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Answers for the FairTax Faction (Why It's More Complicated than Simple)
Townhall ^ | 01/11/2008 | Jerry Bowyer

Posted on 01/12/2008 1:06:53 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Yes, I've read the legislation.

No, I don't listen to the radio show.

No, I'm no stupid, idiotic, dishonest, evil, an employee of the IRS, spouse of an IRS employee, or part of a conspiracy of journalists against the middle class.

Yes, other conservative economists who have asked tough questions about the FairTax warned me to get ready for a gusher of hate mail.

Yes, the fact that the FairTax faction (after reading a torrent of insulting email, that word seems right to me) defaults to abusive speech from the beginning means that they are a movement of zealots with a weak case.

No, my questions are not all answered in the book or at fairtax.org or in the legislation.

No, my questions are not really answered by the emails and posts which I have received. What have been answered are the questions which remind the FairTaxers of other easier questions to are addressed on the web site.

No, the FairTax will not be simple. The debate in response to my latest article proves that.

No, the apologists who responded to me did not even remotely deal with the problem of the interest portion of mortgages.

Yes, I know that that interest isn't supposed to be taxable. But I also know that if all interest remains non-taxable, there will be a massive movement towards discounting house and durable goods sales prices and then making up the difference with high interest rates.

No, none of the fairtaxers seem who wrote to me seem to know that under the legislation, only some of interest is non-taxable.

Yes, that's right the government will decide what a reasonable interest rate is, and then tax you for anything above that.

No, the legislation's choice of how to interest is not actually reasonable at all. It uses the Treasury bond rate, which is very low.

So, yes, you will be paying sales tax, not just on your house, but on a substantial part of your interest as well.

Yes, this makes the effective tax rate on houses (and cars, and washing machines, etc.) and anything else bought with borrowed money, higher than on goods not purchased on credit.

Yes, this hurts the poor.

Yes, this punishes people with sub-prime mortgages.

Yes, it means that every time the Fed meets, it finds itself not just setting monetary policy, but tax policy as well.

No, this is not just interest about the interest problem. I could go all day on about this plan. Employee discounts, tipping, taxing churches: every element of this plan is fraught with complexity. The fact that the FairTaxers shout down questions like this tells us a great deal more about them than it does about the proposed plan.

Yes, I'm done – for now.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fairtax; flattax; tax
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To: Neidermeyer

Never said that, only asked questions and checked on the answer to those questions. I will however put together a seminar on it IF it ever does pass. If I can find that many holes with a cursory reading just think of the opportunities when I sit down and study it!!


81 posted on 01/13/2008 5:39:17 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (Hillary cried, New Hampshire died.)
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To: xcamel
Why is it nearly 90% of fairtaxers pontificate about freedom, yet act like ignorant schoolyard bullies?

You don’t see any problem with that?

No because it is an outright LIE and readers of these threads certainly do know who creates the problems!

Hint: It's NOT my side but I hope you keep it up because you have helped a great many find their way to the FairTax bandwagon which, I might add, will soon be unstoppable!

82 posted on 01/13/2008 6:13:58 AM PST by Bigun (IRS sucks @getridof it.com)
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To: Bigun
Sources? Links? I don't think so. Just another unsubstantiated claim by a fairtaxer.

Seems we've recently had 15 threads (1000+ posts), and around 70-80% of the posters with no record of comment on the FT have been negative, or outright against the FT. Good and valid questions get asked, and your only comment is "read the book" (L. Ron Fairtax). People point out a flaw, Fairtaxers insult them. The FT delusion and anger level speaks volumes. Real thinking Americans concerned about economic freedom won't stand for it. You are your own worst enemies.

83 posted on 01/13/2008 6:24:37 AM PST by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: xcamel
Why is it nearly 90% of fairtaxers pontificate about freedom, yet act like ignorant schoolyard bullies?

You're on to something there.

84 posted on 01/13/2008 7:12:58 AM PST by lucysmom
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To: lucysmom
Res Ipsa Loquitur
85 posted on 01/13/2008 7:38:33 AM PST by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: lewislynn

the Fairtax is “23 percent of the gross payments”, which means you would be paying 30% Fairtax on your state sales taxes too.
**************************************************
NEGATIVE , federal taxes are always added in prior to computing and adding in the state sales tax.


86 posted on 01/13/2008 5:33:50 PM PST by Neidermeyer
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To: xcamel

Just another unsubstantiated claim by a fairtaxer.
...................and your only comment is “read the book” (L. Ron Fairtax).
**************************************************
You say we’re “bullying” and yet you carry on with the lie that space aliens and Tom Cruise developed the FairTax??? Do you want to be believed by even fewer people..


87 posted on 01/13/2008 5:36:50 PM PST by Neidermeyer
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To: Your Nightmare

You’re a classic FairTaxer. First you claim churches don’t pay the FairTax then when you are shown that’s not true - it doesn’t matter because of embedded taxes.
**************************************************
You’ve got me ... or rather I GOT ME ,,, I took your initial post related to non-profits to be discussing costs of taxation on goods purchased ,, in which case my assertion that “Machts Nichts” since it’s the same tax whether it’s hidden (embedded) or in the sunshine (FairTax), of course local and state taxes remain unchanged and for the most part negligible (for instance the license plates for the last few school busses , 91 passenger rear engined diesels, I bought cost less than for a mid sized personal car due to special tax rates for church groups.. but of course the registration fees are still a tax... Churches are taxed regularly but in smaller doses)...

I didn’t realize you were talking about non-profits reselling new goods for a profit... I don’t know about you but my church gives things to the needy...


88 posted on 01/13/2008 5:50:54 PM PST by Neidermeyer
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To: lewislynn
Be careful what you wish for.

I wish for something different.

The fact that some don't bothers me considerably.

89 posted on 01/13/2008 5:56:48 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: lucysmom
Kind of like a childless expert on children.

Post your tax credentials and I'll post mine.

Fastest way to end this argument.

90 posted on 01/13/2008 6:00:49 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: hripka
Resistance is futile.

You will be weaned and assimilated.

91 posted on 01/13/2008 6:10:53 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: Neidermeyer
Huh?

You are a classic Fairtaxer!
92 posted on 01/13/2008 7:24:26 PM PST by Your Nightmare
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To: Neidermeyer
NEGATIVE , federal taxes are always added in prior to computing and adding in the state sales tax.
IOW you don't know what the term "gross payment means" but what you're saying is you would pay state sales tax on the 30% Fairtax...got it.
federal taxes are always added in prior to computing
I don't know what "federal taxes" those would be but we're talking about the Fairtax which doesn't exist...So we'll have to go with the literal meaning of the proposed law and not your word here.

If the "federal taxes" you're referring to are excise taxes or tariffs, the Fairtax taxes them too because they're included in the gross payment (DUH!)...It's in the bill, read it sometime

93 posted on 01/13/2008 7:49:36 PM PST by lewislynn (What does the global warming movement and the Fairtax movement have in common? Disinformation)
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To: elkfersupper
I wish for something different.

The fact that some don't bothers me considerably.

Interesting one track mind comment since I've never said I didn't want anything different.
94 posted on 01/13/2008 11:13:18 PM PST by lewislynn (What does the global warming movement and the Fairtax movement have in common? Disinformation)
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To: lewislynn

I guess at this point you should ask why the FT calculator is rigged against people who retire, or chose to live on after tax money, or previously (heavily taxed) assets...


95 posted on 01/14/2008 4:09:27 AM PST by xcamel (FDT/2008)
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To: elkfersupper
Post your tax credentials and I'll post mine.

Income tax, in use around the world and decades of experience in the US.

FairTax, plan exists on paper, no real world experience.

96 posted on 01/14/2008 9:03:14 AM PST by lucysmom
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To: elkfersupper
I wish for something different.

I, too wish for something different. However, that does not mean any replacement for the current system should not be thoroughly examined in all aspects, otherwise we will, in our zeal to be out of the frying pan, end up in the fire.

97 posted on 01/14/2008 9:39:34 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: lucysmom

Those are not credentials. They are opinions.


98 posted on 01/14/2008 5:57:50 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: elkfersupper
Those are not credentials. They are opinions.

They are not opinions, they are facts unless you can prove that the income tax doesn't now exist in the US and in other countries and the FairTax does exist in practice, you must agree - like it or not.

If you can't tell the difference between a fact and an opinion, than I doubt you have any meaningful credentials.

99 posted on 01/14/2008 6:07:45 PM PST by lucysmom
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To: lucysmom
Credentials.

Credentials are education, experience and professional designations.

What are your tax credentials?

100 posted on 01/14/2008 6:14:31 PM PST by elkfersupper
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