Responses - FairTax Editorial In Houston Chronicle

Below are just three of the responses I received to last night's subject message.  The first two are very thoughtful - I love these kind of communications where we can all learn.  My comments are in red.

 

---Response #1 - a series of messages---

 

Have you calculated what the FairTax will be after all this spending, it will be a tough sell. The progressives have almost implemented their plan in only a few months, nothing will be fair very soon.

 

Your question shows the beauty of the FairTax.  With all of this spending we would know what the rate would be & if there is anyone left who cares the bums will be tarred & feathered & run out of the country on a rail.  Right now many are tricked into thinking someone else will pay for all of the new spending.  Ken points this out in his editorial. 

 

OH! how I hope you're right! (tar and feather)

 

I thought some more about your question re the FairTax rate increase following all of BO's spending increases.  Please remember that the consumption base in America is twice the size of the income base ($8.8 trillion vs. $4.2 trillion in 2005 respectively) so whatever rate increase is needed for the FairTax to pay for BO's increased spending the rate increase equivalent for combined income tax & payroll tax would be more than twice the FairTax rate increase to generate the same amount of revenue.  The FairTax is not the law of the land (yet) so we should be concerned about how much more taxes we will pay under our current system.  There are not enough people making over $250,000 per year to pay for all of BO's spending so it will come down to the rest of us as it always does.  The FairTax passes the four tests that should be required of any tax - efficient, transparent, uniform, & promotes economic growth.

 

---Response #2---

 

Doug,

 

The author of the Houston editorial makes a huge assumption.  He assumes that the blood running through the veins of the 300 million Americans occupying this county now is made up of the same determination, fortitude and love of Country of 200 years ago.   This Country is not the same. Half the population pays no taxes.  The FairTax as I see it is facing a strong head wind.  You have to convince the non-payers to pay. 

 

Have you seen the faces of America, the faces our soldiers are being killed for, they are in Wal-Mart everyday. - Tremendous point.

 

Playing Devil's advocate.

 

With re to "half the population pays no taxes" please remember this is true of income taxes but not the regressive Social Security & Medicare taxes that are paid on the first dollar of income.  For many people who do pay income taxes these payroll taxes are greater than the income taxes paid. 

 

---Response #3---

 

Great editorial by Ken Hoagland!