CAVUTO REPORTS THAT BUSH CONSIDERING SCRAPPING THE IRS CODE!!!

Fox News Channel | November 6, 2002 | n/a

[Tree of Liberty]

Neil Cavuto just interviewed Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., the director of the OMB, and Neil let it be known that he's hearing rumblings that Pres. Bush is considering a total re-write of the tax code and that SecTreas O'Neill is strongly pushing a national retail sales tax!

[Tree of Liberty]

Where's O'Neill talked about this? I haven't heard much of anything out of him since he became a roadie for U2's Africa tour.

[PhilipFreneau]

He will be branded for favoring the rich, since they are the only ones who pay it anyways.

Not on a "sales tax". The sales tax favors no one. The poor are taxed little, since they purchase little. Those who purchase much, such as the rich, hollywooden types, etc., pay much.

The only way to make this work is to set a flat sales tax rate, with no exemptions, ever. Once exemptions of any kind are allowed, that "foot in the door" will eventually lead to a tax code just as bewildering to businesses as it is now to everyone.

[Nephi]

I haven't heard the reasoning behind your statement that a national sales tax would be unconstitutional. Not that the tax on a gallon of gas is legal.

[BaghdadBarney]

touche....

[Ditto]

"Cheating is one, which is why the rate would have to be set fairly high and enforcement costs would be far from negligible."

I'm sure there would be cheating, as there is in all systems. But consider that enforcement would not be directed at 300 million citizens as it is now, but only at retail level sales. Is Wall Mart going to risk jail time by not charging? Like state sales taxes, it presents a much more managable enforcement problem than income taxes.

[Naspino]

Summary

I'm going to try to summarize the thoughts so far. It sounds like the 16th ammendment does not specify how taxes are to be collected. For instance we have zillions of taxes not related to our "employment income". Therefore the 16th ammendment already provides for collection of taxes from businesses off of retail sales. The only thing that would have to be modified is the tax code itself and process of collection which I do not believe requires any ammendment changes and only passage of a bill through the US house and senate.

[Jim Robinson]

Hey that's fine with me. I know that most supporters of the NRST want the tax to apply to everything, but I think it would make sense to exclude basic food items and housing.

[mikegi]

I think that the advantages of the NRST would only be temporary. Within a few years, it would be a convoluted mess with income-testing, etc.

A better way to turn the tide on taxation would be to make EVERYONE pay estimated taxes. No more "funny money" coming out of your paycheck. I want everyone to actually get their hands on their hard-earned dollars then have to give it away to the government.

[lelio]

The sales tax favors no one. The poor are taxed little, since they purchase little.
That's not true, sales taxes are actually harder on the poor as they have to spend a much hirer percent of their income than a richer person does that can save money. Granted eventually they'll spend it, but in the short run sales taxes are generally harder on the poor.

[Phantom Lord]

If Bush got this done, he would go on Mount Rushmore.

He should get his own mountain, possibly an entire range!

[Teacher317]

Mitch Daniels is a good man. (His daughter took my math classes. She wants to be the first female President, but Condi just might beat her to it!)

Let's hope he sees this through!

[Jason_b]

Just got back from a cruise in the Cayman Islands.
Guess who has no income tax and no property tax.
Right.
The Cayman Islands, under UK control. It is a "parliamentary democracy."

[Naspino]

Social Security?

How does the NRST provide for social security collection? That will be the DNC's attacking point on this I think. Is it a system where for every dollar you spend you put 1% in the piggy bank?

[KOZ.]

poor CPAs.

[Tree of Liberty]

lol, my heart bleeds for them.

[let freedom sing]

User Tax: TAX demRATs for using us!!

[demlosers]

NOT a "sales tax" try 17% or more on EVERY transaction from raw materials to consumer....why you think Europe is stagnating (VAT on everything)

But those socialist govs also have an income tax. A double whammy!

[MD_Willington_1976]

Knock down the IRS buildings and sell the bricks as souvenirs on ebay...I dont think that it will happen folks.

[Weimdog]

From FairTax.org -

"Perhaps most importantly, to ensure that no American will pay tax on necessities, the FairTax plan provides a prepaid, monthly rebate for every registered household to cover the 23% consumption tax spent on necessities up to the federal poverty level. This is how the FairTax completely untaxes the poor, and lowers the tax burden on everyone else. Can you see how much freer life will be with the FairTax instead of the income tax?"

http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/sketch.html