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How High Can You Stand for Your Taxes to Go? By Herman Cain
Townhall.com ^ | 12 April 2007 | Herman Cain

Posted on 04/13/2007 7:35:29 PM PDT by K-oneTexas

How High Can You Stand for Your Taxes to Go?
By Herman Cain
Thursday, April 12, 2007

If you’re getting a tax refund this year, you’re probably excited. How will you use the money? Save it for a rainy-day pizza party? Upgrade your basic cable TV? If you didn’t get a refund, you’ll especially want to read on.

Funny how big government has mesmerized us into believing it’s a treat to keep some of our own wages. It’s an illusion they have to protect so they can squeeze out more each year.

And if we don’t put major pressure on our lawmakers, they’re going to squeeze us for all we’re worth – and then some.

The president’s tax cuts, which have been shouted down by journalists and politicians who don’t understand economics, are going to expire before we know it. Congress doesn’t have to do one thing. They can keep campaigning and fighting for their pork-filled bills right through 2010, when without any ado, a gigantic tax hike will hit the nation.

Of course, that’s not exactly the point they’re campaigning on.

Democrats wouldn’t even go on national television and admit what they’re planning. CNBC’s Melissa Francis was wise to them – she told viewers of the March 15 “On the Money” that “if the Democrats get their way, America’s taxes will jump more than $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years.”

Francis showed an understanding remarkably rare among journalists: that tax increases will stifle America’s great economy and hurt all classes, including lower-income families.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a single congressional Democrat or garden variety liberal to defend this massive tax hike. The Business & Media Institute noticed the host’s multiple disclaimers to viewers, telling them CNBC tried “all day” to find someone for that night’s show. They even went to left-leaning think tanks, but no one stepped forward.

The reason is simple. Democrats are hoping no one was watching that night’s show. They’re hoping you’re not reading this column. Because if Americans understood what they want to do, their precious hold on Congress would be threatened.

Instead, they insist – with the help of scores of journalists – that there is a “war on the middle class.” Everyone thinks he or she is in the middle class, so when Congress offers to protect that group, it sounds comforting.

Liberals and journalists are fond of telling us that raising taxes is the only way out of scary budget deficits that will be handed down to our children and grandchildren. But Americans don’t buy that argument.

In a February 2007 PSRA/Pew Research Center poll, people were asked what they thought was the best way to reduce the federal budget deficit. Only 9 percent said tax increases were the best way. A combined 69 percent said they’d rather see government reduce spending. They probably noticed the amazing economic growth this country has seen since the tax cuts went into effect.

In fact, the American Enterprise Institute’s timely compilation of public opinion on taxes reveals that Americans support tax reform – if only legislators would be honest about their tax reform plans.

A 2005 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll asked people what they thought “tax reform” meant. Some actually said they thought it meant raising taxes! To some, it sounded like “helping the rich.” The largest group was the 31 percent who said they weren’t sure.

Americans may not know what all those politicians are talking about – who does? – but they know the tax code is crazy and that they should get to keep more of their own money. A majority are familiar with at least one “reform” proposition. More than half the respondents in a March 2007 Harris/Tax Foundation poll said they’d prefer a flat-rate tax or a national sales tax (like the FairTax) over the current graduated income tax system.

I agree with those people who think all the doubletalk about “reform” is too confusing. Besides, whenever the Democrats talk about taxes, they are talking about raising them. Americans don’t want higher taxes. What we need is a simple system where everyone can plainly see – and choose for themselves – how much tax they are paying. The only plan that even comes close to achieving that is the FairTax (http://www.fairtax.org).

Well, I don’t think we should talk about tax reform any more. No more tax reform; it’s time for replacement. We need a new system, and that’s the legislation we need to push our representatives to support.

Whether you got a refund this year or you’re still paying Uncle Sam, you can’t afford to be on the sidelines of this fight.

Herman Cain is the National Chairman of the Media Research Center’s Business & Media Institute. He is the former president and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, Inc., and currently is CEO and president of T.H.E. New Voice, Inc., a business and leadership consulting company.



TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 110thcongress; fairtax; taxes
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Another good Herman Cain article.
1 posted on 04/13/2007 7:35:32 PM PDT by K-oneTexas
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To: eeevil conservative; freeangel; MNJohnnie; rodguy911; SittinYonder; groanup; Fudd Fan; ...
   The image   Herman Cain PING!            
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."


FReepMail me if you would like On/Off the HERMAN CAIN PING!
2 posted on 04/13/2007 7:36:42 PM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: ancient_geezer; Taxman; pigdog; Principled; EternalVigilance; PhilWill; kevkrom; n-tres-ted; ...

Fair Tax ping!


3 posted on 04/13/2007 7:39:02 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: K-oneTexas

American sheep voted for the Democrat majority, therefore that’s what they want. And that’s what they’ll get.

The “silent majority” is a myth that died on Election Day. The majority have spoken.


4 posted on 04/13/2007 7:39:06 PM PDT by Old Sarge (+ /_\)
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To: ancient_geezer; Taxman; pigdog; Principled; EternalVigilance; PhilWill; kevkrom; n-tres-ted; ...

Fair Tax ping!


5 posted on 04/13/2007 7:39:14 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: K-oneTexas

Well the roar from the Capitol Hill Republicans about our bloated tax code is just deafening as we approach tax day. (sarcasm)


6 posted on 04/13/2007 7:40:25 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: K-oneTexas
Well, I don’t think we should talk about tax reform any more. No more tax reform; it’s time for replacement. We need a new system, and that’s the legislation we need to push our representatives to support.

Bullseye Herman! It's time to replace the oppressive 60,000+ page income tax code with The Fair Tax!
7 posted on 04/13/2007 7:41:19 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: K-oneTexas
I don’t necessarily oppose lobbying but tax cuts, credits and breaks are one of the only ways that lobbyist can be rewarded. Find a way to do away with lobbying without hindering freedom of speech and our tax code is as good as changed.

But I know of no way to do that.
8 posted on 04/13/2007 7:44:26 PM PDT by Jaysun (See you in Heaven if you make the list.)
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To: K-oneTexas

BRAVO! BTTT!


9 posted on 04/13/2007 7:46:10 PM PDT by Chena (I want a President who will also be tough against liberalism. (Kevin McCullough))
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To: plain talk

“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.”
Frederick Douglass


10 posted on 04/13/2007 7:49:17 PM PDT by jcparks (Claire, I'm afraid its time)
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To: K-oneTexas

Let the Democrats try to raise taxes. They can’t help themselves. That is why they don’t call spending on Iraq wasteful. They don’t believe government waste exists. It is just money they don’t get to spend on their pet projects. That is why they refer to taxes as spending. They are idiots and anyone who believes our government and the legion of bureaucrats deserve more money to enrich themselves with and waste don’t deserve the right to vote.


11 posted on 04/13/2007 7:52:12 PM PDT by Maelstorm (A wise man develops a philosophy that drives his politics not the other way around.)
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To: K-oneTexas
As taxes go higher and higher people will simply cheat more on their taxes. The illegal alien population already has that one down. We'll start doing more trading of services - "cut down my tree and I'll take care of your computer problem." Or, do more cash deals.

Not that **I** would ever cheat on my taxes, IRS. OK?

12 posted on 04/13/2007 7:53:12 PM PDT by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: K-oneTexas

Remember, Republican candidates, for the 2008 election, run on this platform.

That’s all. Campaign to make the tax cuts permanent.

BTW, K-oneTexas, please add me to the Cain ping list.

Thanks.


13 posted on 04/13/2007 7:54:36 PM PDT by Forgiven_Sinner (Your children become what your are.)
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To: K-oneTexas

Yes it is. This is exactly how the democrats are helping to destroy America; by destroying the middle class.


14 posted on 04/13/2007 7:59:08 PM PDT by freekitty
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To: plain talk
Agreed. Kinda rides right along with the Thomas Sowell article on 9 April 'Republican Candidates' (at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1814758/posts).

Yep, no outrage at tax time either. Where is the outrage? Rhetorical question I guess when about Republicans.
15 posted on 04/13/2007 8:00:30 PM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: K-oneTexas

Herman I agree with your article 100% but here’s my problem.Every friggin election cycle about half the people who vote cast their ballots for D’craps so tell me,how do we get all these people who hate taxes so much to start voting for Republicans ???


16 posted on 04/13/2007 8:03:52 PM PDT by Obie Wan
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To: K-oneTexas

Hmm. Fair tax/flat tax/no tax/blah blah blah.

Roll back Marberry v. Madison (1803) and all this is inconsequential.


17 posted on 04/13/2007 8:09:55 PM PDT by TheZMan (Back to property-owner-only voting... now!)
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To: K-oneTexas

Please put me on the Herman Cain Ping list. thanks.


18 posted on 04/13/2007 8:14:12 PM PDT by freekitty
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To: K-oneTexas

Love this guy.


19 posted on 04/13/2007 8:15:36 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: K-oneTexas

Fair Tax and Herman Cain BUMP!!

And thanks for posting the entire article!


20 posted on 04/13/2007 8:36:00 PM PDT by upchuck (A living, breathing example of the Peter Principle. Oh, forgetful, too :)
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