Posted on 09/17/2006 8:03:05 AM PDT by Principled
A Battlefield for Tax Reform
There are a few significant battlefields in the war for tax reform. One of them is Free Republic. What makes the Free Republic battlefield significant is that the debate is at the cutting edge. The debate on Free Republic is the most current and most knowledgeable. It is a year ahead of other significant battlefields (radio talk shows, political town-hall meetings, conversations among neighbors and coworkers.)
The trend on Free Republic with respect to tax reform is going to show up in the real world. Free Republic is a tiny segment of the world, albeit a more educated, more politically motivated, more affluent segment than most. Perhaps those are a few of the reasons that Free Republic predicts what will happen in the real world – the world of radio, newspapers, network television, and most importantly - elections.
The choices are
Keep the status quo and continue with our graduated income tax
Eliminate the income tax and implement a flat income tax (although this option has negligible support)
Eliminate the income tax and implement a national sales tax
There are no other options. We are going to have taxes. The only choice is deciding the best way to have them.
Whichever choice you prefer, one thing is clear. The opponents of tax reform on Free Republic will stop at nothing to protect the status quo. Here’s what’s happening on Free Republic (remember it’s a predictor of what will happen in the real world.)
Opponents of reform randomly select perceived problems, however insignificant, and say that’s the reason this reform cannot work. For example, attackers of HR 25 (the “Fair Tax”) have alternately said the rate is too high and then the rate is too low. Whatever seems to get traction is what they stick with. Is it no wonder the perception is that these anti-reformers are not being honest with the reason(s) they oppose the reform. This is why so many question the motives of the anti-reformers. What are they hiding?
The anti-reformers try to make the reform threads so unpleasant that people choose not to participate in them (what does this predict about the real world?)
An anti-reformer may be taking advantage of the positions he he was entrusted with by the site (modertor). By taking sides in threads, berating and belittling pro-nrst posters, by deleting threads, by locking threads, and by moving threads from news/ACTIVISM to “Bloggers and Personal” and to “Smokey Backroom”, the mod(s) in question are taking away from the greatest site on the internet. Sometimes, threads are moved to bloggers and then moved to SBR or vica versa.
Pro-nrst posters are suspended for things that don’t make sense. Anti nrst posters are not suspended for things that should require it - comes to mind the picture of a dog copulating with a pig with the comment “screw you pigdog”… “I found a picture of your parents”. Noteworthy is that the poster of said graphic and phrase were not suspended but rather the recipient of it was suspended for complaining about it.
What does this predict about the real world?
Suffice to say that the debate about tax reform is won by the reformers. The proof is that when educated about the three reform options, the general public chooses the nrst over 70% of the time.
The only question is whether the dishonesty of the anti-reformers will slow the progress of reform in the real world. This is NOT to say that all anti reformers are dishonest - but it is the dishonest ones who are tainting the others.
The good thing about the debate is that the nrst is the most thoroughly investigated alternative - each and every point is debated in complete detail. Problems have been identified and some changes have been made. That's a good thing. And as debate continues, the level of knowledge of any lurkers continues. As I said, I predict over 70% will choose the nrst.
It is all about the FairTax, the fact that you share methods with other pseudo-scientific lobbying organizations is highly relevant. You don't think that the FairTax Corporation invented propoganda and doublespeak, do you? They are merely standing on the shoulders of giants who came before. Although they did botch up the movement scripture-- "The Fairtax Book"-- pretty badly on the first go around.
Many of us have observed that for over a year now.
Since the bill is non-partisan it really doesn't matter when it is brought out.
After all, if it's revenue neutral it represents the same aggregate tax over a broader base. Since I legally participate in the income/payroll tax system, my effective rate will reduce.
Indeed, every legal participant in today's income payroll tax system will experience such a reduction - due to a broadening of the base AND elimination of tax costs associated with the income tax.
And whether you do or not (or whether it even exists) what point is it you'd like to make???
We actually don't have an anti-FairTax lobbying group that funds studies and things. We just use our brains and common sense. And the studies that are done without the FairTax paying for them, all show that you are working with smoke and mirrors.
"It is all about the FairTax, the fact that you share methods with other pseudo-scientific lobbying organizations is highly relevant. "LOL!!! Still nothing at all to do with the FairTax ... merely another insult vehicle.
WHat?! Are you kidding me?
There are bazillions of groups who want to keep the income tax in place. Like maybe that little group called LIBERALS?! THose are your lobbying groups! SHEESH!
On one hand you say there are no anti-fairtax lobbying groups and on the other hand you say that it won't pass because of all the people who would lose power!
Rob! Slow down!
"We just use our brains and common sense. "
I'll refrain from any obvious commentary on that!!!
Where do I say this? I say it won't pass because it is unworkable and based on misrepresentations.
And no one takes the FairTax seriously enough yet to worry about it passing, if it were ever to be taken seriously, then there would be money spent to prove it is a total crock. But the Tax Reform commission already told us that.
It is all totally relevant.
"...it is unworkable and based on misrepresentations ..."
And you've already told us how these thing were your opinions - just like your opinions in your vanity posts.
"... And no one takes the FairTax seriously enough yet to worry about it passing ,.."
A masterstroke of lighthearted commentary taken in the spirit of fun I'm sure you intended it to be - but oh, wait ... why are you spending thousands of hours on hundreds of posts dreaming up objections and untrue thing to throw "out there" if that's the case???
Since the bill is non-partisan it really doesn't matter when it is brought out.Really? What makes a bill non-partisan?
Perhaps you post a link to that so everyone could see it in addition to you. And whether you do or not (or whether it even exists) what point is it you'd like to make???Haven't you read it? Don't you know where it is? You've talked about it like you are very familar with it. That wasn't all BS, was it?
That is has nothing to favor either political party. But I thought you knew that.
"You've talked about it like you are very familar with it"If so, it must've been some time ago. Can you give me a link to the paper that you seem so all-fired interested in attacking? Maybe that would trigger my memory.
Or is this one of those things that somehow is unfinished and you have an advanced copy of it that you wish to heap scorn on??? If so, it'd be nice if you'd share ....
That has been your assertion. For instance, the Price Waterhouse study commisioned by the Retailers association. You claimed that although the FairTax will increase profits for retailers, they commissioned a study and gave the instruction to trash the FairTax.
You still haven't explained why they would do something that would prevent them from increasing their profits.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.