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Fair Tax; a booth at the watermelon festival
Topic Started: May 14 2006, 12:14 PM (454 Views)
MDPD6320
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Frank - Gainesville, Florida
Yesterday I worked a booth at the Newberry Watermelon festival. I was surprised just how many people knew about the Fair Tax but hadn't signed a petition or wanted literature for friends. We signed up 180 new petitioners in 8 hours and went through all of our bumper stickers and most of our literature. Many people
thanked us for being there and those that weren't sure of exactly what it was listened politely to our explanations and almost all signed petitions after hearing an explanation. No one argued the facts or the idea.

I can't wait to do it again!!
" The government big enough to give you everything you want it is big enough to take everything you have."

"Extremism in the pursuit of liberty is no vice, and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue"

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Good to hear from you, Frank, and good to hear about progress with the Fair Tax at the grassroots level.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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teryt
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Great! One question: If the Fair Tax is implemented, what keeps congress from also bringing back income tax?
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
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tomdrobin
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The only "fair" tax is no tax. There has been much said about how the Bush tax cuts unfairly benefit those at the high income end. That is nothing compared to this so called "fair tax", which as I understand it is basically a sales tax or value added tax. As such, it is a flat tax. And, would be a real early Christmas to high income folks at the expense of those that are struggling to get by now. The graduated income tax, although it does have some faults, is the fairest from of taxation. It is based on ability to pay, and provides for dependent deductions etc.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. Because, be careful of what you wish for, you might get it. And, end up awfully disappointed.
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teryt
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tomdrobin
May 16 2006, 03:06 AM
The only "fair" tax is no tax.  There has been much said about how the Bush tax cuts unfairly benefit those at the high income end.  That is nothing compared to this so called "fair tax", which as I understand it is basically a sales tax or value added tax.  As such, it is a flat tax.  And, would be a real early Christmas to high income folks at the expense of those that are struggling to get by now.  The graduated income tax, although it does have some faults, is the fairest from of taxation.  It is based on ability to pay, and provides for dependent deductions etc.
If it ain't broke don't fix it.  Because, be careful of what you wish for, you might get it.  And, end up awfully disappointed.

It is neither a value added tax (e.g. Europe), or a flat tax per say (i.e., not an income tax).

"If it ain't broke" . . .!!!???? :floorrollin: :floorrollin: :floorrollin: Yer kidding - right!!?? :floorrollin: :floorrollin:

If you're not kidding, then you are perhaps the one taxpayer that thinks this way (rich, poor & in between included). Oh wait, that's right - many politicians think it's jus' fine.

Sounds like: From each according to their ability - to each according to their need. (I heard that somewhere before, where was it . . .?)
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
I see no one answered your question, Teryt. The answer is because the Fair Tax movement will result in an amendment to the Constitution.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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teryt
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cmoehle
May 16 2006, 05:25 AM
I see no one answered your question, Teryt. The answer is because the Fair Tax movement will result in an amendment to the Constitution.

That's what I used to think too, but heard recently that this wasn't really part of the Fair Tax bill.
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Not exactly sure how else you would repeal the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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teryt
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No, that's not what i meant. I had heard that the Fair Tax bill would suspend the income tax, but stop short of repealing the 16th. If politicians wanted to, they could then resurect the income tax by a congressional vote.
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
I subscribe to the American's for Fair Taxation newsletter and haven't seen word of such a change.

I'd be glad to look at what you've seen.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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teryt
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Not so much what I've seen, but rather heard on the radio. Michael Medven has been a strong advocate of the Fair Tax for some time, and often devotes time to it. It may have been one of the people he was debating on air, that said that there wasn't a repeal of the 16th included in implementing the Fair Tax.

So your understanding is that it does include a repeal of the 16th?
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
Recovering Perfectionist
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teryt
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Sorry, my bad - I found this http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/faq-main.html#38 which says it would be repealed as part of it.
My Boast is Christ :pray:
Soon to have MBA (I'll perhaps be smart then)
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Right, still the plan. Not to say it couldn't change, but there's be heck to pay!
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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Fr. Mike
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I agree with efforts that improve on the systems we have in play which regulate and assist in making our government more efficient and our laws fair. I also admit to knowing nothing about the inner workings of our current tax system.

Is it fair? Is it more fair to some and less to others? Is it abusive? Is it agressive/re-gressive? All I know is what I read and hear told to me by others as I like the majority only have unfounded suspicions about its current workings---while at the same time have entrusted revenue collection to my elected representatives.

Right now I understand the rules and what I am supposed to do as best as the next guy.

It seems to me that what we currently have is controlled by a hodge podge of tax laws and amendments that attempt to balance out some favored folks at the expense of some others. Or so I'm led to believe.

I wonder therefore if we replace what we have will it too develop a series of loopholes over time that results in a worse scenario than currently being used? Or--will it really be a simply no gimmicks revolution?

If Boeing sells a 250 Million dollar airplane and it is delivered as is currently the case from the State of Washington, will that plane have a tax associated with the sale? They currently have no sales tax associated with the sale of their planes despite sales tax being in place in Washington State. They convinced the lawmakers that such a tax would render their product less competitive to ones built and delivered from foreign countries. They also pay very little Federal tax due to the heavy use of tax credits. I don't know the end result of how the proposed 'Fair Tax would affect this example and probably a million other "special" situations. After all--- when it comes to taxes we all have our own "special" situation that could be argued upon for relief.

My second question would be enforcement. If I buy a widget from a supplier in Albania, is that supplier required to register and collect this fair tax? How is this enforced. In fact-- who will attend all the flea markets, and other diverse retail events to insure that mom and pop are collecting the tax? I can sense many many bugs in this new idea. We already know the amount of underground economy that currently affects the current system so what new problems of enforcement will this entail?

On paper this may sound good for our country. But in practice will we see any real "fairness"
A humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Don't forget to say your prayers!
The unborn have rights too.
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ngc1514
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The ability to tax, and the ability to decide who gets taxed and how much, is one of the major sources of power and control of the government. Do you really think the goverment is going to give up this power willingly? Do you really think the government is going to just put the IRS - with all the power THAT bureau controls - out of business?

I just don't see it happening in our lifetimes. Not without a full-blown taxpayer revolt and you won't get enough people away from the television to spark that.

Boortz is one of our Atlanta boys and I catch his broadcast occasionally to hear him talking about the fair tax. What I don't see is any major ground swell that will force our politicians to support this idea.

Good luck, but I ain't gonna hold my breath.





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