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White House launches new initiative to overhaul tax code
AP via Billings Gazette ^ | January 7, 2005 | JENNIFER LOVEN

Posted on 01/07/2005 3:15:56 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper

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1 posted on 01/07/2005 3:15:58 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper
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To: BigSkyFreeper
""A simple code will make it easier on the taxpayers," Bush said. "But it's an important task in order to make sure the economic growth we are seeing in the United States continues forward. ... It seems like to me the tax code today discourages economic vitality and growth when you spend billions of hours filling out the forms."

I would get some businessmen on the committee. Steve Forbes would be one of my choices; along with financial analysts, actuaries, and economists for the modeling.

Large successful corporations have marshalled these kinds of resources, and been doing this for decades.

Once a plan has been agreed upon; then there is the "sales" side to the business and private sector.

The process steps are relatively simple on a high level, the devil is in the details.

I've run over a hundred business projects over the last 35 years; and I can say that there needs to be a clear focus on achieving an objective, then identify the stes towards achieving the objectives.

2 posted on 01/07/2005 3:35:04 PM PST by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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To: BigSkyFreeper; Chieftain

Let's hope they enact a national sales tax and do away with this ridiculous system. It's insane and detrimental to our econmy globally. do you remember when Clinton claimed $10 for his underwear shorts that he donated?!! He should have saved them for his library.


3 posted on 01/07/2005 3:35:38 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Support our troops!)
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To: Cobra64
If the mortgage interest deduction is removed or reduced what will be the impact on the housing market? I, like a lot of other folks, have a good part of my net worth tied up in real estate. I will put up with a whole lot of inconvenience to maintain those values.
4 posted on 01/07/2005 3:51:36 PM PST by homeywhite
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

The simplified tax code would be 3 times longer than the present complex version, and even less easily understandable. Some things (like tax code) tend to acquire life of their own, and then they are no longer things, properly speaking. Purposeful manipulation of them becomes impossible, for no matter what one tries to accomplish with them, the cursed meta-life ignores the external intent and accomplishes (or tends to) its own.


5 posted on 01/07/2005 4:06:22 PM PST by GSlob
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To: GSlob
The simplified tax code would be 3 times longer than the present complex version, and even less easily understandable.

Especially with such a limp-wrist like Bush in charge. He'll put forth a reform plan and then instantly cave and compromise as soon as the liberals complain. Then he'll sign it no matter how bad congress butchers it. My predicition from any Bush tax reform bill: higher taxes thinly disguised as reform.

6 posted on 01/07/2005 4:38:31 PM PST by rmmcdaniell
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To: rmmcdaniell
It does not matter who is in charge. Even if a person in charge had kingly powers and could enact the tax code by mere dictation - the implementation of the reformed code would be still left in the hands of the large entrenched bureaucracy currently employed in the field (that includes tax lawyers, certified accountants, even HR Block and those writing tax software, besides the employees of IRS and tax courts). And these people, being people and not mere cogs or angels, would inevitably twist, spin and reinterpret... in their [surprise, surprise!] own interests. This is why the tax code is an example of meta-life, for it has acquired a life of its own - as manifested in tax bureaucracy.
7 posted on 01/07/2005 4:59:42 PM PST by GSlob
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To: rmmcdaniell

And of course you have nothing with which you can back up your claims except for your obvious dislike of President Bush.


8 posted on 01/07/2005 5:01:18 PM PST by COEXERJ145
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie
Let's hope they enact a national sales tax...

You do that, and the Socialist bastards in NY and CA will be screamin for tax hikes. The push will come from the Socialist bastions of this country.

9 posted on 01/07/2005 5:23:13 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (PEST/Suicide Hotline 1-800-BUSH-WON)
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To: GSlob

We can't kill the beast even if we try? You may be right but we'll never get to the point where we even get a chance to try. Congress doesn't want to make any fundamental change that would reduce their power to sell tax legislation. It's stock in trade for them and they will never do anything that infringes that power. Never.


10 posted on 01/07/2005 5:27:38 PM PST by tjg
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie
Simplified tax code:

Line 1. "How much money did you make?"

Line 2. "Send it to us."

11 posted on 01/07/2005 5:33:54 PM PST by TexasCowboy (Texan by birth, citizen of Jesusland by the Grace of God)
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To: tjg

True: the congress (with corresponding staffers), since it has tax writing powers, is an important part of the entrenched tax bureaucracy. You just gave me one more confirming example of my more general statement.


12 posted on 01/07/2005 5:40:19 PM PST by GSlob
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To: All

Well, the news is promising....they are going to look at everything, including a NRST.

However, we need to get our voices heard. How will this be done? Town meetings it sounds like....but there seems to be no way to contact the panel as yet.


13 posted on 01/07/2005 6:03:37 PM PST by rwfromkansas ("War is an ugly thing, but...the decayed feeling...which thinks nothing worth war, is worse." -Mill)
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To: Cobra64

I have been listening to the discussions on tax reform for many months now and doing away with the income tax...So far I don't see much wrong with the sales tax. Some of the complaints, such as the poor would be regressively taxed, have been addressed.
I understand clearly that there are various interest groups, not the least of which is the IRS and those that want to hold their constituents hostage to political benevalence, who don't want ANY tax reform and changing this would be monumental.

On the other hand I have been in business for myself for some time and my two major gripes about the system now are
1) there is not much incentive to create more business , as the tax on any increase I make is so brutal and I don't have the large deductions of big business. I also have the record keeping nitemare ( though that may still be there).
2) Our taxation on corporations do not make us very attractive to business outside our shores.

You are right, the devil is in the details...but if conservative business leaders get in on this, we may be able to make some changes.


14 posted on 01/07/2005 6:48:43 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Support our troops!)
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To: ancient_geezer; Remember_Salamis

Ping


15 posted on 01/07/2005 6:51:59 PM PST by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie; All

For a thumbnail explanation of the national retail sales tax, AKA the Fair Tax, see http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/sketch.html


16 posted on 01/07/2005 6:54:03 PM PST by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: rwrcpa1

Thanks. I have been meaning to check this out. You just gave me the incentive.

I don't mind paying taxes. This is a great country, the very best in the whole world. I just want my taxes to go to where they should: our fine military, protection of its citizens, infrastructure and caring for those truly in need.


17 posted on 01/07/2005 6:59:02 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Support our troops!)
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To: dAnconia; Annie03

Bump and Ping


18 posted on 01/07/2005 7:02:26 PM PST by dAnconia (The government cannot grant rights,but it can protect them. Or violate them.)
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To: Recovering Ex-hippie

It's very exciting and well worth reading everything on the site.


19 posted on 01/07/2005 7:08:09 PM PST by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper; Taxman; Principled; Bigun; EternalVigilance; kevkrom; n-tres-ted; Poohbah; CliffC; ..
A Taxreform bump for you all.

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

John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and SS/Medicare payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a retail sales tax:

H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Refer for additional information: http://www.fairtax.org, http://www.salestax.org & http://www.geocities.com/cmcofer/ftax.html


20 posted on 01/07/2005 7:13:16 PM PST by ancient_geezer (Don't reform it, Replace it!!)
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