Replies

Do you have any substantive concerns about the FairTax?

-----
Absolutely. I have found that many times the name of an idea has little to do with the actual implementation of it. It is more or less just a way to sell it. There are always unintended consequences with any Government program. The pro people give all the good reasons for it and the con people give all the bad reasons against it.

My concern is the process of getting it passed into law. The Fair Tax web site says there will be a parallel path to get the National Sales Tax passed and to get the Income Tax repealed. Suppose we get one and not the other. Then we're stuck with both of them. Try getting rid of either one of them then. You will have been suckered.

During the debate over Social Security and savings accounts, the example of Chile (I think it was Chile) was put forward as an example of success with savings retirement accounts. Put forward a country as an example of sucess having switched over from IT to NST.

"Put forward a country as an example of sucess having switched over from IT to NST."

Texas and Florida operate with only a Sales Tax and no income tax. If you think those don't "qualify" in the same sense as a "country", go look up their GDP and compare to Chile or any one of a hundred other countries. Both Florida and Texas -- if they were independent countries -- are in the top 20 economies worldwide.

"I have found that many times the name of an idea has little to do with the actual implementation of it. It is more or less just a way to sell it. There are always unintended consequences......"

And I have found that there are always people who oppose change just because it is different and forces them to look at their world (or parts of it) in completely different ways. This is especially true of tax reform. Because our Marxist progressive tax system has been around so long that it has wrapped its tentacles around every aspect of our financial lives, it is very hard for many in our society to "think outside the box" and imagine how our economy could be unleashed and our Founders' vision could be reinstated.

Resistence to change is hard for many of us to understand, especially when it applies to a system such as our tax system, which is broadly recognized as dysfunctional, but it is a powerful force, nonetheless.

After all, the current system started out as a flat tax many years ago now and the AMT is essentially a flat tax now. The income tax is a failed experiment that our Founders never would have countenanced. Perhaps we should heed their warnings after almost 100 years of trying to make an income tax work.

There are many incantations of the notion of a National Sales Tax. The FairTax name refers to a specific plan and it's unique features that make it better and indeed fair to everyone.

Part of the bill (HR 25 / S25) is the repeal of the income tax and a companion bill initiates the repeal of the 16th Amendment which ALLOWS, BUT DOES NOT MANDATE an Income Tax.

Put aside your fears and help us take power back from an overreaching, overly intrusive federal government.