Replies

I want some of what you and the author are smoking.

Current unconstitutional income tax is already a VAT. Manufacturers pay taxes on raw materials to make into products, then they're taxed again when they're sold to sellers.

Taxes are again levied on those finished goods when they're sold to consumers.

The Fairtax completely eliminates all these hidden taxes, producing a single tax levied on the final good or service sold to consumers.

Would you rather be taxed on your income or on what you spend? Under a Fairtax, prices on most goods and services would actually DROP because there is no hidden taxes built into the product.

"The Fairtax completely eliminates all these hidden taxes, producing a single tax levied on the final good or service sold to consumers."

EEE, No it doesen't. What you been smokin'? ANY taxes that are incurred by business {whether sales, owner and worker salaries and wages, income, social security, property, etc} MUST be passed on to the end consumer, or the company WILL lose money. And to think that prices will drop requires an imagination that exceeds bigfoot believers. Peace and love, George.

EEE, some comments on your post.
1. Manufacturers don't pay taxes on raw materials that are destined for products. These materials are exempt. If you are implying that the income tax that the producer paid is included in the cost of the raw material, you are correct.
2. Same comment about taxes on products sold to sellers.
3. Only state and local taxes are levied on products being sold to consumers.
4. 1, 2 and 3 do not account for excise taxes, which are another animal entirely.
5. Under the NRST, how do you deal with the black market? 20-30% savings is quite an incentive for sales outside the government's control. I believe this is an issue in countries with VATs much lower than 20-30%.
6. The gradual payment (payroll deduction) plan is, IMHO, what got us into the tax mess we have now. If people had to write a check to Uncle Sam every April 15th for the entire amount of taxes they owe their would be a tax revolt in this country immediately. If I have to hear one more idiot tell me "the government had to refund $x to me" as if it were a good thing I may be in jail soon.
7. In the past 20 years my state has more than doubled the sales tax. How, by billing the increases as "only 1%", "only a penny", etc. How would you prevent this with NRST?

My solution (for all to take shots at) is a flat tax, no deductions (the famous "postcard" tax return"). All taxes are due the day before the general election date in November. That keeps the tax rate and election tied in everyone's mind, with instant feedback to the elected officials. Again, IMHO, that is the best way to get lower taxes rather than higher.

Would you rather be taxed on your income or on what you spend?
Fair? On the issue of "fairness" I'd rather be taxed like the FF intended...by my % of the overall population...but I know that is just dreaming on my part. We're "oh so much wiser" than they were.

Article 1, Sec. 9
No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
Amendment XVI shot that to hell!