Nothing "fair" about the "fair tax"

Leland Tribune ^ | 1/21/2008 | Elaine Mejia

[scottteng]

“It would likely make small government conservatives out of the yellow-dog Democrat “working” poor. They would quickly tire of watching all their income being eaten by federal sales taxes.”

You say that like it is a bad thing or did I miss the sarcasm tag again. That is one if the main selling points of the fair tax you know what uncle sugar costs you every time you buy something.

[raybbr]

Any alteration in the tax rate hurts all equally; rich and poor alike. No more demagoguery of the “evil rich”

So what? How will we stop a rise in the rate? The "rich" can afford - I can't. What is to stop the feds from simply taking more. The same question can be asked about any tax structure.

BTW, I pay an effective tax rate of about 10% federal. How would I save?

[RangerM]

Even if I liked it, and some parts I do, it’s just not going to happen.

If we keep electing/re-electing those that support the status-quo (ie a progressive income tax), you are correct.

[avacado]

The so-called fair tax is a regressive tax and we do not need the federal government handing out a monthly (rebate)allowance for toothpaste, bread, and shoes. What a completely crappy idea to have "bread lines" in the greatest free enterprise country in the world!

I suppose a FLAT TAX is just too simple a concept?

[Man50D]

Don't fair-taxers leave out the fact that everything a corporation buys would be taxed at the mythical 23%? Wouldn't that cost be embedded in the price of everything all over again?

How do you not understand the answer to your question is in my quote you include in post #33? The 23% will be external to the price! That means the tax rate will be itemized as a separate entry on the receipt so everyone can see the rate as opposed to the income tax that lumps the rate into the price so no one sees what is happening with taxes. That's exactly what politicians want to happen.

[BufordP]

You say that like it is a bad thing..."

Even after I WROTE it was a good thing? Read it again, please.

[xcamel]

...printing a myth on your receipt... that would be a good trick...(TFTBS)

[RangerM]

The cut off for 10% is $7,825 taxable income.

Assuming you take the standard and personal deductions (for a single person) you have a total income of (7825+8750) $16,575.

Based on the FairTax Prebate you would only pay taxes on 16,575-10,210 = $6,365. The total taxes on $6,365 is $1,464. Therefore under the FairTax system you would reasonably expect to pay about $1,500.

Under the current system, you are paying (based on a taxable income of 7825) $782.50 in income taxes, plus another $1,282 in payroll taxes (SS/M, not incl employer portion), for a GRAND TOTAL of $2,064 in Total Federal/Payroll Taxes.

You’d save about $600 under the FairTax system.

[raybbr]

The cut off for 10% is $7,825 taxable income.

You are so wrong. I said my "effective tax rate" is 10%. I make a heck of a lot more thant $8k. I still don't see where the savings would be.

[ejonesie22]

I have the same response to the ‘Fairy Tax” myself...

[xcamel]

you assume far too many facts not in evidence...

Debt level?
Mtg payments?
retirement contribs?
Spending habits?

[LibLieSlayer]

Not an unexpected low blow from you pal. Great way to win hearts and minds. Sad thing is America is going to lose more than your candidate. Get ready for 8 years of clintons... and YOU helped!

LLS

[Man50D]

Nothing erroneous about wondering about the impact of a consumption tax on a consumption-based economy.

There is the premise of your problem. You make erroneous assumptions because you prefer to wonder instead of taking time to actually investigate the facts.

As I wrote, Fair Tax advocates write as though it’s all about numbers. It’s anyone’s guess what the tax would actually do.

You are absolutely wrong! It's not anyone's guess! $22 million dollars of research was conducted to determine the best alternative tax system and The Fair Tax as the result. Eighty economists www.fairtax.org/PDF/Open_Letter.pdf support The Fair Tax. You just keep digging yourself a deeper whole and look foolish in the process.

[raybbr]

How do you not understand the answer to your question is in my quote you include in post #33? The 23% will be external to the price! That means the tax rate will be itemized as a separate entry on the receipt so everyone can see the rate as opposed to the income tax that lumps the rate into the price so no one sees what is happening with taxes. That's exactly what politicians want to happen.

How do you not understand that corporations will pay 23% on everything they buy and then pass that on to the consumer/customer?

One of the claims of fair taxers is that their are embedded taxes in all goods. How would that disappear when a company has to pay 23% on (take a large printer, for instance) ink, paper, rags, chemicals, uniforms, electricity, etc? Everything they buy will taxed at 23% and they simple pass that on to the customer. Wouldn't the cost of producing something immediately go up 23%?

How is that any different than what is going on now?

[RangerM]

So what? How will we stop a rise in the rate? The "rich" can afford - I can't. What is to stop the feds from simply taking more. The same question can be asked about any tax structure.

Why would you elect/re-elect ANY politician who hurt you financially? Under the FairTax, any polician who wants to raise taxes answers to ALL OF US, not to a minority who they can demagogue in the process as "evil" or "selfish".

Do you have a problem with a rich person or a person who has a higher income than you?

"Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built." - Abraham Lincoln

[Emperor Palpatine]

While you’re at it don’t forget that the 16th Amendment was never properly ratified by the senate. There were plenty of shenanigans over that one.

[TheBattman]

Don't fair-taxers leave out the fact that everything a corporation buys would be taxed at the mythical 23%? Wouldn't that cost be embedded in the price of everything all over again?

Oh quit throwing facts into the argument - it just makes things more complicated....

[RangerM]

There is a drastic difference between taxable and gross income. You haven’t given me anything more than a “10% bracket” so I didn’t have much to go one.

If you want a real-world answer, you have to give me real-world data.

[Turbopilot]

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

You nailed it.........bump