[scripter]

One time ping.

[Paul C. Jesup]

If Bush got rid of the IRS, he could open the borders wide open and grant amensty to ALL illegal immigrants and he would still WIN by a land slide.

I wonder if anyone in the Federal Republican Party realizes that.

[FairOpinion]

The sooner, the better.

[scott7278]

I'm in.

[sixmil]

Good news, but don't be surprised if the compromise that makes this pass is that overall, the federal government will end up siphoning more money off the economy than it already does.

[Hostage]

I have supported an NST and abolishment of Income Tax for years now but I just saw a piece on Frontline that made me very angry at those who evade taxes and helped me to understand how and why the IRS and Congress have gone bonkers with the tax code .

One example is KPMG. KPMG was/is involved in selling bogus tax shelters to corporations and wealthy individuals that enable them to pay very little if not zero tax. The shelter schemes are so dubious and blatant that it is easy to see that they are criminal.

It opened my eyes as to why the tax code has become more and more complex. It is the result of chasing after these criminals who change their schemes from one year to the next. When they get caught, the penalties are miniscule compared to the fees KPMG takes in with the bogus shelters. The schemes become more and more byzantine and the tax code complexity increases in an effort to stop the abuses.

It's a losing battle from the IRS perspective because Congress will not simplify laws to crackdown on the tax deadbeats. Why? Because there are powerful lobbyists who tie up such legislation to ensure it never gets passed.

If these large tax evaders paid their fair share, the federal deficit would be wiped out. It is feasible to quantify the amount of tax evasion by examining the records of the big accounting firms. They are e.g. KPMG the ones that are designing and selling the schemes. It is truly shameful what the big audit accounting firms like KPMG are doing. There appears to be a complete abandonment of ethics in the once of honorable profession of corporate auditing.

All that said, I still think the NST would be preferable as it would be easier to interpret and enforce than the current system.

[goldstategop]

Bump! It was no less than Jimmy Carter who described the tax code as a disgrace to the human race. He's been wrong about many things but correct about the income tax. The sooner its dumped, the better off America will be as a nation.

[Fenris6]

I still can't figure out why the Dems think that people who don't pay taxes should get a refund when the governemnt takes in too much money.

From now on, whenever my liberal friends pay for dinner (ahem!) I will demand half the change :)

[SERE_DOC]

Sorry to be a wet rag on the subject... but The clowns in DC (no matter what side of the isle they are on) are never going to limit their power and the IRS will be unabated in their ability to destroy.

I will be happy to eat my words but I don't think I will need to.

[ancient_geezer]

A Taxreform bump for you all.

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

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I am all for it!

[tm22721]

This will never pass because of fear that a consumption tax would destroy consumption.

Consumerism is the basis of our modern (<20 years) economy and conservatives especially would be afraid to tamper with success even at the prospect of eliminating the income tax.

BUMP

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I didn't notice any representatives from my state in the list of sponsors. Time to contact them.

On the subject of tax loopholes:

The way the whole system is structured just invites people to explore loopholes. For instance, we operated under the "sole proprietorship" heading and got hammered year after year. Since changing to a sub-s "corporation", we've saved a good bit. Instead of sending half our income, we're sending a third. I guess that makes us one of those "EEEE-vil" corporations. With two employees. Sheesh.

[WhiteGuy]

Fair Tax Bump

[P.O.E.]

The current tax code is a huge industry. Lawyers, accountants, lobbyists, office clerks, the IRS itself, etc. Large businesses have whole departments dedicated to taxes. They will not be put out of work without a fight, and many of them are well-connected.

The biggest obstacle is legislators themselves. The tax code is how a lot of patronage is spooled out.

Unless one changes the underlying political dynamic, tax reform will remain elusive.

[Texas Patriot]

Hmm I like the Idea, I really do. And further more I am for it! I would love to get a 25% to 30% pay raise (I mean who wouldn’t?) but I do have a question though that I haven’t found a readily available answer for. As I understand it one would only pay taxes on things at the retail outlet or its equivalent. So lets say I buy a house, car or gun “new” and I pay taxes on them, then a couple of years later I sell the house does the one who buys it pay any tax, as I understand it no, same for the car and gun right? Then would this be the result a decrease in demand for new goods and an increase in demand for used ones? What effect would that have on the manufacturing end of our economy?
However thinking about it I guess there might be an initial negative effect, but would that straightens out over time?
And about this 20% to 25% in prices I really don’t think so. Yes, yes I understand the math but your not taking into account the human factor, GREED in effect your telling everyone from the small business owner to Exxon and GM that if this went through by just keeping prices as they are, or maybe just a small 5% or 6% drop for show, that they would see up to 20% in crease in profits!
I prefer to look at it this way, say this goes through “the man” stops getting in my paycheck therefore I get a say 25% raise but so what if prices do stay the same I’m still bringing home 25% more $$$ I’m still happy, corporate America is happy because their profits go up lets just say 20% and lets say half of that goes into investing in more business and better raises ( don’t laugh to hard ) and because people like me have more money we spend more thus increasing demand so since they have the money and the demand they create more jobs.
All this sounds great and like I said earlier I’m all for it but I would like to see a couple of safe guards included like once enacted it in order to raise it would take either a super majority in both houses and the presidents signature or a national referendum or in the event of a formal declaration of war it could be an automatic 5% or something like that.
I know that there is no perfect form of taxation and there will always be those who will find ways to circumvent the system but I do think that this form of taxation is straight forward and much fairer than the others

[Wolfie]

Dream on...

[Fiddlstix]

Bump

[mil-vet]

You people just don't get it - a consumption tax is NOT the way to go - a FLAT TAX would be far simpler, cheaper to administer, kinder to lower income folks, and isn't as easy to hide malfeasance as it is with a consumption tax (which has happened almost everywhere - if not everywhere - it's been tried).

I've done the numbers - I've had y'all show me your numbers, and you're wrong.

I'm not going to argue - I'm gonna wait and, if this foolishness (consumption tax, not the overhaul of the current system which is so badly needed - at least we agree on THAT!) goes through, it'll only be a matter of time before I'll refrain from saying "Toldja so"....

[unixfox]

PINGING G.W.B., A.K.A. POTUS !!