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LETTER: Fair Tax deserves consideration by Congress

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Letter to the Editor

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Thursday, April 1. 2010

Comments (12)

Dear Editor:

Thanks to Frank Gillispie for devoting his last column to the subject of the Fair Tax. This is a subject that deserves fair consideration by Congress. The Fair Tax is a consumption-based tax that would totally replace the current federal income tax system.

It would abolish all federal personal and corporate income tax, gift tax, estate tax, capital gains, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replace them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax of about 23 percent. Everyone would pay sales tax on the purchase of new goods and services. Used or pre-owned goods would be exempt. Everyone would pay tax, including those who are currently evading taxes by criminal means. Even drug dealers and illegal immigrants have to buy groceries. The poor would get a break from this sales tax by means of a prebate check that would be mailed to them every month to cover tax on the basic necessities. For a typical family of four, this would be $537.

The Fair Tax would virtually eliminate the IRS and would make April 15 just another day on the calender.

In my opinion, the best part of The Fair Tax is that it takes power and control away from the federal government. No more tax breaks or incentives for those individuals or companies that are in favor. No more additional taxes on those who Congress wishes to punish.

You control how much tax you pay because you control your own spending. No more wondering if you are going to get a tax refund or get slammed with a huge tax bill. You know exactly how much tax you owe every time you make a purchase.

Millions of dollars have been spent studying the Fair Tax. I am convinced that it will work and that its time has come. Write your Congressman and demand a fair hearing for the Fair Tax. Go to fairtax.org to learn more.

Sincerely,

Greg Bleakley

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#1 ks on 04/02/10 at 07:37 AM [Reply]

I agree. It's time Congress took a good look at this. Both parties need to come together on this issue. People need to educate themselves on the Fair Tax.

#2 Voting In November on 04/02/10 at 07:40 AM [Reply]

I just can't help but wonder, why during a time of historically low income tax rates is the FairTax is being hailed as a replacement for the income tax?

As a business owner, I am not interested in collecting additional taxes at the time of purchase.

Nor does the FairTax eliminate the state income tax (and we all know the dire fiscal straits that our states are currently in!).

Tax reform? Yes!

FairTax? No

#3 Ben Had on 04/02/10 at 08:26 AM [Reply]

I agree with you,but here's the problem;

If I buy a $1,000,000 yacht,the taxes will be $230,000(by your number).
If I sale it to a friend one year later at a diminished used value of $750,000,he gets a GREAT DEAL(no taxes),I lose half a million.

Solution;
I (and a bunch of my Doctor and Lawyer buddies)contribute $100,000(each) to whichever political party I/we fancy, and they promptly shoot down this silly Flat Tax Reform bill before it gets started.

I buy the yacht,sell it one year later, and save $400,000.

The middle class continues to foot the tax bill.

The Upper Class continues to quietly enjoy their Heaven on Earth lives.

There.

disclaimer;
I am not a doctor.
I don't own a yacht.
I am for a flat tax,just wanted to give an example of why it will NEVER happen.

#4 Anonymous on 04/02/10 at 01:14 PM [Reply]

Legalize marijuana. Tax it. Problem solved. Nuff said.

#5 chan7 on 04/02/10 at 02:34 PM [Reply]

We need a FAIR TAX! This way everyone would pay taxes. Congressmen, Senators, Illegals, Drug Dealers, You and Me. The IRS isn't doing a great job at collecting when all these Tax agencies advertise if you owe the IRS we can help you settle for pennies on the dollar!! Do they have a copy of Obamas birth certificate or what??? Why doesn't the gov't give you a discount if you pay early?

#6 E.J. on 04/02/10 at 03:10 PM [Reply]

The current tax code needs severe alterations or just dupming. However, the 'fair tax' won't work. People will simply use the internet to purchase a whole lot of stuff outside our country. I don't think that would help our economic situation. Also, we shouldn't burden our businesses with the tax collecting that govenment should be doing. Same goes for the handling of health insurance for all.

#6.1 Greg on 05/29/10 at 11:00 AM [Reply]

We already burden our businesses with the current tax code. The Fair Tax would be a WHOLE lot less work for businesses. The price of items on the shelf would include the tax, so business owners don't have to figure out for each sale.

#7 E.J. on 04/02/10 at 03:11 PM [Reply]

#8 Hank Van Gieson on 04/02/10 at 07:22 PM [Reply]

The Fairtax really isn't fair, at least for many poor and senior retirees.

How is it fair to double tax all my after tax savings when spent?

How is it fair to force me to resume paying for my Social Security benefits with my sales tax dollars?

How is it fair to tax State and Local government consumption, thus hiding 15% of the needed federal revenue in higher S/L taxes?

How is it fair to provide a cash grant entitlement (prebate) to everyone at an annual cost of $600 billion, at a time when entitlements are squeezing out discretionary spending in the federal budget?

How is it fair to totally disconnect 30 million working families from the cost of the federal government because of the prebate?

Has it ever occurred to you that the last thing John Linder wants is a Fairtax hearing? For the last 12 years, he has introduced his bill but has never pushed for a hearing. Popular way to get reelected, but HR25 could never stand the light of a Congressional hearing!

#9 bodawg on 04/03/10 at 11:52 AM [Reply]

Sounds like it makes more sense to buy the used yacht anyway......but then again I do not have a big ego to have the newest and biggest toys on the market. Those with the big ego will buy the new yacht, etc and that is good for me too. Also business collects taxes at point of purchase anyway, just have to send a bigger check to the state.....no more trouble if you do it now. Could be harder to hide unreported income....sounds fair to me. Pro fair or flat tax. Equal taxation.

#10 jk on 04/03/10 at 03:05 PM [Reply]

Just wondering Hank, have you read the FairTax book?

#11 Hank Van Gieson on 04/04/10 at 05:10 PM [Reply]

JK,

Yep, over the last six years, I've read both Boortz/Linder books a number of times, as well as Ken Clark's "Idiots Guide to the Fairtax" and Ken Hoagland's latest release called the "Fairtax Solution". I have also studied a number of research papers by unbiased economists in addition to all the Beacon Hill/Kotlikoff studies paid for by AFFT.

I'm not sure what your point is, but I will put my knowledge of the Fairtax scheme up against anyone. If you disagree with my comments or have questions, put them on the table and we can discuss them, perhaps to everyone's benefit?

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