Current system stifles U.S. competition, productivity (Time For The Fair Tax!)

ajc.com ^ | April 15, 2008 | JOHN LINDER

[Man50D]

"Great idea — too bad it's never going to happen." Pretty discouraging words, I would say. In fact, it makes you wonder, "Why even put big ideas out there; what is the point?" Unfortunately, these are the words that I often hear when it comes to talking about my FairTax bill.

Ironically, I most often hear them from the folks who follow that comment up with a barrage of questions about the bill and suggestions on how to move the bill along more effectively. It is this phenomenon that strikes me — if it is a great idea, if it is much needed, why then will it never happen? Have we in this society become so jaded that we cannot believe that much-needed change is possible?

Perhaps Ben Franklin said it best in his famous quote, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." These words seem to have become America's credo when it comes to taxes, though I would wager that Franklin had not intended that to be the case. We have come to accept our current tax code as a part of our lives.

The FairTax legislation would repeal all corporate and individual income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes, death taxes and gift taxes and replace them with a revenue-neutral, 23 percent personal consumption tax. Americans would keep their entire paycheck and have the power to choose exactly when and how much to pay in taxes. It has always been a belief of mine that all taxes should be voluntary; we achieve this with the FairTax by offering to every household in America (provided that household can prove it is inhabited by citizens or legal U.S. residents) a tax prebate.

[Cracker Jack]

Sure, right after he pays "uncle" his 30% for the roof over his head and a buck-twenty for the gallon of gas he needs to get to work.

Now I understand. The FairTax can't get your support unless it also eliminates poverty. Again, what part of "The prebate pays the FairTax on the poverty level of spending" don't you understand? To repeat a phrase, the FairTax refund undercuts that old "don't tax the poor" mantra.

[lucysmom]

Now I understand. The FairTax can't get your support unless it also eliminates poverty.

Wrong again.

The FairTax (permission to live tax) puts the federal government in the middle and with its hand out before any legal transaction can take place, with exception of used items as defined by the FairTax (the FairTax bill redefines used as previously untaxed rather than previously owned).

Again, what part of "The prebate pays the FairTax on the poverty level of spending" don't you understand?

I understand that it is flawed based on statistics that are flawed.

[Cracker Jack]

The FairTax (permission to live tax) puts the federal government in the middle and with its hand out before any legal transaction can take place, with exception of used items...

Wow. What a persuasive argument against a sales tax. It is such a powerful argument that it has resulted in defeat of sales tax legislation in all of our 50 states. (/s)

This seems to be a pointless discussion, as your persistent protection of the status quo forces you into some pretty silly responses. Goodbye.

[lucysmom]

Wow. What a persuasive argument against a sales tax. It is such a powerful argument that it has resulted in defeat of sales tax legislation in all of our 50 states. (/s)

The FairTax is not like state sales taxes for a number of reasons beginning with rates and the prebate. In fact FairTax supporters have to rely on purchased economic studies for "proof" because there are no real world examples to draw from.

This seems to be a pointless discussion...

I agree. If you can't stick to issues, but must resort to logical fallacies to keep the discussion going, you've lost.