Why?I'm from New York, where we have both a sales tax and an income tax. Like the income tax, the sales tax is gerry-rigged to appeal to different constituencies. High taxes on cigarettes, no tax at all on food, and infrequent "tax amnesty" periods on things like clothing to boost sales (which are then taxed as income) and allow the politicians to pretend to be against high taxes.
Spreading this repressive (and hugely expensive) system to the entire nation is insane.
I prefer a flat tax. It fits within the (admittedly horrid) system we already have, it's fair, and it has no hidden gotchas.
And before anyone says, "Oh, we'll have just the national sales tax and get rid of the income tax" forget it. I haven't even seen a proposal to amend the Constitution to eliminate the income tax. It's NOT going away.
And before anyone says, "Oh, we'll have just the national sales tax and get rid of the income tax" forget it. I haven't even seen a proposal to amend the Constitution to eliminate the income tax. It's NOT going away. Well, if you want to dwell in the land of the possible, the sales tax ain't gonna happen any time soon. But I am certain that Cain would only support a sales tax if the income tax was dead, burned, and scattered to the four corners of the earth. If it makes you feel better, I believe he supports a flat tax as a step in the right direction.
And before anyone says, "Oh, we'll have just the national sales tax and get rid of the income tax" forget it. I haven't even seen a proposal to amend the Constitution to eliminate the income tax. It's NOT going away.Then you haven't seen HR 25, in Congress NOW, with 33 co-sponsors, one of whom is Tom DeLay. Read it, it repeals the income tax.
TITLE I--REPEAL OF THE INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAXES, AND ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES
SEC. 101. INCOME TAXES REPEALED.
Subtitle A of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to income taxes and self-employment taxes) is repealed.
SEC. 102. PAYROLL TAXES REPEALED.
(a) IN GENERAL- Subtitle C of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to payroll taxes and withholding of income taxes) is repealed.
(b) FUNDING OF SOCIAL SECURITY- For funding of the Social Security Trust Funds from general revenue, see section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401).
SEC. 103. ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES REPEALED.
Subtitle B of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to estate and gift taxes) is repealed.
SEC. 104. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS; EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
(1) by striking subtitle H (relating to financing of Presidential election campaigns), and
(A) subtitle D (relating to miscellaneous excise taxes) as subtitle B,
(B) subtitle E (relating to alcohol, tobacco, and certain other excise taxes) as subtitle C,
(C) subtitle F (relating to procedure and administration) as subtitle D,
(D) subtitle G (relating to the Joint Committee on Taxation) as subtitle E,
(E) subtitle I (relating to the Trust Fund Code) as subtitle F,
(F) subtitle J (relating to coal industry health benefits) as subtitle G, and
(G) subtitle K (relating to group health plan portability, access, and renewability requirements) as subtitle H.
(b) Redesignation of 1986 Code-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 enacted on October 22, 1986, as heretofore, hereby, or hereafter amended, may be cited as the `Internal Revenue Code of 2003'.
(2) REFERENCES IN LAWS, ETC- Except when inappropriate, any reference in any law, Executive order, or other document--
(A) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall include a reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 2003, and
(B) to the Internal Revenue Code of 2003 shall include a reference to the provisions of law formerly known as the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(c) ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS- For additional conforming amendments, see section 202 of this Act.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2005.