[IbJensen]

Drunken sailors spend their own money and when they run out of money they stop spending. If fair taxation isn't just taxation we're gaining nothing if government continues to rake in obscene percentages of our income to toss it down every socialistic rathole imaginable. There would be no need for the government to continue to eat out our substance if it was bound down with the chains of the constitution as intended. It has taken on unlimited powers that were never delegated to it, thus the mess we are in and its ever expanding appetite for other people's money,

[Artemis Webb]

I cannot imagine the VAT getting passed in this country even with this administration and congress. Even more so with elections around the corner. Still vigilance is a watchword here. Even the tiniest of VAT will be the beginning of the end.

[Huebolt]

A non-value added tax makes more sense. I someone is paid to do nothing productive of goods and services, their tax rate should be, oh, double that of actual contributors to the GNP. At the top of such a list...lawyers, governemnt bureaucrats?

[G Larry]

American’s will continue this dash to socialism if the good people of this country do not stand up and fight those who would destroy her!

[mrmeyer]

[Red Badger]

It's DUCK SEASON!..................

[sport]

Is the Pope Catholic?

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Sucking capital out of a weak economy, whatever the means of withdrawing it and from whomever it is taken, still weakens an already frail economy.

I am flabbergasted that an economist like Volcker doesn't know this!

Furthermore, Obama had his shot with a stimulus plan. Instead of making a real investment in the economy, he chose to squander it on projects that create no lasting jobs.

Instead of using the stimulus money to (metaphorically, of course) buy fishing tackle for those parts of the economy that can most quickly put it to good use, he lavished his constituents (union members and the needy) with quickly-consumed fish sandwiches.

Same cost, completely different long-term effect.

[TPOOH]

"let me assure you of one thing.....if you make under $200,000 a year your taxes won't increase one dime."......

Quote Barry the closet Muslim while perpetrating his fraud health care bill.

[chainsaw]

the VAT is “not as toxic an idea” as many have considered it to be

Neither is a 20% reduction in spending.

[Waco]

Walmart, kmart, target, Bass Pro, Sears, Macy’s,, goodbye. One of the first things you’ll hear is that sales and discounts will have to go, cause they rob the gov’t of revenue,,,,Dollar Store,, you
too!!!!!! We beter ger rid of these queer-bait RATS and soon!!!!

[GeronL]

Cut spending to reign in deficits.

[Alberta's Child]

Interestingly, the one positive aspect of a VAT -- as pointed out in this article -- is that it is likely the most "fair" tax of all in that it forces everyone (including criminals) to pay the tax, regardless of their "ability to pay."

How ironic is it that liberal Democrats are such strong supporters of this heavily regressive form of taxation?

[omega4412]

A Wizard of Id comic strip from long ago... Roughly

Sir Rodney: Sire, we have an INCOME tax. Why don't we have an OUTGO tax?

The King: You idiot! The people will never stand for it. We'll have a sales tax instead.