Posted on 03/12/2004 3:19:27 PM PST by det dweller too
What you are talking about is a "Value Added Tax." In every country that ever instituted a VAT income taxes were never repealed.
Some of the overview is refutable, some is suspect owing to old decisions that may not apply to the system we have now. What he says about excise taxes is true enough. And the hints about the effect of being involved with the social security set of statutory rights dovetails with the maxim that if you have rights, inalienable or statutory, you must have responsibilities.
He seems unaware of the logical effects on the states and citizens after the South lost the war and citizenship was awarded at the federal level.
It ought to be an interesting read. This is a fact, I think, somewhere around the middle of the last century, the character of the relationship between American citizens and their government changed.
"Out-of-towners" being cheap foreign labor and products and "locals" being native American businesses and people going bankrupt.
What we are witnessing is the fortunes of America being sucked off to overseas with the blessings of our own government.
IMHO, this will continue, regardless of whatever regime sits in the Oval Office.
Well that sucks! But I don't think it is cast in stone. Honestly though, I don't think democrats will ever let go of income taxes. But given that, perhaps they can go back to the original income tax that started at 5X the median income. Today that would be about @200,000. Back to partisan politics briefly, if they loose a lot of seats this time their agreeability to income tax changes like this will come way up.
I am afraid that with democrats the love for taxes is genetic.
No, it's simple. There is a commodity tax, like a value added tax on the service. When the company invoices for the service, be it from a phone bank in Bombay or down the street, a percentage goes to uncle sam, because this is where the service was purchased. And the commodity service can be at different rates for different commoditys. A simple customer support function is one rate and professional help like medical X ray analysis work could be another.
Then that would simply be a tariff, and as we have seen countless times, tariffs cause resentment and trade wars that are costly and they simply don't work anymore. But by reducing our income taxes first that would take down the fixed cost imbedded in our manufactured goods, then we simply add the tax back on the goods for everyone. Now there is no basis for a trade war since they are asked to pay a tax that we are nlso paying. They will not like it, but they have no Legitimate complaint.
Yes, the United States, state and local governments impose costs on business. Many of these are fundamental health and safety costs. Our buildings are inspected during construction to make sure they don't fall down. We have to have fire alarms and lighted exit signs and sprinkler systems.
We have stringent electrical codes to avoid hazardous situations that could electrocute people and/or burn down buildings and houses.
We require two exits so people aren't trapped and trampled getting out in an emergency.
What you foolish free traitors don't realize is many foreign countries place ZERO value on human health and life. NO FREE COUNTRY PLACING VALUE ON HEALTH AND LIFE CAN COMPETE WITH THOSE TREATING HUMAN WORKERS AS EXPENDABLE.
The value of the lives of human beings in China and India is nearly zero to their governments and businesses.
You people who think the export of all manufacturing from America is just fine and dandy are dangerously misled and have spent too much time with your noses in textbooks.
America is racing to the economic bottom and you are too blind to see it.
I am suggesting this tax structure because we can't tell other countries to follow our laws and regulations. What I am saying is that for anybody selling products HERE You will pay for the infrastructure of keeping this place HERE. Then domestic companies will have those costs REMOVED from their cost overhead. Now the domestic company can compete wil anyone, even slave labor if necessary.
Maybe they understand far more about international tax law than you.
we're doomed
If anyone is driving America to the economic bottom, it is those people who are trying to hold on to third world jobs in the name of maintaining a first world standard of living.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.