The VAT

[Jacquerie]

My favorite radio talk show host, Mark Levin, has repeatedly warned us that among the possible new taxes, on retirement accounts and carbon, we can expect first off, a Value Added Tax. The lead-in will be ever wilder annual deficits; the spark may be a another threatened credit downgrade. A new “do something” solution will magically appear from another long weekend séance hosted by Plugs Biden, and voila, the masterminds will determine our once republic must have a VAT . . . NOW!

Its European pedigree is well known to the Obot regime and rat masterminds in Congress, and it is only a matter of time, the right time, to quickly introduce it and jam it into law.

Allow me a preemptive question that will certainly bounce around FreeRepublic. Is a VAT constitutional? Yes, I know the four stooges plus John Roberts took the fee or penalty or whatever it actually is in Obamacare, then did a little known blackrobe incantation and determined it to be of all things, a tax of an undetermined nature. For this discussion, leave that aside, and consider if an old fashioned European statist method of extracting enormous revenue from a dull witted American proletariat falls into one of the tax categories in our Constitution as written and later amended.

Those categories are direct taxes, capitation taxes, duties, imposts, excises, and income taxes. Which, if any would Constitutionally permit the VAT?

[BfloGuy]

I don’t see the VAT as falling under any of the Constitutionally itemized categories of direct taxes, capitation taxes, duties, imposts, excises, or income taxes.

The VAT is an ugly, ugly beast. The founding fathers couldn't possibly have dreamed up such an economic monstrosity. You're right, though. Constitutionality disappeared generations ago as a justification for legislation.

[BfloGuy]

I estimate that (non-scientifically) to be half of the FReepers in that age group. These are people that are otherwise conservative. If we cannot get off the government gravy train, why the heck should we expect today’s welfare recipients to sacrifice?

Well, yes. I understand what you say.

Medicare and SS, however, are touchy subjects. The so-called conservatives have paid into them [under the force of law] and, so it's not unreasonable to expect that money back with the promised 1.9% [I think] of interest.

I am not defending those programs, but they do exist and promises were made and money was paid.

SS and Medicare spending must be addressed but there is also the larger problem of Welfare, Food Stamps, and Disability. Those could be cut. They are prime examples of people getting something for nothing.

It's a tough, tough situation. And, yes, you're right. We've come to the point where people do want a $4 trillion government. But to tax that much out of the economy will destroy us.

It'll take a very special and peculiar person to lead us out of this mess. I don't hold out much hope that person exists.

[BobL]

“It’ll take a very special and peculiar person to lead us out of this mess. I don’t hold out much hope that person exists.”

Agree. So we likely go broke. I was grasping at straws in the hope that we could avoid it (i.e. VAT and others)...so that my kids could live a life at least reasonable close to the life that I was fortunate enough to live.

But no...you are right, we MUST hit bottom, and then only hope there are still enough of us around to outvote the takers, so that we can pull out of it. But I’m not even sure that’s possible.

Good article on Honduras today...pretty much tells us where we are going. Very sad.