Long term capital gains are 15%. Never claimed they were zero.
Huckabee's plan is 23% on the portion of it that you spend.
30% added to every purchase. That's on not only my capital gain but also on my original investment.
That's the cost difference. Right?
Wrong. Say I invested $100,000 and now have $200,000. 15% of my $100,000 gain is $15,000. 30% of $200,000 is $60,000.
See the difference?
Compare that against Huckabee's 23%. 23% of the entire value. (that's the worst case scenario that you spend it all)
Now put the entire value on a complete spend decline of 15 years (65 to 80). Assume 5% annual growth for re-investment in each of those 15 years. The difference between your current tax liability and Huckabee's 23% value ..... less the tax free investment profits you could have is the real difference between status quo and Huckabee's plan.