Posted on 03/07/2014 11:58:34 AM PST by SoConPubbie
So let it be officially known that Ted Cruz has adopted a Political Outcast plank as part of his own platform. I pray he keeps hammering at it.
From the National Review blog:
“We ought to abolish the IRS and instead move to a simple flat tax,” Cruz said on Fox News over the weekend.
“Put down how much you earn, put down a deduction for charitable contributions, for home mortgage, and how much you owe,” he continued. “It ought to be just a simple, one-page postcard.”
“Take the agents, bureaucracy out of Washington, and limit the power of the government,” he said.
Some thoughts:
First, some will complain that, unlike Ron Paul, he is not campaigning to abolish the income tax. But remember, the IRS is completely a machine in the hands of Democrats for destroying the Republican base. The Democrats know it and openly talk about it. This is what is driving Ted Cruz and I think it is good to stay on point. Trying to end income tax would raise a whole new level of opposition that might jeopardize this needed reform.
Second, though, I am not excited that Cruz mentioned deducting the home mortgage. Why not just set the flat rate low enough to make homeowners okay with losing the deduction? There is no need to manipulate people through the tax code to induce them to prefer buying to renting.
Third, the only reason this is really exciting is because of who Ted Cruz is. If almost any other politician advocated this position I would assume that they were just trying to get votes and planning on “growing in office” if they won an election (Rand Paul being a possible exception). Not Cruz. All the people in the media and the GOP who claim he damaged “the Republican brand” (right, because the GOP brand was soooo good before the shutdown) just don’t get it. Or perhaps they do and that makes them hate Cruz all the more. Cruz has more credit with voters than probably any other politician because he has proven that he does what he believes in.
So he is probably the only one who could speak about abolishing the IRS and give voters an immediate certainty that he will do all he can to abolish the IRS.
May God grant him success and us deliverance!
You’ve been added!
Oh I have read it and it is just as ridiculous now as before. You may wish to destroy the economy and please yourself with a zero tax bill, but the rest of us thinking individuals would prefer a sane solution. Continue barking at the moon...
I call BS on your assertion that “. . .I have read it. . . .”
Had you read it, and had you even an 8th grade reading comprehension level, you would understand that your assertions are patently not true.
You are wasting your time, pal. Stay off the thread until you can contribute something of value to it!
The janitorial crew will be around to sweep up after your tirade...notice all noise, no substance except what you leave on the floor. Leave this discussion to the adults.
Now your talking serious Mister Cruz. I LIKE it.
“Leave this discussion to the adults.”
That is PRECISELY why I asked you to leave the thread!
YOURS is the noise without substance!
Taxman Bravo Zulu! Dick!
EVERY American needs to listen. Somehow, someway, we need a lot of exposure on this one!
I am sending it to my “A List.”
You know, those capital letters really do impress us. Did you learn that at day-care?
[I]Well... they both can be defined as a consumption tax. But, as I said, the flat income tax retains the IRS, retains withholding, retains payroll taxes, is not border adjusted like an nrst, and retains business taxes. Those attributes are why I don’t like any income tax.[/I][p]
I agree with the body of the above, however The Flat tax proposals I have seen get rid of business taxes but have Cap Gains and dividends treated as ordinary income, getting rid of the double taxing of business profits. Also some (D Armey in the 90’s) have proposed getting rid of withholding and making people write a quarterly check to the government . Allowing people to experience the thievery first hand.
I have no issue with an NRST, replacing income taxes. However I see no scenario where an amendment repealing the 16th amendment could be passed. THe problem with that is as Friedman observed every country that passed and NRST, ended with both and the Sales tax metastasized into a VAT.
This is my fear.
A FAIR TAX - consumer tax - will get rid of the Gestapo arm of the Rat party...and will see the real freedom the Founding Fathers put together...
NO one in WAshington will know anything but you name, address and how many people in your home. Where you work, how much you make, etc etc - is none of their business.
You get every cent in you paycheck - YOU decide how mush tax you pay by what you purchase = and second hand goods - cars, houses, are not taxed ( as they were taxed when new - no repeated tax on the same ting over and over - etc etc -
Want to cut the power off for the politicians? FAIR TAX. (And the illegals pay it too)
http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HowFairTaxWorks
LIVE LINK NEXT POST
Are you referring to my comment that I can make the case for a more intrusive agency under the Flat Tax than the present system?
Keep in mind that I am talking only about personal income taxes here. Corporate taxes are a different discussion.
It is actually quite easy: Under the present system, each taxpayer has to present paper evidence (supporting forms, etc.) to the IRS that his/her income and deductions are legitimate. IRS balances the taxpayer claims based on paperwork submitted, and has at least “some backup” upon which to base “audit” or “no audit” decisions.
Under the Flat Tax, as it has been discussed for years, i.e., a post card return, each taxpayer would assert his/her income and deductions on the card, and would not have to show backup paperwork.
BTW, the largest area of FRaud in the present system is in the Earned Income Tax Credit area. People who claim the EITC merely assert their income and their dependents, and are sent a check.
Flat Tax will work in the same manner, and I hereby assert that it will be riven through and through with massive FRaud! For the same reason: there is no way to check the taxpayer’s EITC claim without an audit. It is my understanding that IRS does not habitually audit folks who claim the EITC. Do you agree that EITC is riven with FRaud?
Since the IRS figures that each of us lies on our tax returns, I can easily visualize the IRS screaming for more auditors and audit authority under the Flat Tax.
Ergo, IRS will become a more intrusive agency.
You certainly have a much more intimate knowledge of IRS practices and procedures than I. I’d appreciate your criticism of my argument.
Now for the fun part: Do you agree that CPAs will earn more income, be happier and have a better sex life with the FairTax in place?
I learned to never try to teach a pig to sing: it annoys the pig and is a waste of time.
I somehow thought that you MIGHT pay attention and learn something about FairTax by carefully reading the legislation, perusing http://www.fairtax.org and paying attention to people on FR who know more about Fairtax than you.
I have wasted my time: you cannot be taught to sing.
The Fair Tax would certainly be an improvement.
I suggest the 50 State Tax.
Once a year the federal government sends out 50 bills, one to each state. The size of the bill is determined by the number of adults living in the state at the time of the last census.
The states then figure out how to collect the tax. Given 50 state tax collecting experiments the most efficient, least costly, compassionate, and business friendly measures would emerge.
Biggest advantage?
Answer: Only **1** federal tax collector.
Calling for an end to the IRS is foolish. There will always be taxes. There will always be tax collectors.
Your fear is well founded.
The flat tax proposals have a lot to improve on and you mentioned a few of them. I’d also like to see some border-adjustability. Considering our economic atrophy, some long term growth plans are in order IMO.
thanks-
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