You'd have to repeal the 16th Amendment to do that. Changing the Constitution is virtually impossible in this era.
2007-12-18 02:14:06 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
A fair tax thing would accomplish two things.
1) It would make rich folks, richer.
2) It would make the poor, well, screwed
It would do this how you might ask?
We would all pay a flat tax (ie everyone taxed at the same rate, or fair). Whatever the rate is determined to be we would all pay it. Let's say fair is determined to be 30%, that means if you make 1000000, you pay 300000 is income tax. You get to keep 700000 after the income tax. That's still a nice living. If you make 30000 you get to keep 21000, which is not such a good living. Consider now, that we are all paying the same price for the goods we consume so the spending power of our dollars is equal. Economically speaking, this concetrates wealth at the top, as the top 5% of earners that make most of the money being earned in the entire system (90% of money earned), get to keep the same percentage of money as the 95% of population that make the 10% left over. The fair tax system ensures that those with less will continue to have less as the guy that makes 21000 will make 210000 over 10 years (not counting raises, which are currently being outpaced by inflation) while the guy that make 700000 will make 7000000. How can the guy that makes the smaller amount hope to provide the same resources for his children that the rich guy is able to. The answer is he can't, and the longer you run the model, the worse it gets for the little people. Unless you believe like Reagan, that money will trickle back down to poor through the spending of the rich, it fails. Reagan's plan kind of sucked if you weren't already rich when the plan kicked in. If you weren't, you kind of waited around for a few years for some of that money to trickle down, and for many it never has.
2007-12-18 02:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by abiogeek2 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Repealing the 16th amendment is in the best interest of 99.9% of the population (the .1% accounts for politicians and accountants). I think if the people realized how liberating the Fair Tax was (along with the repealing of the 16th) then they would demand it get done. Just because something is "impossible," doesn't mean it shouldn't be attempted. It is the idea of impossibility that makes it impossilbe, not any actual physical barrier.
2007-12-18 02:19:14 · answer #2 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
the 16th amendment only permits an income tax, it does not require one.
People in general hate the IRS and hate the tax laws. They're convinced that someone else with more juice [or better attorneys] has gotten an unfair break from Congress. Since this has been going on for decades, the popular notion is to eliminate the whole mess and thus eliminate the unfairness.
"Fair", of course, means different specifics to different people. Thus the national sales tax advocates have tried to bamboozle the rest of us by naming their idea the "FairTax".
What a majority of the voters seem to want is something for nothing, or more clearly expressed, benefits for themselves at someone else's expense. A strict ethical interpretation, of course, calls that theft when it is done via stealth, brute force, or the ballot box.
2007-12-18 02:24:00 · answer #3 · answered by Spock (rhp) 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would not HAVE to repeal the 16th Amendment to have a sales tax I just don't trust the government to not use a power it is authorized to oppress the people.
We repealed Prohibition we can repeal the 16th Amendment!
The Fair Tax is the Best Hope for our nation and our economy.
2007-12-18 02:33:34 · answer #4 · answered by MP US Army 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Fair Tax" sounds good to the ear, regardless of whether it is really fair or not. You are wrong about repeal of the 16th amendment, which allows a tax on income, doesn't specify the details.
2007-12-18 02:36:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They like to use the word "fair." It sounds good. There is no such thing as a fair tax. The main problem with the US government is too much spending. Unless there is a way to keep spending under control, the type of tax system won't make a difference.
2007-12-18 02:32:45 · answer #6 · answered by regerugged 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, since the 16th amendment should have been deemed unconstitutional, it is a good start to getting our government back to serving the people.
2007-12-18 02:26:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Fair tax is beneficial only to the rich! If you think they're going to make it possible for the middle class to pay less I have at least two bridges I just have to sell to you!
2007-12-18 02:37:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its called the Fair Tax - Its FAIR to everyone
They talk about it because its a good thing for the country, and one with growing popularity.
2007-12-18 02:19:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
They talk about it because it's a great idea.
2007-12-18 02:24:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋