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Well I agree with your comments about the advantage Foreign country. At the very least import tariffs should be equal to the tax burden on domestic producers. But I also think that minimum import tariffs should also pay for all costs of supporting the unemployed.

And that's just the minimum. The real cost of having unemployed includes the opportunity costs that are lost when they are not producing in this country.

But I'm not in favor of the fair tax. It would equalize some of the burden and get rid of the hated IRS, to be replaced with another hated agency to collect the consumption tax. But the problem with consumption taxes is that they aren't as stable as income taxes. Government revenues fall when consumer psychology causes the market to fall. Income taxes fall too, but not nearly as quick or severe.

I'd like to see the tariff income used to reduce individual and corporate income taxes as well as to pay down the debt. The real debt reduction would come from Americans going back to work and paying income taxes instead of receiving government support.

I’d like to correct your comment that the IRS would be “ . . . replaced with another hated agency to collect the consumption tax.”

The FairTax will be collected by retail businesses, in the same manner they collect state sales taxes.

I’ll grant that said state sales tax agencies are not beloved by retail businesses, but, after all, when a sale is made, the tax is collected, and the business has a legal and moral obligation to forward it to the state.

Likewise with the FairTax. Woe betide the COMPANY which does not collect and remit the tax!

HST, note that a COMPANY is the target, not an INDIVIDUAL.

And, therein lies the difference.

Surely you can see that?

Please see http://www.fairtaxplan.org/faq.php. #47 directly applies to your question re: stabilility of tax revenue.

I’m not going to comment on tariffs, as I believe we should have “Quid pro quo” tariffs; IOW, match % with countries we trade with. I believe in “Fair” trade, not “FRee” trade!

Right now the USA has perfected the Art and Science of disadvantaging itself in all matters Foreign and Domestic, and will continue to do so until Ophonybama is long gone!

God help us if we elect another Democrat or some wussy RINO in 2016!