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I was just joking. I have trouble with the argument, to tell you the truth, because even if the automakers do add extra costs to an automobile, they just wind up paying more in taxes, do they not?

I would need to know exactly what they mean by "hidden income taxes" and how guaranteed prices are to drop. Could you imagine having a 23% tax added to the present cost of everything?

I figured you were joking.

Another thing the FairTax people don't bother to think about is that it's a Utopian idea that's just as good as any other if it was a perfect world, but we are Americans and have freedom and thus trillions of decisions a day happening.

Let's go back to the idea of cars. How exactly will that extra tax be marketed? Car sellers will NOT want to slap that tax on TOP of the price and all the other crap they sell you. So they'll play the game again...higher trade in, longer payment, lower interest rate, etc. All the tricks they use to keep the price the same.

So most Americans are now going to be financing a sales tax on automobiles. That puts them more in debt and they are now paying interest on a tax.

Bet the FairTax folks never thought of that one. So, of course, automobile purchases will have to be exempt or curtailed. The Michigan Congressional delegation will see to that.

As a matter of fact, most states with sales taxes cap the purchase of an automobile to keep their own state tax from keeping sales down. Car dealerships are everywhere and pay taxes too.

Now, I've just wasted cyberspace on just the concept of the NRST on cars. Want to start a thread to discuss the gazillion other products and services that every Congressman isn't going to want to influence?

The reply I get from that argument is usually, "read the Act...it's Iron Clad...it's Set in Stone...It has no deviations, etc." Right. Like that would make it out of a sub-committee much less get onto the floor for a vote.

I'd love a perfect world too. And I wish I could beam myself to the Enterprise and tell Mr. Scott to hit warp 9!