Actually, I always liked the story, (have Branagh Version on DVD) the battle, the famous speech of Henry V before the battle, its probably the most inspirational pre battle speech ever given (Shakespeare may have embellished it, but so what)its a classic.
If you researched, you probably already have this book, but if you don't, you might find it interesting, Title: Agincourt 1415: Triumph against the Odds, by Matthew Bennett.
But getting back to the apttax.com, I looked at NRST and APT TAX, and I just find the APT so much more spread out and less of a bite than a HUGE NRST.
But neither has a chance unless someone with HUGE stature like a RUSH LIMBAUGH comes out for it.
Most of my "research" is just reading about it on the internet. I'll likely look for the Bennett book. It really is an inspiring piece of history.
But getting back to the apttax.com, I looked at NRST and APT TAX, and I just find the APT so much more spread out and less of a bite than a HUGE NRST.
I'm not sure it would be less of a bite if it were revenue neutral. It would be more hidden, and in that sense may seem less "painfull" to the general public, but it would still be embedded in prices. I consider the "visible" quality to be a significant factor in prefering a NRST. The reason for that is that I think the REAL problem is government spending. The more hidden the tax burden, the more it enables government to grow without popular reproof.
I consider the hidden aspect, as well as the unfairly progressive nature of our current system, to be the primary factors that have allowed the socialists to move our constitutionally limited federal government into the out of control socialist buracracy we have today. So, what you percieve as a benefit, I perceive as a detriment. I would prefer the FairTax without the prebate, but with a return to the limited federal government that was intended by our country's founders, which would allow for a more affordable rate. However, that will not realistically happen unless we reduce the progressivity of our tax system, and increase the visibility of the cost of government to EVERYONE.
There are some other issues that make me favor the FairTax as well. I have been vocal about some of them on other threads, most notably the effect of embedding the tax burden into the price of American made products. I've termed that dynamic as a "loophole" around the constitutional prohibition on export tarrifs. Only a TRUE consumption tax can remedy that to the maximum effect.
But neither has a chance unless someone with HUGE stature like a RUSH LIMBAUGH comes out for it.
You're absolutely right. Which brings up another issue: salability. I might rate the salablity of the APTTAX higher than the FAIRTAX, at least to the less educated, who is who you really have to sell it to. However, I think a skilled communicator could effectively educate people on the advantages of a NRST over the APTTAX. So, the FairTax MIGHT be more salable than the APTTAX, IF influential people get behind it. The illusion of hidden embedded taxes is that "someone else" is paying, and is not only deceptive, but also, unfortunately, an effective salespitch... but has yielded the out of control socialist federal government we have now and now want to reform. So, like you said, unless there is INFLUENCIAL support, there will not be POPULAR support. I hope that these threads are influential to influential people.