You know how to get rid of that. Simplify the tax code. I have yet to see a good argument against the flat tax. The standard argument is "well, thats how it started out, but then they changed it"
What is to say that would not happen to a sales tax too. The reason I go to Mississippi to buy expensive liquor is because I can actually save some money there, and by the same token, people from Mississippi often drive into Louisiana for the same damn purpose.
Because if you don't buy alcohol at an ABC store in this state, you will not only have to pay the state sales tax, you also have to pay an in-built excise tax, which means you pay a higher price.
In Pascagoula, it is possible to get a pack of Camels for $2.25 plus sales tax. That ain't possible in the City of Mobile, you're lucky if you get away with paying $2.95
What is to say, if the federal government gets this, they won't feel the need to expand upon it, be bold, impose additional surcharges on things they are already taxing in order that they can get more money.
And what if this NRST government decides it wants to do some social engineering on, so it decides that it wants to slap an additional 25% excise tax on the purchase of french fries, or 30% on a certain kind of boat. You'd be surprised some of the excise non-sense that is in the code. And then, what happens if the government decides, in addition to NRST, they also want to find a way to fenagle a VAT in there, adding even more taxes.
Once a government gets away with one tax, it's hard to stop them from expanding.
And if the Sales Tax is such a great idea, then tell me why it is that across the country, retailers try and get sales taxes reduced.
You're not paying attention, then.
Income taxes are a fundamental principle of Communism, not Freedom.
Which is why an income tax is one of the primary planks of the Communist Manifesto.
That fact alone should give you all the impetus you need to oppose income taxes fundamentally whereever they are found, in any form.
The Founders would find it hard to fathom how Americans could have submitted themselves to a system that allows government agents, in defiance of every principle of liberty, to know every jot and tittle of our personal and business finances.
Bottom line? The income tax, flat or graduated, is fundamentally flawed from its inception, and is anathema to Freedom.
And if the Sales Tax is such a great idea, then tell me why it is that across the country, retailers try and get sales taxes reduced.
That is one of primary things that's good about them.
Business want lower tax rates on their products, everone purchasing products wants lower tax rates.
When the entire electorate and business want precisely the same thing because government is too big and spending too much. Guess where the pressure builds.
The whole point is, if you want government to be smaller, then everyone must participate in the burden that government imposes. Not just some small plurality of the nation that cannot muster the political votes to make enforce a change.
There is a consequence of over half the nation not substantially and visibily engaged in participation in the federal tax system. Ever bigger government.
The Honorable James DeMint (R-SC)
United States House of Representatives
APRIL 5, 2001
- "There has been a shift in the relationship between individuals and government, he argues, such that fewer and fewer are paying taxes at the same time that more and more are receiving increasingly generous benefits. If it becomes the case that most voters do not bear a financial burden for this largess, then there will be little to restrain--and significant political incentives to encourage--the continued growth of government.
Consider:
Bush touts relief as tax day looms
Another 3.9 million Americans will have their income tax liability completely eliminated, officials said.
That's 3.9 million Americans more added to the spending constituency of 70% of the public clamoring for more from government, figuring someone else foots the bill.
It retains withholding.
It retains payroll taxes - employee and employer
It retains the IRS looking into every individual's life, where we're guilty until proven innocent
It retains hidden, embedded taxes and tax costs in prices. Hidden taxes allow gov't to grow without the populace being made aware that they're paying for it.
It retains the tax component in US exports.
Get over the flat tax. It's only how income tax lovers sell their snake oil - to try to prevent any reform at all.