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I case you don't already know this Fitz, our friend Lewis has a bit of a reading comprehention problem HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND PLAIN ENGLISH!

From his post:

(d) OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE RATE- The old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate shall be determined by the Social Security Administration. The old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate shall be that sales tax rate which is necessary to raise the same amount of revenue that would have been raised by imposing a 12.4 percent tax on the Social Security wage base (including self-employment income) as determined in accordance with chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code most recently in effect prior to the enactment of this Act. The rate shall be determined using actuarially sound methodology and announced at least 6 months prior to the beginning of the calendar year for which it applies.

`(e) HOSPITAL INSURANCE RATE- The hospital insurance rate shall be determined by the Social Security Administration. The hospital insurance rate shall be that sales tax rate which is necessary to raise the same amount of revenue that would have been raised by imposing a 2.9 percent tax on the Medicare wage base (including self-employment income) as determined in accordance with chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code most recently in effect prior to the enactment of this Act. The rate shall be determined using actuarially sound methodology and announced at least 6 months prior to the beginning of the calendar year for which it applies.

`(f) ASSISTANCE- The Secretary shall provide such technical assistance as the Social Security Administration shall require to determine the old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate and the hospital insurance rate.

I'm betting that you, unlike Lewis can read that and UNDERSTAND what it says!

SHEEEECH!

I haven't decided if I'd be more in favor of a flat rate income tax, flat tax, or sales tax. A sales tax could hit you quite hard if one year your washer, dryer and refrigerator needed to be replaced which for many people are fairly big items. The income tax system we have now is horrible ----if they cut spending drastically, any kind of tax system could be much better than what we have now.

I can accept families paying the extra taxes for having children if those children were freed from Social Security and Medicare taxes and could provide for their own parents instead of everyone else. Those without children would have less taxes they'd need to pay but could save for their retirement needs which might be higher because they wouldn't have the kids to pitch in for their care.