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.
Has Jim answered yet? Oh wait, I guess he did. Great posts guys. It's all just a big conspiracy by the anti-reformers. See you in the backroom, as I know you can't go 2 posts without starting into the insults.
You must have misunderstood. The mods do a great job.
From the lead in post:
An anti-reformer may be taking advantage of the positions he he was entrusted with by the site (modertor).
Singular, not plural.
A few months back, a new phenonomon began - one in which flames were thrown or the sake of throwing them and instigating trouble with the mods and with you. It worked. Who wants to sit and take it forever?
Anyway, it was a good idea on their part. It worked.
Why don't you ask Rob? He sent it. He'll tell you. If he denies it, I can provide the email.
I have no idea what you are talking about and don't care. I was talking about this thread. And keep of your whinning, it is scoring major points.
Clue to Principled:
The founders are dead, and we even have running water now.
Apparently it's a "debating tactic" in the view of some.
And your 'debate tactic' is to post asinine replies to every comment as an excuse to bump your precious little fairtax thread.
this is exactly what i'm talking about pd.
look at that post.
This is how they reduce threads.
not going to ask him? or you did and found out it was true?
The Freepmail I sent to Jim, and copied you on was not related to this thread. It was related to one of your personal attacks from yesterday. Why would I deny it, I sent you a copy of the Freepmail.
I still have no idea what you are talking about nor do I care. I just enjoy watching your public pitty party blow up in your face.
I didn't think you would. Why would you?
An excellent point. And making everyone who spends money in America a taxpayer, by passing the FairTax, will precipitate an attitude adjustment among them. Namely, a healthy aversion to spending.
I suppose "screw you pigdog - I found a picture of your parents" attached to a dog copulating a pig is not an attack?
Sheesh.
All of your allegations have been shown to be incorrect before, but that doesn't seem to phase you. If the only thing you have is a non obscene photo that was up for less than 5 minutes and that was in response to a total personal attack by pigdog, then you are at the bottom of your rope.
This whole portion of your vanity is BS made up by you.
You don't remember what pigdog was suspended for, first for one day, and then for three days, but I remember and it wasn't for "complaining about it". Yet you have created an urban legend out of the whole exchange, basically saying that it is all the moderators fault, and not pigdog's. In my experience the moderators will only ban or suspend someone when there is justified cause.
Here's the response I sent pigdog shortly after the "incident" many months ago when pigdog was suspended for continuing his line of attacks.
-----------------------------
My graphic which was not pornographic and only a real child would take serious offense to was in response to your post #313:
pigdog: Robbie there are plenty of name I have YET to call you. Would you like to try some of them so you can see if they melt in your mouth (or elsewhere)?? so don't go getting all high and mighty, pigdog.
DEMAND what you want- I'm not going to apologize to you. I already asked to have the picture removed within a minute of posting it when I realized it was just continuing to trade insults with you and was beneath me to stoop to your low blows. You spew nothing but venom non-stop for months and you continue to make disparaging remarks about people and their motives just trying to provoke a reaction.
You threatened to continue upping the level of your insults and I went beyond what I would normally post in response. When I saw it on the thread I realized it was not funny and I did not want to be associated with it, so I immediately asked for it to be removed.
In the past three days you have posted graphics to me calling me a Troll, one of me as part of a flock of "wooly sheep" on a Georgia farm, several times one of a cat attacking a man's pierced tongue intimating it was my tongue, and one of a Baptist church with STFU on the sign in front. I have commented on your new skills in posting pictures. Since I am a grownup I can take your continuous abuse. You, on the other hand, are a hypocrite.
-----------end of post----------------
The phrase "screw you pigdog - i found your parents" alongside the picture is crossing the line. You even admitted it.
Now you're saying it's ok because a) it was in response to something and b) you asked that it be removed.
According to you then, I could do the same to you - and everyone could do the same to everyone? You're wrong.
You have embarrased yourself, the forum, and JR imo.
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.