[LowCountryJoe]

Inez should put that in her pipe and smoke it.

[Rakkasan1]

the Oprah "free car" incident proves Americans would better
off knowing the true cost of taxes. These people didn't have a clue.If we didn't have payroll withholding taxes and
people had to make out a yearly or quarterly check, there
would be a tax revolt, but since half the population doesn't
pay any tax and gets a "rebate", they don't care.

[midwyf]

It would be wonderful if they would pass it, but I have a feeling that some of the fat cats who have set up deductions to benefit themselves and their high dollar donators will put the kibosh on it.

[narby]

The FairTax is a progressive tax. The biggest-spending wealthy will pay an effective tax of $23 for every $77 they spend on new products and services.

My quick scan doesn't pick out how they plan to do this. But I believe that this proposal only taxes big ticket items above $500, so as to "tax the wealthy".

Anyone who works in manufacturing in the US had best squeel loud about this. It will complete the destruction of manufacturing in the US, as most such items are above $500.

I can see an economy dominated by $499 items, convienently combined to make something that would cost more. Motorcycles sold with frame and engine separate. Airconditioner "kits" sold in pieces. Etc.

This is a mess and will be worse than what we've got.

[y2k_free_radical]

GO MR.CAIN

[bear11]

see www.fairtax.org

Great site to promote the Fair Tax

[drypowder]

Clinton was known to use IRS audits to harass his critics as did Nixon. Thus, the income tax and the IRS is like the US's Gestapo. A National Sales Tax would be nice but I hardly think the politicians will be willing to give up the power to control.

The Golden Rule = those with the Gold, Rule.

[ThinkDifferent]

Fairtax ping

[Yogafist]

How would drug dealers pay their fair share if they don't report their illicit income and qualify as one of the poor who get their money back? Am I missing something?

[jackibutterfly]

A replacement! YESSSS!!!!!

[JesseHousman]

Let's see now. Tack on a National Sales Tax of probably 20% onto a state and county sales tax of 7-8% and "voila" we'll be back where we started>

There would still be the onorus federal bureaucracy to make certain all the tax was collected and many forms would have to be filed to make certain we have purchased enough taxable goods to have paid our "fair share."

Rebates would have to be made to the "working poor" so that they could purchase more goodies.

I'm in favor of taxing lower income workers at a higher rate than the upper income workers in order to get the lower income workers to get off their dead arses amd PRODUCE!

[Future Useless Eater]

This is a dumb thing to be talking about at election time.

And WHO is pushing this? democRATS are saying it's Dubya's
idea, and they're supposedly convincing lots of undecided's
to vote RAT party because of this!!!

This whole idea should only be broached at TAX TIME, and
ONLY if it combined with a repeal of the amendment that
gave us the INCOME TAX + permanent dismantlement of the IRS.

(so basically its almost certain to never happen)

[Gorjus]

Step right up and join my energy co-op! Invest in energy, not taxes. No retail transactions involved. Your investment pays dividends in the form of ... gallons of gasoline ... TAX FREE gasoline, since it's not a retail transaction.

---

That's just one idea. I'm sure the really creative people out there will find lots of other ways around that 'simple' tax structure.

Would it be better than the current income tax, with bloated, despotic IRS in charge? Well, it certainly couldn't be any worse . . .

. . . unless the politicians decide to institute a national sales tax in addition to an income tax - with tax rates adjusted, of course, to be 'revenue neutral.' But just in case, you see, that the calculations turn out to be in error and instead of 23%, they need, oh, 25% or so - to be truly revenue neutral, they better leave the current system in place as well. For our own good, of course.

I think income taxes are the worst possible approach to taxation - penalizing people for delivering goods or services that someone is willing to pay for. That should be encouraged, not attacked. But I don't trust politicians, and I have a healthy respect for the ingenuity of the American entrepreneur. This will not be as simple as the proponents claim.

And I'd make a large bet that if it ever starts to look like it's actually going to happen, someone in Washington will have decided how to use it to grab more of our money (perhaps downstream a year or two) - not be revenue neutral.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Did anyone hear Nancy Pelosi's Democrat response to The President's weekly Saturday address?

She latched on to this NRST idea and blamed the Republican's for trying to raise taxes on the working class by instituting a 30% NRST. She claims it would provide a windfall for 'Big Business' and corporations that would be paid for by middle Americans.

The big problem with her harangue was that she NEVER pointed out that this sales tax would be in lieu of a federal income tax. She went on and on trying to make it sound as scary as possible while not once revealing the other side of the equation. It was classic 'Rat smoke and mirrors.

[ctdonath2]

"The FairTax is applied to all new goods and services delivered at retail."

Suddenly used goods will be preferred.

[Teflonic]

I think this is a great idea and hope it passes but I see a few problems. Not only will IRS employees be out of work but HR block will tank, franchise owners of tax services (Jackson Hewitt, etc) will be sol, and all those independant accountants wll be left with no customers. Some effort to reintegrate them into other careers should be made and stock holders of tax prep companies better sell now. I also think there should be some exceptions such as prescription drugs.

[Mark was here]

I think the fairest tax would be a "everyone pays the same amount" tax.

I don't give a whip about it being "regressive" as I cant even find the term in the Constitution. For everyone to be equal under the law they should be taxed equally.

The tax should be low enough for poor people to afford it and the government will have to live within it's means.

Politicians could no longer divide and conquer by proposing to tax the other guy. If they change the rate, they change it for everyone.

This tax would be liberating, for once you paid your charge, you are free to seek your dreams.

This tax should be called the Liberty Tax.

[BJungNan]

There is no room for a national retail sales tax. Just how much do you think people will accept when they go to buy something. The states and localities already have it at 8 percent. What's it going to go up to, 16 percent?

Gasoline already has a 56 cent per gallon tax (18 cents federal excise tax, 18 cent state excise tax, and sales taxes at roughly 8 percent or 18 cents). Now we are going to add another 18 cents for a federal sales tax?

I agree a sales tax will be better. But it won't happen. It would be far too visible.

[Walkingfeather]

bttt

[Cooltouch]

IMHO, it would be a mistake to pass the NRST without repealing the 16th Amendment. If we don't, I guarantee you that federal withholding will return -- probably during a democrat regime -- and then we'll have both. Until then, better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

Also, it isn't just homeowners who will look dimly upon a sales tax. Think of the millions of people who are employed in the huge tax INDUSTRY. Accountants, tax lawyers, H&R Block and the TurboTax folks . . . and the list goes on. All these folks will be out of work.

[Mr. K]

NO IT IS NOT A GREAT IDEA

GO to Canada and ask anyone there how they feel about their GST

they hate it with a passion usually found only in liberals