King George's tax code

John Linder is the primary sponsor of the Fair Tax Act (HR 2525). He appeared on Making Sense with Alan Keyes (MSNBC) Tuesday evening, although the show alloted only fifteen minutes to the subject of tax reform. Linder knows the subject well.

Bah, he detects some sort of percolating outrage amongst the masses. He's nuts. The vast majority is right now excitedly flipping through catalogs trying to decide how to spend the free money the government gives them called a "refund".

As long as payroll deduction sucks away our money before we ever see it, that's how its going to be. You want tax reform, leave the tax code alone but pass a law forbidding payroll deductions. Come April 15 next year when 80% of america realizes they need to write a $10k or $20k or whatever check, and by the way, they didnt bother to set it aside so they cant pay, the outcry will come. Until then, suck it up America.

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A totally unreadable post...paragraphs please!!!

GRRRRRRRollin'

FairTax.org

I absolutely agree with you. If this guy is serious, he's insane. Sure, people have always hated taxes, but it's almost always impossible to lower them, never mind overhauling the entire system. Why? Because the beneficiaries of tax-funded programs are always easier to organize as an interest/pressure-group, than is the entire nation of taxpayers. I mean, sure, you'd like 5% shaved off your taxes, but if that means your company loses precious subsidies, you're not going to support it. Like I've said for a while now, the problem with the American system is structural. It cannot be reformed away.

When President John Adams described the American Revolution, he referred to it as a "radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people."

For the past few years, I believe another revolution has been quietly taking root in the hearts and minds of the American people and the communities of the United States. Americans are increasingly disgusted with a federal income tax system that is arbitrary, unfair, cumbersome and burdensome.

Across the country, many of these Americans are banding together to demand change, and they are looking to Congress to respond. Surveys consistently and overwhelmingly indicate Americans' dissatisfaction with the federal tax code.

One poll discovered that nearly 60 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with the system, and a full 64 percent wanted major changes or a complete overhaul of the code. Another poll even found that more Americans are afraid of an IRS audit than of anthrax. Clearly, Americans are ready for reform.

Fundamental tax reform is vital if we as a nation are to continue to grow and prosper. Tax complexity and tax compliance costs increase each and every year.

Currently, Americans spend more than $250 billion annually complying with the code. This amounts to nearly $900 for every man, woman and child in America.

Further, taxpayers with less than $50,000 in adjusted gross income, who represent less than 20 percent of the population, pay almost 60 percent of the total compliance costs for individuals. Unfortunately, however, most of us are hardly aware of the tremendous burden that tax complexity imposes, a burden that largely manifests itself in higher consumer prices.

On average, between 20 percent and 25 percent of the price of consumer goods is the price of our tax code, tax compliance and tax avoidance. For example, one dollar's worth of gasoline includes 48 cents in taxes and a $1.14 loaf of bread includes 35 cents in taxes.

Studies have shown that, if we simplified our system through fundamental tax reform, we would eliminate this component in the price system and thereby increase purchasing power by more than 20 percent. An equally distressing component of our current tax structure is its intrusion into nearly every aspect of American life.

Through countless credits, exemptions and excise taxes, Congress has sought to influence personal choices — ranging from work to health care to savings, spending and investment decisions. The result is that many taxpayers find themselves describing their lives in greater detail and revealing more intimate information to the IRS than they would to own children or parents.

A recent study by the General Accounting Office found that as many as 2.2 million tax returns failed to take into account many standard deductions — such as mortgage interest payments, charitable contributions, and state and local income taxes — resulting in an overpayment of nearly $1 billion in taxes.

This is a striking statistic, especially after considering that approximately half of those returns were prepared by a tax professional. As a result of the failure to itemize, many Americans overpay their taxes by an average of more than $400, and a quarter of taxpayers overpaid by more than $500.

One certainly must consider whether the complexity of the code, along with the forced disclosure of personal information, is at the root of the costly decision to not itemize.

While it is clear that the federal income tax system must be reformed, it is less clear how we should go about enacting such change. Congress is currently considering several proposals that would fundamentally alter the income tax system, including proposals for a flat tax on income or a national retail sales tax.

These bills all share some common components, and we must look to preserve these principles as we continue to debate this issue. All fundamental tax-reform proposals should be fair, simple and transparent; they should also increase economic growth and personal freedoms. If Congress remains faithful to these principles, we can enact fundamental tax reform that would dramatically improve the quality of life for Americans.

True reform proposals will result in an increase in gross domestic product, exports, savings, investment and take-home pay; the stock market would grow exponentially; consumer prices, interest rates and compliance costs would all fall dramatically. More importantly, however, the enactment of tax reform would revolutionize our expectations of government.

We could announce loudly and clearly that we have heard America's cries for relief and are willing to enact change. A government of the people and by the people is extraordinary, but a government that is also responsive to the people is noteworthy in today's political climate.

Through a substantive dialogue that results in fundamental tax reform, Congress could demonstrate that it is not only Americans who are capable of revolutionary thought and change, but also their government.

A GBBTTT!! :O)

Gotta mark these thread for alook, gad they are getting ahead of me.

I PRAY you're wrong. But if you're right, America is finished.

There IS something we can do -- but it takes more effort than simply sitting at a PC mindlessly bitching that we're doomed.

Every concerned citizen here at FR who supports MASSIVE TAX REFORM needs to be at as many Congressional Town Hall Meetings as possible and PUBLICLY ask your congresscritter something like the following:

"Except for a brief period surrounding the War Between the States, for America's first 126 years – statistically, perhaps the most prosperous and free period in our history -- we funded the legitimate and Constitutional functions of government with INDIRECT taxes on consumption. For our first 126 years we held to the tax system the Founders intended here. Explain to these good folks why you (do/do not -- as the case warrants) support MASSIVE TAX REFORM which would REPLACE the UNFAIR and INCOMPREHENSIBLE income tax with a PAPERLESS, FLAT, FAIR tax and rid us of the most dangerous agency in government today, the IRS?"

Remain at the mike and DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH THE OLD POLITICAL TRICK OF ANSWERING ANOTHER QUESTION.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATES WHOSE CRITTER DOES NOT HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS OR ASKS YOU TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS ON CARDS (SO HIS STAFF CAN THROW OUT THE TOUGH ONES!), YOU NEED A NEW CONGRESSCRITTER!

You have accomplished several important goals with your question:
You’ve put the congresscritter on notice that he is dealing with that most dangerous constituent. One with and actual functioning BRAIN;
You’ve let HIM know that YOU know about the alternative to the system he will – despite the soothing noises he may make in public at the end of the day – fight like a cornered animal to save as he knows that the tax code is the source of most all of his power to social engineer, reward his pals and punish his enemies;
And -- MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL – you have just EDUCATED YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE AUDIENCE, MANY OF WHOM WILL WANT TO KNOW MORE. Be sure you bump them to a TAX REFORM WEB SITE (www.votr.org comes to mind).

A few thousand of us doing this on a regular basis will send 'em the desired message. When Newt was my representative, he LOVED this question (NOT!). Johnny Isakson – his anointed successor – loves it almost as much (NOT!)

I’m open to ANY suggestions to strengthen this sucker. I’ve tried to hit the following elements:
1. A little HISTORY. Most Americans think we’ve had the damn income tax FOREVER. They need to know we have not.
2. An emphasis on the CONSTITUTIONAL aspects of government. Most Americans don’t think about THIS one either.
3. The word “unfair” connected with the income tax is a key hot button term according survey results. They’re probably correct.

Unless you live in a district populated by brain dead, lethargic former residents of the old Soviet Union, if you’ve never been applauded for anything else in your life, this question should get you some (and perhaps even a few whistles and a little foot-stomping as well.

YOU GUYS -- AND GALS -- UP FOR THIS!