“My point was, and remains, that politicians can and will implement changes to the Fair Tax that will alter it’s execution so that it does not reflect the original intent.”
That objection is not specific to the FairTax, but could, in fact, be applied to any tax reform proposal.
Is that your position - that you defend the current tax system because any attempt to reform it could be sabotaged by congressmen/women who don’t share the goals of the reform measure?
My objection is not with, for or against the Fair Tax, Flat tax or any other tax collection method. My objection is that the SYSTEMIC problems that are far more damaging to the economy are not being address. Fixing the flat tires on my car does not help when the engine is not running, the transmission wont get out of first gear and the axles are broken. There is a vocal group of Fair Tax proponents that are selling the Fair Tax as the end all, be all solution to all problems - which it is NOT.
For example, I often hear Fair Tax proponents claim that the Fair Tax will “starve the government of funds” .... NOTHING IS FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
Again, I neither support nor oppose Fair Tax. Just like any tax collection method, there are pros (simplicity) there are neutrals (most likely will be changed from how it is designed, but that is with any method) and cons. Many people argue over the small stuff. X beats Y because of Z. And that is fair debate. But I will continue to caution that until the systemic problems are fixed with Congress, then it really does not matter which flavor of tax collection is implemented.