I can't give you a number, but we spoke before about a scientifically ascertainable maximum-revenue tariff. In fact, the rates should vary depending on the item and depending on the country of origin, so as to assure maximum revenue from each combination. Is it safe to assume that it would provide roughly one tenth of what current revenues are?
Is it safe to assume that it would provide roughly one tenth of what current revenues are?
Ohhhh! so we are supposed to pay the debt, defend the nation, run the federal courts, the immigration service, treasury, enforce the copyright & patent, enforce the foreign trade laws, administer interstate trade, ... all the authorized functions of federal government on one tenth of current revenues.
Do I have that correct?
Such being the case I can state unequivocally no to that presumption. And invite you to provide support in the way of "a scientifically ascertainable maximum-revenue tariff" as determined by a valid peer reviewed study to support your assertion.
In fact, the rates should vary depending on the item and depending on the country of origin, so as to assure maximum revenue from each combination.
The clear invitation of social and economic engineering that you say you do not want.
How do you figure on restraining the impulses of Congress and constituencies to demand their own little piece of the action when those who determine the rates are the same as those who have the most to gain by cheating the measure?
Tax that German weinersnitzel over there double, we don't like their stand on Iraq, and while were at it taxes on French wines and cheeses should be double that of those from Italy. Gotta look after our friends after all, besides grandma needs her parmesian for family speghetti night, and povelone for here pizza. That is a necessity you know.
The current level of federal taxation is around 24% of gross consumption expenditure.
15% ..... rate if Social Security and Medicare were eliminated
14% .......... rate if Nat'l Endowment for the Arts were eliminated
11.9%........ rate if Dept. of Education were eliminated
10% .......... rate if welfare were eliminated
9.8%.......... rate if foreign aid were eliminated
etc.
Seems we are abit short somehow, 9.8% of gross consumption expenditure is what you would need aquire from tariffs. That works out to be about an 88% tariff without any compensation for loss of trade volume induce by such an extreme rate.
History has shown that foreign trade was not sustainable at the 40% tariffs of 1875-1930.
Just how do you intend to remove all the above and more and even begin to fund anything near even the most modest pretense of a functional nation on your tariff?
It is clear a "scientifically ascertainable maximum-revenue tariff" must be subsantially less than 20% to maintain any hope of sustaining a volume of import trade from which to extract revenues at all.
Just how do you intend to go about achieving your miracle of legislative and economic magic repealing the laws of supply and demand?
Congress deliberately binds itself to the Budget Enforcement Act, which forces all proposed tax laws to be shown to be able to provide the same level of revenues less current appropriations as the tax law it replaces.
What is going to be the incentive to remove all the above programs and more to limit the government to the revenue that you maintain is sufficient from tariffs? You cannot enact a change in tax revenues without first providing for the elimination of programs the current revenue stream maintains.
Please show us the legislative language with support in Congress to achieve your miraculous ends.
The NRST meets all the necessary requirements for enactment, and provides the means to encourage the electorate to push Congress into reducing government.
H.R.25
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 01/7/2003)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Refer: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org
I don't see where your tariff replacement for federal taxes serves even your own stated goal of 10% of the current level of government, much less government mandated and authorised by even the most strict reading of Article I Section 8 of the Constitution.
What you look for is anarchy and the dissolution of the nation, not the Republic guaranteed under the Constitution.
Not interested.