the Fair Tax

[Sasaki Kojiro]

It places more of a burden on the middle class according to studies.

[Hooahguy]

not true, according to the site

[Yoyoma1910]

not true, according to the site

Do you think a place called "fairtax.org" is going to give you impartial information on the "Fair Tax?"



While we're at it, I hear heroin has no side effects from the site www.heroinisgoodforyou.bs!

[Hooahguy]

but it does give the facts. i mean, how can you do a study if its never been in place?

[Yoyoma1910]

Every side to an argument will list "The Facts."


By your own logic, how do you know those are "the facts" if it has never been in place?

[LittleGrizzly]

How would this affect pensioners and the poor, and others that don't pay income tax for various reasons... i suppose this kind of depends on what the current sales tax rate is ?

its 17.5% in the UK, so a 5.5% rise in that tax (or 6.5% reduction for those living below double the poverty line) i really don't see how that could replace all the other tax income...

[Yoyoma1910]

BTW, during the last election there were two major proponents of the "fair tax" system.


Mike Huckabee and Maurice "Mike" Gravel. While I thoroughly enjoyed the campaigns of both men (I felt so bad for Gravel I donated him $20. I mean, the guy was living off of gift bags and pbj -wiches), I personally didn't see either of them as heavyweights in their policies. It just seemed that they reached for whatever could get them the uncounted votes, like most bottom feeders.

[Hooahguy]

i suppose it would encourage saving and peanalize extravagant spending. but it doesnt tax the staple foods, like milk and eggs, ect.

[CountArach]

While we're at it, I hear heroin has no side effects from the site www.heroinisgoodforyou.bs!

Your link doesn't work.

[Xiahou]

It places more of a burden on the middle class according to studies.

In that many of us will have to actually have to start paying a federal income tax, yes.

The fair tax is.... well, fair. I just don't think we could realistically implement it in our current circumstances. Unfortunately, the bloated size of our government requires at least some sort of progressive taxation in order to fund it. I would like to see the tax rates flattened and the tax code simplified (eliminate most credits/deductions), though.

[seireikhaan]

Frankly, the US will never realistically do a flat tax. My view is that if a country is going to implement a fair tax, they'll have to sacrifice a lot of spending. And people in the US frankly want it doing more and more every year. Not to mention how it always seems that the government can build one project and spend twice the cash on it that a private enterprise does. Never have figured that part out.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Frankly, the US will never realistically do a flat tax. My view is that if a country is going to implement a fair tax, they'll have to sacrifice a lot of spending. And people in the US frankly want it doing more and more every year. Not to mention how it always seems that the government can build one project and spend twice the cash on it that a private enterprise does. Never have figured that part out.

What's the evidence for that exactly? Not that I disagree, I just never see any specific examples beyond that "600$ for a toilet seat" nonsense.

[seireikhaan]

The hundreds of millions that seem to be spent on roads?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The hundreds of millions that seem to be spent on roads?

Are they cheaper when the upkeep is by private companies? And if they are is it because private companies pay workers under the table instead of giving a living wage with health benefits?

[JAG]

How can it be fair when there are goods EVERYBODY NEEDS to get, such as break and milk, yet Prince or Pauper will get taxed the same.

Basically it shifts the burden of taxation onto the little guy, with much more of their money going on tax for essentials while the rich can just keep getting richer.

A fair tax worth the name is a redistributive, progressive tax policy.