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Beware the 9's of Cain!
Bloggers and Personal ^ | 27 Sep 11 | Xzins

Posted on 09/27/2011 1:36:16 PM PDT by xzins

Have you heard about 999? Sorry, it isn't a German Hausfrau admonishing her children. What is 999? It's a new tax scheme dreamed up by Republican candidate, Herman Cain. In his plan, we have a 9% corporate tax, a 9% income tax, and a 9% sales tax.

Here is the bottom line: 999 is one tax MORE than we now have. Argue all you like about the 9% rate, but know this, we are NOT now paying a national sales tax of 9%.

Please consider this. Governments love to tax. Governments love taxing so much that they will at times violate their own Constitution in their frenzy to find more tax money to fill their coffers. Fortunately, when that occurs, citizens do have some recourse in appealing to the courts the violation of their Constitution, as is the case of the individual mandate in ObamaCare.

Not so with the 999 of Herman Cain. The Constitution says that an income tax is acceptable. It speaks nary a word about a corporate tax, meaning that taxes not specifically forbidden are OK. That means a 9% sales tax can also be easily instituted by simple act of Congress.

Remember, governments loving taxes is a passion surpassing that of teenage boys loving teenage girls. They love them so much that our current income tax, once a percent or two of one's income, is now ranging into the high 30 percent. After all, they are Congress and the only thing preventing tax hikes is elections, and even they don't seem to prevent them awfully well.

So imagine that innocent looking 999 some day being 101010 or 121212 or even 303030. What's to prevent it? Absolutely nothing.

Without a Constitutional amendment setting those precise limits, or, in my opinion, an amendment that ends the socially manipulative income tax altogether and forever, those meek little 9's are very dangerous seeds planted that will grow and grow.

Therefore, there is no doubt about 999. America's response should be "Nein, nein, nein!"


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; Politics
KEYWORDS: cain; primary; taxes
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To: dirtboy
Also think about what a 9% National Sales Tax means to seniors on small fixed incomes that currently pay no Income Taxes right now. .... Polybius

Give those seniors a sales tax rebate option. .... dirtboy

Is than in the 999 Plan?

If so, then show us the link.

If not, then that is merely the "Dirtboy Plan".

Seniors are currently the wealthiest segment of the population.

How conservative of you. Do you write Obama's class warfare talking points for his speeches?

We can come up with ways to protect the low-end outliers in that demographic.

We? What do you mean "we"?

The discussion is about Cain's 999 Plan. Show us where this detail is addressed in HIS Plan.

I have my own concerns with a Federal sales tax. But at least Cain is putting out a plan to be analyzed.

That is what we are doing: ANALYZING it.

Your idea of analysis is throwing out ad hominems without even referencing what is and what is not in Cain's plan.

And, quite frankly, your scare-the-seniors tactic against Cain’s 999 proposal reeks of Dem opportunism. Are you really sure you wish to pursue that kind of approach on FR?

See my Post 178.

Hey, Dirt"boy", I just retired so I represent that remark. Are you still in your boyish 30's and living from paycheck to paycheck without any savings worth picking up off of the floor?

I should pay a cumulative tax rate of over 40% on my entire life savings in order to pick up the tax slack for you?

I am putting out straightforward, simple mathematical arguments and all you are doing is responding with argumentum ad hominem like a brainless liberal.

Those are the cold hard numbers. If you can not address those numbers of HOW Cain's Plan 999 SPECIFICALLY addresses the issue of double taxation, then you are not offering any more value to this debate than the liberal that shouts "Fascist!" or "Racist!" if you question an Obama idea.

181 posted on 09/27/2011 5:01:23 PM PDT by Polybius (Defeating Obama is Priority Number One)
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To: xzins

‘m a pastor, and that’s simply not true. All of us pay income taxes PLUS social security at the self-employed rate PLUS tax on all benefits.


Pastors can file an exemption based on religious conviction with the IRS and opt out of Social Security. I do not know if this applies to certain mainstream denominations that have their rules of faith dictated by a national organization, but it certainly applies to many non-denominational pastors.


182 posted on 09/27/2011 5:04:21 PM PDT by Brent Calvert 03969-030 (I stand with Sarah)
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To: Polybius

That is my biggest issue with a new fair tax proposal. It is great to tell people you are exchanging their income tax with a sales tax. It’s a wash.

But what about all those people who have savings, all of which were already taxed? Now they have to endure a sales tax as if they re-earned the income.

It is a punishment to people who saved their money. And I don’t know how to avoid it — you’d need to exempt current savings, but how would you track that so people couldn’t cheat?


183 posted on 09/27/2011 5:13:14 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: xzins

I have to admit that I’m very intrigue by Herman Cain’s “999” tax plan. I’ll have to dig into it further. One group I think will be opposed to it are the people living on a fixed income.


184 posted on 09/27/2011 5:14:17 PM PDT by Quicksilver (Defeat Obama - zero-sum games will get us Zero, again.)
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To: Quicksilver

I’m living of a fixed income (retired) but I’m willing to give the Hermanator a try.


185 posted on 09/27/2011 5:15:39 PM PDT by nascarnation
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To: nascarnation

It could work if the cost of goods and services are lower than with our current tax code.


186 posted on 09/27/2011 5:17:52 PM PDT by Quicksilver (Defeat Obama - zero-sum games will get us Zero, again.)
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To: dirtboy

“Seniors are currently the wealthiest segment of the population. “

Not anymore. Those with money are dying off. The rest took huge hits in the stock market and low interest rates.
I know seniors who are now trying to live on $600 per month.


187 posted on 09/27/2011 5:19:41 PM PDT by stilloftyhenight
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To: NautiNurse
Speaking of false information, you were the one who stated Rick Perry did not call the conservative audience heartless if we did not agree with his immigration tuition subsidy. What is up with all of the bald faced lies around here?

My point was that Perry was adressing his opponents.

In your post on that thread, you linked a video, edited by ultra-liberal MSNBC for Chris Matthew's "Hardball" program, that edited out the beginning of his answer that mentioned "the people on this stage" that had been on constant attack about this issue all night.

But, if you want to feel personally insulted, that is your right.

Reagan's son Michael Reagan comments about how his father would have fared in the primaries today: ….. "If you look at my father and you just knew him as governor -- raised taxes, signed an abortion bill, no-fault divorce, and a few other things -- today, the argument against him would come from the Right; not from the Left. ….. He would have trouble getting his own nomination, but yet he ended up being the greatest president in our lifetimes. ….. We need to look at the whole package, the whole picture, everybody, and stop nit-picking ourselves to death."

I have given up on Perry. He is living up to his 2.2 GPA in college and cannot articulate why, in a State as conservative as Texas, 98% of the State Legislature supported this measure.

As Michael Reagan noted, if 1980 Ronald Reagan were running today, he would be ripped apart as a RINO.

So, you won.

Perry did not pass the test of Survival of the Fittest.

We will see if Hermann Cain or Sarah Palin end up defeating first Mitt Romney and then Obama.

However, if Cain thinks he can end up DOUBLE TAXING my entire life's savings and those of every other retired person without a fight, he is wrong. See my Post 178.

The 999 Plan has very serious flaws that need to be addressed or Cain will be the next candidate the long knives will come out for. Maybe the left-wing media will hold back during the primaries but, once the opponent is Obama, the full frontal assault will begin.

188 posted on 09/27/2011 5:22:19 PM PDT by Polybius (Defeating Obama is Priority Number One)
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To: Quicksilver
... Herman Cain’s “999” tax plan. I’ll have to dig into it further. One group I think will be opposed to it are the people living on a fixed income.

And don't forget the effect on SAVERS. See my Post 178.

189 posted on 09/27/2011 5:25:16 PM PDT by Polybius (Defeating Obama is Priority Number One)
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To: Marie; P-Marlowe; wmfights; blue-duncan

Yes, I have done so back last election when a group of pastors vowed to do so.

And, you might not have known it, but every employee of a church pays taxes.

The church’s so-called “tax exemption” is about the donations of our givers being tax deductible. It is not about the offerings received by a church being taxable. There is no court that would be willing to suggest taxing offerings, since that would violate the first amendment provision of separation and free exercise.

First, even if a member finds his donations no longer tax deductible, there would in most cases be no injury, for many people don’t have enough deductions to exceed the automatic deduction level.

So, this desire to tax churches simply will bear little fruit. I’ve pinged some lawyers in case they wish to comment.


190 posted on 09/27/2011 5:25:54 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: Pontiac
I find that idea abhorrent

So you find it abhorrent to voluntarily pay a tax as aposed to it being pilfered at the point of gun? I find that difficult to believe. Retail businesses already have the infrastructure in place to collect sales tax. It's not much of a stretch to extend that to the Feds. That said, the 16th needs to first be repealed.

The only other solution is to go to some serious tariffing. For some reason that's off the table.

191 posted on 09/27/2011 5:28:15 PM PDT by numberonepal (Palin/Cain 2012)
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To: MNJohnnie
Sorry this argument is utter nonsense. What is to prevent the current tax rate from being hiked 20-30-70%? The notion that it will be easier to hike a sales tax is nonsense. EVERYONE pays the sales tax. It is much easier to hike the income tax by selling it as a “Tax hike on the rich” then it will be to raise a sales tax.

I guarantee that a final sales tax bill will exempt anyone making less than X amount. The government will issue exemption cards.

192 posted on 09/27/2011 5:30:24 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: Brent Calvert 03969-030

They can opt out of social security but not of income tax. I’m not sure about medicare.

However, most pastors receive a mere pittance from their congregations, so it is far more beneficial for them to be vested in social security UNLESS they have some legitimate religious conviction that it violates.

There are very few pastors receiving a salary that will enable them to invest enough to return as much as social security would provide them.


193 posted on 09/27/2011 5:30:49 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: Polybius
Uh, spin-boy - that's what plans are for - put out an idea and then let people suggest ideas around them. And then Cain can incorporate those ideas.

You are a typical troll saying Cain hasn't thought of everything. Guess what? NO ONE DOES. At least Cain has put his ideas out for discussion. Where is Perry's proposal to change the tax code?

194 posted on 09/27/2011 5:32:43 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: xzins
We can do all of that with tariffs.

The U.S. tariff revenue in 2010 was less than $26 billion. That wouldn't provide 5% of our defense spending, much less fund everything else you identify as constitutional.

195 posted on 09/27/2011 5:33:03 PM PDT by SoJoCo
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To: xzins
We can do all of that with tariffs.

The U.S. tariff revenue in 2010 was less than $26 billion. That wouldn't provide 5% of our defense spending, much less fund everything else you identify as constitutional.

196 posted on 09/27/2011 5:33:17 PM PDT by SoJoCo
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To: xzins; Marie; P-Marlowe; wmfights; blue-duncan
First, even if a member finds his donations no longer tax deductible, there would in most cases be no injury, for many people don’t have enough deductions to exceed the automatic deduction level.

After some initial heat from my wife, I believe I would continue giving in the same amount, or close to it.

197 posted on 09/27/2011 5:37:28 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: SoJoCo

Tariffs can be increased against those who don’t permit free flow of American goods into their countries.

Specifically, the US can fund itself in a manner consistent with the original constitution and the intentions of the Founders.


198 posted on 09/27/2011 5:37:55 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: Quicksilver
Looking around the Internet, this comment posted by a lower income worker sums up how the 999 Plan would fly with those voters:

===========================

"I'm a single mom making about $23,000 a year. I DO think the wealthy pay disproportionately high tax rates. If corporations had lower taxes maybe more people would be hired and make more per year. I DON"T get any help from the government and I DON'T expect to. But a 9% income tax would really hurt and a 9% federal tax on top of local and state taxes would probably make it necessary for me to finally need help."

===========================

199 posted on 09/27/2011 5:38:41 PM PDT by Polybius (Defeating Obama is Priority Number One)
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To: DouglasKC
The government will issue exemption cards

If states can issue exemption numbers, then the Fed can issue exemption cards.

And they will, too.

200 posted on 09/27/2011 5:42:10 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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