[HostileTerritory]

the rich don't like it because they will lose their comfortable tax shelters, and will have to foot a huge tax bite when they spend money for their luxuries.

Until every luxury retailer in America closes down and reopens in Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo, and Windsor, Ontario. The very rich don't have much trouble traveling. You and I (I assume you aren't in the very rich) will get hit with the 30% sales tax any time we go to the mall.

[clee1]

OK, so they buy elsewhere. Haven't you every heard of "import duties" ? They will pay the tax, whether they but here or abroad.

No, I am not very rich, but I am in the middle class. Yes, we will face the tax when we go to the mall. However, we will get to keep every last cent of our paychecks, and we (as well as every taxpayer) will have our taxes rebated up to the poverty line.

The choice will once again be ours: hmmmm... do I buy that $130 pair of Nikes, or do I buy the $30 pair of Keds and bank the rest?

Sure, when there is a "consumption tax" you are going to pay when you consume. The rebate will subsidise groceries, etc. but EVERYONE will pay the freight for nonessentials - rich, middle class, poor.

[T.Smith]

You seriously need to read and understand a little about the Fair Tax before you attempt any further comment.

[pigdog]

You need to do more research on what the FairTax is and how it works. It is nothing at all as you suppose.

Try the FairTax website:

http://www.fairtax.org/research.html

And the bill itself:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.25:

If you'll learn about the FairTax you won't have to go around making such wild - and erroneous - statements with no factual basis.

[Little Ray]

Then they get to pay their 30% when they bring their new toys into the country.

[postaldave]

"30% sales tax any time we go to the mall"

i don't know were i stand on this issue yet, i kinda like the flat tax too. however stupid statements like that are not helping any. the fact you come up with 30% shows you know better.

grow up.

[kjam22]

Until every luxury retailer in America closes down and reopens in Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo, and Windsor, Ontario. The very rich don't have much trouble traveling. You and I (I assume you aren't in the very rich) will get hit with the 30% sales tax any time we go to the mall.

I think you're basically right. The average middle class guy like you or me will end up paying more taxes before it is all said and done.

When somebody starts talking about a flat tax or consumption tax with a rate around 10 percent... then I'll be willing to listen.