U R absolutely right! Let me use your post as a vehicle to comment on the flat vs fair tax
The “Flat” tax is just a smaller version of the income tax. Can you imagine the debate over what to leave in or out of the new flat tax? Can you imagine the compromise? The bi- partisan bill that we will get stuck with?
That is just the beginning. Every congressional session after that, tax after tax will be added back to the tax code. Can you imagine the back door deals? I'll give you this tax if you give me this. Having all these taxes to put back in, is like dangling crack in front of an addict.
How long will it take until we are right back where we are today? NOT LONG!
That is why the “flat” tax is a terrible idea. It has a nice name, it “sounds” good, it sounds easy, but it is not the answer. The current tax code needs to be DESTROYED once and forever. The “FAIR” tax does just this. It REPEALS, let me say that again, REPEALS the income tax. No tweeking, no tinkering around the edges.
The FAIR tax “abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.
This is HUGH!~ It replaces ALL these taxes, not JUST the income tax. DID YOU KNOW THAT? Does the “flat” tax do that?
“The FairTax:
Enables workers to keep their entire paychecks
Enables retirees to keep their entire pensions
Refunds in advance the tax on purchases of basic necessities
Allows American products to compete fairly
Brings transparency and accountability to tax policy
Ensures Social Security and Medicare funding
Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
Abolishes the IRS “
Look at your paycheck stub, get one out right now we'll wait. Now see that great big number on your check that you usually ignore? The one that might say “gross” or “total wages” THAT IS HOW MUCH YOU TYPICALLY WILL GET under the FAIT tax. That's right, you get it ALL, to spend as YOU want to.
Oh, also you will get a monthly “prebate” check so that lower income earners still pay less tax, or no tax. To you, the check may be a new lawn mower, to others it could be rent or groceries. You decide. (MONTHLY, remember, like twelve per year).
Now let's say congress wants to raise your taxes. Like make the 23%, let's say to 25%. Simple to understand? Can you imagine the public uproar?
Educate yourselves on the FAIR TAX. Just say “NO” to the flat tax.
http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer
By the way, Cain's 999 idea is no good. It keeps the income tax. This won't work. THE INCOME TAX MUST BE REPEALED. Nothing less will do.
1) A rate of 23% seems awful high to me as a sales tax, and who's to say that rate can't increase in the future?
2) What happens in states that already have a sales tax, like in MA?