I’m a Baptist, and so is the rest of my family. My dad is either hard-headed, or a fanatic, because he has told me on numerous occasions he would not vote for a Mormon, but instead he is voting for Huck (in large part, if not wholly because Huck is/was an ordained minister). I’ve also told him on numerous occasions that Huck is just a Dem who is pro-life. Huck is soft on crime, pro-big government, and probably would be weak on national defense (given that he has absolutely no idea of what is going on in the world around us, and the threat of Islamic extremist). One thing my dad stumped me on was this: Huck is for the fair tax, thereby pretty much abolishing the IRS to some extent. If that’s the case, then how can he be pro-big government. My best guess is that the fair tax would bring in a comparable amount of money in relation to the existing tax structure. Given that people will pretty much be able to decided, to some extent, how much they pay in taxes, there would be a slight decline in tax revenue for the government. However, since we would be using a fair tax system, the IRS would be obsolete, but there would have to be an establishment, so some extent, to collect the money (although I’m sure this establishment would be far smaller as compared to the IRS), right? That being said, would the government be able to make up the difference for the deficit by abolishing the IRS, thereby giving the government as much money as they have today for big government? Can someone help me on this? I need to lure my dad away from the dark side.
Go Fred Go
Huckster’s record shows that tax increases are his option of first resort and spending restraint is just not on the table. With that mindset, taxes (whether it’s the existing income tax, the FairTax, whatever) are bound to go up (especially if the Democrats increase their hold on Congress, which seems likely).
Tell your dad that the Fair Tax sounds good, but will take a Constitutional amendment to enact, and since the President has no authority whatsoever in amending the Constitution, the Fair Tax is nothing more than another feel good Huckabee soundbite.
BTW, I can sympathize. I have a family member who will vote for whomever the Dems put up, including Hillary, because “they’re for the little guy.” Never mind that the little guy in my family is quite successful and is proud to tell people he made more than the President last year (because he also has a bad case of BDS). Family. What can you do?
Good luck with your dad.
Point out the danger to your Dad that we end up with a national sales tax AND an income tax.
The Fair Tax is just a sound bite ruse Huckabee likes to throw out.
I heard this guy preach at Bellvue Baptist in Memphis during the late Dr. Rogers illness. I am considering on trying to see if they have a copy of the sermon, as it has been years ago.
There is no way congress will pass a fair tax. It would take many many many years to get that done if ever. I am not sure it would work much as I like Neal. I see a black market to avoid that tax.
Huck is full of it, first off. He simply latched onto the FairTax idea to find a way to gather votes. His record in Arkansas is one of never seeing a tax hike he didn't like. He may genuinely wish to implement it, but it won't be easy to do and I have reservations about the economic feasibility of it anyway. You can be pro-big government and pro-FairTax anyway, because it is revenue-neutral and doesn't require spending cuts to implement. And it won't "abolish the IRS" because some sort of agency will still be needed to gather, count, collect, and distrbute the FairTax revenue to the government. It might cease to exist as we know it but there still will be one.
Huckabee being for the Fair Tax is a “safe” political position. It’s safe because the chances of the FT being enacted anytime in the near future are nil. Supporters of the FT couldn’t even get the late GOP congress to seriously consider it, so how is the Dem-dominated congress going to give it a chance?
The Huckster can poilitically posture about the Fair Tax all he wants, and nothing will change. the IRS will still be the IRS we know and hate, and the cottage industry that caters to idiots who can’t fill out their own tax returns will continue to flourish. Lots of people can’t seem to handle the four basic arithmetic functions and simple percentages, even with the help of a calculator.
Thompson’s plan for a flat tax option is much more doable, although it’s an uphill fight in its own right wit h the current congress.
I suspect that Huckabee is touting the Fair Tax purely as a campaign gimmick to burnish his ostensible conservative "cred". I doubt if in an interview with someone who is genuinely knowledgable about it that he could give a coherent explanation and analysis of it.
Congress is not going to pass the Fair Tax or any other significant tax reform any time soon. The current system allows them to make beneficial adjustments to the tax code for major patrons and voting blocks.