three years old. Is this what you spent your timeout on? Couldn't you find anything new?

[Cobra64]

As unfair and frustrating as the income tax is, people are used to working with it and they're afraid of the devil they don't know.

I agree 100%.

However, maybe, just maybe, if Joe Six Pack's paychecks had zero withholding, and he were to pay his entire year's income taxes on April 15th, he might just WTFU.

It would be the first step in making people aware of what is being confiscated by the government.

Now, the first trick in this process would be to even get the withholding law abolished.

Realistically, I'm not holding my breath. This country's socialists will never let it happen.

[pigdog]

Perfect illustration of my tagline!!

[Your Nightmare]

Didn't you just get slapped on the wrist - twice - for bad behavior? Here you are calling people names again.

[pigdog]

Sorry Nightie - but as usual you've got it wrong.

[lewislynn]

go to Senator Linder's site - for one - and start thinking positive...

For the second time, he isn't a Senator!

[lewislynn]

Perfect illustration of my tagline!!

You mean your ankle biting tagline?

[pigdog]

It was Mike Moffatt's original article on taxes that was published in 2003, Nightie.

[pigdog]

Try hard and see if you can figure that out, Looey.

[Your Nightmare]

It was Mike Moffatt's original article on taxes that was published in 2003, Nightie.

So was the reply.