[GeronL]

The “Fair Tax” plan I read said that EVERYONE would get a monthly “prebate” from the government. This is a way that government can make the middle class their b*&^h, making them addicted to getting a government check.

All the leftists have to do is promised a higher prebate than the Republicans. Then there is the bureaucracy to carry all of this off, mind-boggling.

[so_real]

In The FairTax Prebate Explained 2007 it indicates families have to file to receive the prebate, and must renew their application on an annual basis. Also :

Calculation of the prebate
The monthly prebate check is calculated by multiplying the annual poverty level spending published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services times the FairTax rate and dividing by twelve. Poverty level spending represents what it costs families of varying household size and composition to buy their necessities. Figure 2 shows the monthly prebate amount for households of varying composition.

So the opportunities for shenanigans are in the calculation of poverty line spending (which can be audited -- so it is at least public information) and the FairTax rate which everyone else is also tied to (playing with the rate affects everyone equally so no unfair advantage or disadvantage can be introduced that way). There is a slippery slope in setting the poverty line level. But, because the FairTax method is tied to poverty level *spending*, and not poverty level *income*, it is still at least better than we have today.

[Aevery_Freeman]

You, sir, are a wise man!