[SolidSupplySide]

The FairTax removes that ability (to selective reward and punish while hiding such shenanigans in the tax code) since its effect is quite visible to all and favors no groups or special interests while the income tax is replete with such instances.

You must be ignorant. A sales tax gives tax preferences by eliminating entire sectors of the economy from taxation. The Fair Tax does precisely that with education. Would I be going down a slippery slope if I suggested that some people may want medical care and food tax-preferred under the Fair Tax? Or do you think that is absurdly improbable?

[pigdog]

I'm afraid you're the ignorant one. "Education" is not a "preference" and all aspects of it are not entirely kept from being taxed; only certain costs identified with education are not taxed. This is quite different than any sort of broad-based exemption of all things related to education as your broad use of the term suggests.

From the bill:

"EDUCATION AND TRAINING- The term `education and training' means tuition for primary, secondary, or postsecondary level education, and job-related training courses. Such term does not include room, board, sports activities, recreational activities, hobbies, games, arts or crafts or cultural activities."

And also from the bill:

"EDUCATION AND TRAINING- Education and training shall be treated as services used to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services."

So yes, clearly, you would be way out of line suggesting that medical care and food be exempt for the same rationale. They are quite different in concept from the idea of not taxing certain educational expenses.

Your overstatement of how certain education expenses is handled under the FairTax and attempting to compare it to things not comparable shows your own ignorance of the bill.