"Besides Mr. Forbes's plan, several other Republican leaders like Phil Gramm (also now advising Mr. Perry, according to Mr. Forbes) and Dick Armey have proposed their own versions over the years but with little traction.
Grover Norquist, the founder of Americans for Tax Reform, an influential conservative group, said all the candidates were moving toward a flatter tax structure. "Now it's a consensus position in the center-right," he said, compared with 15 years ago, when Mr. Forbes's plan was attacked by other Republican candidates.
Perry ping
Perry/Rubio 2012.
What is this, two weeks in a row where Perry releases a major plan after a debate? It is smart thinking though, there’s a lot less you have to defend if you release major plans after a debate, and Perry has a month or so until the next debate.
If so, then no thanks!
To me, that is a half-assed solution which still preserves the most Tyrannical form of taxation ever imposed on a Free people.
The federal income tax, in whatever form, and the IRS, should be eliminated altogether. Sorry if that makes me some kind of raving extremist. So be it.
” Drawing A Contrast With Romney “
Can’t you just see Romney Come Lately saying in the next debate
“ Of course I support a flat tax ! “
I’m glad he supports it, but I’d like to see him make it the centerpiece of his campaign. This is why Cain is making such a big run — most conservatives consider progressive [bracket] taxation and the tax code in general to be a complete abomination. ...which of course it is. (It’s the VAT part of Cain’s plan that’s the problem, not the flat tax part). I’d also like to see Perry emphasize that the estate tax is killing small businesses, and vow to eliminate it.
Steve Forbes? Interesting . . .didn’t Herman Cain endorse him in the 2000 GOP primaries?
flat tax > 999, hands down
Rick Perry has to step up his game and this helps a lot
Perry’s comng back, lookout Mitt!
“Mr. Forbes’s plan was attacked by other Republican candidates.”
I don’t remember it that way. I remember Forbes was just an incredibly uncharismatic guy and while he’d hoped to get traction with that issue, got none.
Thanks for this post. Little kernels from the past are often found in these articles, for example:
” - - - Mr. Romney has previously been critical of a flat-tax system, including in newspaper advertisements he took out in 1996 as a “concerned citizen” in which he argued that the Forbes tax plan was a “tax cut for fat cats.”
Willy-Rom-Rom-RINO, you haven’t fooled us a bit. It is however, nice to have your thoughts recorded on your opinion of the pursuit of achieving financial independence in America.
BTW, aren’t you a “Fat Cat” now? Does this mean that you do not like yourself, or just the American Dream of financial independence?
Any new tax system must require contribution from all, even if it is miniscule.
Quoting the real One, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
It is imperative that all Americans feel invested in the government and ownership of its actions. Otherwise, as now, those who do not contribute will just demand more and more from those who do.
It’s a whole ‘nuther ballgame when government is spending YOUR money and when more programs mean more from you.
bump.
I like the Forbes flat tax better than 9-9-9.
I haven’t read on down the thread, so I have no idea what people here think of Steve Forbes, but I have always loved Mr. Forbes and his flat tax plan. I’m glad to see this concept out again, and hopefully we’ll see some honest fiscally conservative changes in our country.
I don't see how Perry will sell it. It'll be demonized as a tax break on the 1% blah, blah.
The Flat Tax has the benefit (or liability?) of not being a brand new proposal, unlike 999, and not having the added sales tax component which has too many in an uproar.
On the downside, it won't have the sales tax so there's no capturing underground economy money. That part of 999 is appealing.
We'll see what Perry's version of a Flat Tax does on the low end and with deductions and whether this is income tax only reform or if it's deeper.
It's all academic though, Obama will win reelection.
Bump!