True to a point. The shackles come from the 'progressive' nature of the tax; it punishes productivity.
"And it is shocking that you can't see what an increase in personal freedom and privacy would result from this necessary change."
You've made an assumption that is not in evidence. If the tax includes services, it's effects will be grievous on independant providers of many services. I'm talking about doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, building contractors, music teachers, tutors, and likely pastors of churches. You have failed to apply what you already know about the nature of government, to the implementation of the tax.
Privacy will be non-existant for everyone, because government will be allowed to presume that all are possible providers of services. Your bank accounts will be scrutinized as never before. This is already going on in other countries, so you don't need to rely on guess work. The U.S. govt. will work on the same model as all the VAT tax countries are following.
Productivity is the result of capital formation; aka as savings and investment. The income tax in all its various manifestations punishes capital formation.
If the tax includes services, it's effects will be grievous on independant providers of many services. I'm talking about doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, building contractors, music teachers, tutors, and likely pastors of churches.
Nothing grievous about it. Simply remit a percentage of your gross to the state. Sales taxes are the least burdensome form of taxation there is. A ten-year old could figure it out. The 'pastors of churches' comment is blatant fear-mongering. Want to talk about the negative effects of the income tax code on our churches and their freedom of action?
Privacy will be non-existant for everyone, because government will be allowed to presume that all are possible providers of services. Your bank accounts will be scrutinized as never before. This is already going on in other countries, so you don't need to rely on guess work.
Pure paranoia. And privacy is non-existent for everyone now. Sheesh.
The U.S. govt. will work on the same model as all the VAT tax countries are following.
Not if we don't want it to, and certainly not under the FairTax bill that is in front of Congress.
Absolutely untrue and it is clear from the bill itself that it is not as you rant about.
You should read the bill - which you have obviously not done.