Note to Herman Cain: Please be a little more flexible with 9-9-9

American Thinker ^ | 10/12/2011 | Monte Kuligowski

[SeekAndFind]

In the recent Bloomberg/Washington Post Republican presidential debate the moderators wanted the candidates to get specific regarding their economic/jobs plans.

That's sort of amusing considering that the level of specificity we got from Obama in 2008 was "hope" and "change you can believe in." It turns out that we didn't get much hope, but Obama kept his promise to "fundamentally transform the United States of America.

With his 9-9-9 plan Herman Cain might be getting a little too specific. Actually, it's not the specificity; it's the rigidity that Cain has been displaying which will eventually hurt him.

I think Cain would do well to present his general concept of abolishing the current tax system while remaining flexible as to the details of a fair, non-progressive (equal protection of the laws) tax system.

Rick Santorum pointed out the potential Achilles' heel of Cain's plan: once a federal sales tax is implemented, good luck ending it or lowering the rates in the future. Indeed, the rates will only increase over the years. (Cain's plan: 9% business flat tax; 9% individual flat tax; 9% national sales tax.)

As an experienced congressman, Santorum made the valid point that it may not be wise to give Congress a new tool to increase tax revenue. Remember, originally the income tax was supposed to be a temporary measure.

Cain's response: as president he would veto any law increasing the percentage rates. Well, that won't help much after Cain leaves office. In the future we could have high income tax rates and a national sales tax.

[SeekAndFind]

Here's the writer's proposal :

There are a number of ways to accomplish a truly fair system.

One way would be just a flat tax by which everyone would pay the same percentage regardless of income amount.

If the percentage were 10 percent someone who earns $1,000 per year would pay $100 in federal income tax. Someone who earns $100,000 would pay $10,000. And someone who earns one-million dollars would pay $100,000.

Almost any system would be better than the current system which discriminates and applies the law unequally among citizens. The current progressive system is based on the core principles of Marxist theory, plain and simple. With the "rich" being targeted to "pay their fair share" while approximately half of wage earners pay no income tax.

IOW, a very important debate regarding the tax code has been started and Cain is on the right track, all Cain needs to do is be a little less specific and detailed and more flexible to proposed changes.

[Grunthor]

I like the flat tax. I like Herman Cain. I hope he modifies his tax plan.

[RC one]

9-9-9 is the worst idea I have heard proposed by any of our front runners. The last thing we need in in this economy is a national sales tax. The last thing the government needs is a new revenue stream. 9-9-9 is LAME.

[Ingtar]

If you will go to the site on the 999 plan, what you describe is step 2. He is basically saying this is a better system, but we cannot get there all at once.

[oh8eleven]

NO national sales tax. Today it’s 9%, tomorrow it’ll be 19% - unless you have an EBT card - then it’s ZERO.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

I would still rather we go straight to a flat tax and not go with the sales tax.

I’d be VERY happy with the Fair Tax, but not without a constitutional amendment.

That said, I still like Cain and the last thing I’d expect him to do is put up a plan like 9-9-9 and then get wishy-washy on it before any legislation had even been written.

[tirednvirginia]

Actually, he can’t walk it back. He has wrapped himself in the 9-9-9 plan. He is now Mr 9-9-9.

The 9-9-9 plan is Herman Cain and vice-versa.

[Sir Lurks Alot]

I am sorry but I am not a fan of Herman Cain. The 999 thing is “too clever by half” It reduces an important issue to a marketing ploy, and one that really doesn’t stand up under scrutiny.

Even with Newt Gingrich’s baggage and association with the past, he is by far the best candidate to bring our country back. If anyone truly knows how Washington works it’s Gingrich.

Gingrich plays chess while the other candidates are playing checkers. He may be a bit “old school” but I am getting nostalgic for a bit of that.

[Pan_Yan]

What method of funding the federal government do you propose? We currently have a progressive income tax mixed with high corporate and capital gains taxes and masses of crony tinkering. Repealing the 16th amendment would be wonderful but that will not be possible for several more election cycles, if ever. Herman Cain is proposing a transition to a flat tax where everyone pays and Congress can't manipulate the system behind the scenes like they do now. His plan isn't perfect but it's certainly better than what we have.

[Grunthor]

Well I guess I better vote for Perry then, huh?/s

[org.whodat]

Cain has been a friend of Neal boortz for years, Neal was the first man to give him the max donation. Cain could not use, Neal's book as a plan, copyright issues, but you can bank on the fact that 999 will magically become Neal's flat tax when handed to congress.

[bvw]

The Federal Government has ALWAYS had and used a sales tax. In the constitution it is called a “excise tax”. Today it is applied to alcohol, transportation fuels, tobacco products, vaccines, land-line telephone usage, firearms and ammo and other products and services.

Nothing stops it from being expanded to other products by the legislature.

The federal excise taxes are not added to the bill, they are incorporated in the sales price, but AFAIK, nothing in the Constitution’s definition of taxes stops them from being tallied at the point-of-sale as a separate item, just like the state sales taxes are.

[justsaynomore]

I think there are some positive ways to tweak his plan, it’d doesn’t have to be the 9, per se. The Cain haters though, will then start screaming that he is making it up as he goes along - they could care less if his plan is workable, they don’t want him in office.
____________

Paul Ryan ‘loves’ Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan
http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/13/paul-ryan-loves-herman-cains-9-9-9-tax-plan/

Godfather of Supply-Side Economics Supports Cain’s ‘9-9-9’ Plan
www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46828

Can Herman Cain’s Plan work?
http://axdwhiteman.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102%3Acan-herman-cains-999-plan-work

Why We Need Herman Cain’s plan:
http://www.nerds4cain.com/Blog/archives/759

What do these numbers mean for me?
http://www.nerds4cain.com/Blog/archives/723

Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 Plan: Issue #1 Addressed
http://nomushrooms.blogspot.com/2011/10/herman-cains-9-9-9-plan-issue-1.html

[dps.inspect]

"Note to Herman Cain: Please be a little more flexible with 9-9-9"

After he's in the white house, he will likely entertain fresh bold ideas on taxes...

[org.whodat]

Do not tell this to the ron paul supporters they will pop a blood vessel.

[Grunthor]

I listen to Boortz about 3x a week. I like him. When I heard him refer to himself as “The High Priest of the Church of the Painful Truth” I about drove my pickup off the road laughing. I called my mom and asked her who that title reminded her of. She replied; “That’s your Dad!”

I believe that Herman can win this thing, and with a braintrust like Boortz advising him, the sky is the limit.

[kevao]

I do know this. The only way to avoid the coming train wreck is a tax system where *everybody* pays some federal income tax. We simply can’t have 47% of the people with a vested interest in government taxing and spending as much as possible because they’re getting a free ride. Do you not agree?

You think the prospect of 9-9-9 becoming 20-20-20 is frightening? Within a few years, the 47% who now pay no fed income tax will become 51%, and then it is all over for the rest of us. We working suckers will be forever outnumbered at the ballot box, and the tyrannical, free-loading majority will be voting for and insisting on higher and higher taxes and more and more spending.

Are you old enough to remember a top marginal federal income tax rate of 90%? Well, it’ll be back. You think capital gains taxes under this scenario wouldn’t go to 50% or more? Or how about a corporate tax of 50% or more.

If you love the current tax code so much, then embrace this nightmare scenario I’ve just laid out for you, because it’s only just a few short years away.

[org.whodat]

See post #12, mr brilliant.

[Sacajaweau]

A National Sales Tax in addition to existing Fed fees....You don’t think they’re going to cancel those, do you?? And I’m 67 on a very low fixed income and I’m still working part time...And I’m going to pay this Fed sales tax with what??

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Cain for POTUS!!!

Young Caine: You cannot see.

Master Po: You think I cannot see?

Young Caine: Of all things, to live in darkness must be worst.

Master Po: Fear is the only darkness.

Master Po: [after easily defeating the boy in combat] Ha, ha, never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear?

Young Caine: I hear the water, I hear the birds.

Master Po: Do you hear your own heartbeat?

Young Caine: No.

Master Po: Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?

Young Caine: [looking down and seeing the insect] Old man, how is it that you hear these things?

Master Po: Young man, how is it that you do not?