Burton and Mastromarco were writing (in 1997!) about the Schaefer/Tauzin NRST legislation, which was decidely different FRom the Fair Tax, in that it did not replace Social Security and Medicare taxes as the Fair Tax does.These are the authors of the Fairtax you're referring to right?...
Other than increasing the rate to make it MORE likely to invite cheating, how does replacing the SS and Medicare taxes change potential avoidance/evasion problems?
Burton and Mastromarco are the authors of the Fairtax. Whatever Congressman or radio host wants to put their name on the nst changes nothing about avoidance/evasion.
BTW, speaking of idiots and mental midgets. What kind of moron opposed to the income tax would tag themselves with a name that has such negative connotations as "Taxman"?
You are correct, LooneyLiarLurkeyLou -- Burton and Mastromarco were heavily involved in writing both H.R. 2001 and H.R. 25.
At the outset, LurkeyLiarLooneyLou, let me stipulate that I believe that the majority of the American people are honest and that they pay their taxes faithfully.
That said, the case has been made many times on these threads that the incidence of tax evasion/cheating will decrease after the Fair Tax becomes law of the land (Bill Gale's wild rantings notwithstanding!), primarily because the Fair Tax treats all consumers as equals -- as was intended by the Founding Fathers, whereas the progressive income tax does not.
That fact alone will cause many who cheat now to quit cheating.
I and others believe that there are several other elements of the Fair Tax that will tend to lower the incidence of cheating. Think of every family unit having more disposable income, the individual and business FReedom aspect, a growing economy and increasing prosperity for all Americans, etc. etc., and you will get the picture, maybe.
That said, there will always be a criminal element in any society who seek advantage and will try to game the system to their advantage. The Fair Tax awards some rather stiff penalties for those who are caught cheating.
That you don't buy the argument is your problem, not mine. Most people, when I explain it to them, understand.
I would, of course, never expect someone with your mindset to understand.
As for my handle, it has served me well. Those who know me personally and on these threads know that I am neither a mental midget nor an idiot.
That cannot be said of those who know you on these threads.