National Retail Sales Tax - You gotta be kidding!

GOPNATION.COM ^ | January 31, 2005 | Steve Pudlo

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'll take risk over what we have. DO SOMETHING EVEN IF IT'S WRONG!

[TBarnett34]

Do you really believe that retailers will drop their prices, or will they behave as always?

And, like we've tried to point out to you hundreds of times now, when you've got 30% more disposable income, does it really make a damn bit of difference if prices drop?

[robertpaulsen]

See my post #115, complete with a link to the math.

I note you didn't question the 23%. Where was your skepticism with that number? You just accept that?

[Le Seigneur De Porc]

Your 23% is a joke and a scam.

Of course it is. Its on a level of Scam a Patriot, and should prolly be up over at quatloos.com (if it isn't already).

[eastsider]

Thanks for the link and info.

[Dead Dog]

The NRST would be no more voluntary that the current system. What are you gonna do? Buy something and tell the cashier not to add the federal tax?

Straw Man

The NRST would, by definition be a highly regressive system

Half Truth

The premise that spending is a taxable activity is silly on the face of it. Red Herring wrapped in emotionalism.

But wait! The NRST proponents cheerfully remind me that "large purchases" such as major appliances and automobiles would be exempt from the NRST.

Blatent and intentional falsehood. This man is a liar.

[Judith Anne]

I'm thinking the "Lord of Pork" is probably some mindless ignorant leftist senator trolling FR. One good thing about him, he's giving reform of the tax code a lot of positive publicity by his ignorance. ;-D

[rwfromkansas]

This is one of the stupidest articles I have read in my entire life.

This guy is truly a dim bulb of monumental proportions.

"The NRST would, by definition be a highly regressive system that would hurt the middle class far more than the wealthy."

Apparently this moron doesn't even know what the FairTax is.

It is NOT regressive. A regular NRST, yes, but not the FairTax.

Steve Pudlo (you probably took very pud classes in school), you need to ask the Wizard of Oz for a brain.

[Le Seigneur De Porc]

And, like we've tried to point out to you hundreds of times now, when you've got 30% more disposable income, does it really make a damn bit of difference if prices drop?

Oh, geez - would you listen to yourselves? You've got this whole thing at the emotional level of a tent revival. Somehow the dollars are mating and creating even more dollars - like a ponzi scheme.

[kevkrom]

A little research shows that the Gale testimony you cite is easily rebutted. Just a snippet or two:

It is patently absurd to assert, as does Gale that a sales tax that (1) raises revenue equal to 17.6 percent of GDP and (2) because it taxes all consumption, has a tax base equal to 84 percent of GDP, must be set at rates anywhere near the 50 or 60 percent that he claims.

...

Throughout his analysis Gale asserts inconsistent opinions on the impact of both repealing the existing tax system and of replacing it with a sales tax. He states that income taxes are “clearly incorporated in the price of goods that are bought and sold.” This means that when they are repealed, producer prices will come down as research conducted by Harvard’s Dale Jorgenson suggests. Jorgenson finds that repealing the income and payroll tax would reduce producer prices by 20-35 percent depending on the industry. Gale, however, then rejects the view that income taxes are in the price of goods we buy and assumes that removing them will not reduce prices. He can not hold both points of view simultaneously.

[Phantom Lord]

Do you really believe that retailers will drop their prices, or will they behave as always?

They must drop their prices. They have no choice. With the NRST ALL current imbedded taxes in the cost of a product are removed, making the production of the product cheaper, the cost to the retailer cheaper, and ultimately the cost to the consumer cheaper.

All it takes is 1 store to lower the price and all the rest must follow or die.

[TBarnett34]

Oh, geez - would you listen to yourselves? You've got this whole thing at the emotional level of a tent revival. Somehow the dollars are mating and creating even more dollars - like a ponzi scheme.

You haven't even the slightest semblance of a clue. Would you like my old econ 101 textbook?

[Dead Corpse]

Think before you speak. You've obviously got an agenda here as you seem to be denying a rather lot of reality here.

Durable goods, and those things that can be rebuilt or resold, will go up in value. Businesses not correcting for no longer having to fork out payola to their tax advisors and ponying up compliance costs, will be pushed out of markets by businesses that DO adjust their prices downward.

What are you? A tax lawyer? CPA? An IRS agent? Obviously someone whose ox is gonna get gored. Are you afraid you might have to go out and get a real job?

[robertpaulsen]

"So the consequence is that government would have to go on a diet."

They go on a diet like that and there wouldn't be a call, or a need, to change the system.

[Laura Earl]

Oops can't see pic..looks like Alabama state flag from here.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I almost fired Sen Shelby over swapping sides on Tort Limits a couple of years ago.

[Laura Earl]

oui...zee kittens.

[kevkrom]

but again, they are still arbitrary in nature.

As is the personal exemption and standard deduction of the income tax. Sometimes simplicity is a better goal than complete equability.

[Conspiracy Guy]

LOL

[rolling_stone]

I submit your "authority" has been rebutted here:
http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/GaleRebuttal.pdf