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helo
helo aka Spencer has been a member since June 6, 2005, has scored 62,518 submissions, giving an average score of 1.82, helping 716 designs get printed.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT DESERVES !



How you ask? Here's the main rub - today's tax system uses
taxes to affect behavior. When the government wants you
or a state to behave a certain way they increase taxes to
punish what they consider bad behavior and they offer
tax breaks on what they consider good behavior. The
FAIR TAX rips that power away from them. That is the
kick in the groin right there. Everything would be taxed
the same and all the hidden taxes embedded in products
and services are gone! It makes the attempts by the
government to increase our taxes visible because
there is only one tax to watch under the FAIR TAX.
That Godzilla-sized monster of a tax code we have now
would be thrown away. Please, God, make it so!

= = = = = =

Recently before each primary opponents of the FAIR TAX
would wait a few days before the voting occurred to attack
the FAIR TAX so proponents wouldn't have enough time to
give a reasonable response to dispel faulty logic/arguments
or plain out lies. This is done to push votes away from Mike
Huckabee who is the most vocal of the candidates for his
strong support to get rid of the IRS through the FAIR TAX.

So below is a concise and easy to read rebuttal to the
attacks made on the FAIR TAX so we can all be well
informed voters before our state's primary takes place.

- - - - -

FairTax Act is one of the most researched public policy issues in
History, is cosponsored by 72 members of Congress and endorsed by 5
presidential candidates.

In the last few days before presidential primary elections many articles
are written about the FairTax that contain misconceptions that often
befall individuals that have a less than full understanding of the
FairTax. This is easily overcome by reading the proposed legislation and
looking at the research that has been done on the FairTax. These
attempts to discredit the FairTax are generally motivated by people
trying to discredit presidential primary candidate Mike Huckabee, an
advocate of the FairTax.

With over $22 million spent on research, the FairTax is likely the most
researched public policy issue in history. This research was done by
some of America’s best economists at premier universities and think tanks
by individuals from the political left and right. This research is
readily available at the FairTax website: www.fairtax. org.

The articles will state that the FairTax rate is 30%, which is true, but
to compare it to the income tax it is replacing then we would have to say
a person at a 20% income tax rate would really be at a 26% rate, because
he is buying things with after tax dollars. Under the FairTax we would
be buying things with pretax dollars, as we’d be receiving all of our
earnings (no income and payroll taxes). To compare the FairTax to the
income tax the FairTax rate should be presented as a 23% rate.

The important issue is whether we will be at a higher or lower tax rate.
A 2006 study by Boston University economists Dr. Laurence J. Kotlikoff
and Dr. David Rapson concluded that the FairTax benefits all income
groups. Of 42 household types (classified by income, marital status and
age), all have lower average remaining lifetime tax rates under the
FairTax than they would experience under the current tax system, and
those with lower spending levels benefiting most.

Economists generally like this kind of consumption. Like most
economists, most CPA’s know only too well that our current tax system is
broken and impossible to comply with. The more citizens learn about the
FairTax the more they like it.

Some of the articles attacking the FairTax may try to gain credibility by
quoting authors Bruce Bartlett or William Gale who’s statements about the
FairTax have been thoroughly discredited. Their efforts to misrepresent
the FairTax are not taken seriously by most economists due to their lack
of scholarly content and truth. Economists will have different opinions,
but almost all agree that income taxes depress the economy and
consumption (sales) taxes grow the economy. It is not rocket science.
When you penalize productive behavior you get less of it.

Claims are made by some that the FairTax will create an underground
economy. Isn’t this what we have today with all the under the table and
illegal transactions, and hidden economy of illegal aliens. Under the
FairTax the drug dealer on the corner will be paying his taxes when he
spends his money. Illegal aliens will also pay taxes as they consume,
however, only legal households will receive the monthly “prebate” check
each month to offset expenditures up to the poverty level.

The FairTax is so simple that some fear the public will understand it.
It is so visible to the public that some fear the public will learn their
true tax burden. It taxes us so directly that it eliminates the ability
to buy and sell tax favors, so some that benefit from this practice hate
it.

Numerous studies confirm that on average ~22% of the retail price of all
US produced goods and services are “business taxes” embedded in the
prices. As Dr. Alan Greenspan lectured Congress, "only people pay
taxes." Taxes, like any other cost of doing business, are added to the
cost of products and are passed on to consumers. This deceptive practice
of hiding our taxes in prices is resulting in the exportation of our
companies and jobs rather than our products, as it places American
business and labor at a ~20% competitive disadvantage.

By eliminating personal and business income taxes the FairTax removes
taxes (and $500 billion in tax compliance costs) from the prices of
American produced goods and services and allows American labor and
business to compete with foreign competitors on a level playing field.

The FairTax would do more than any other legislation contemplated or
possible to revive our economy, reverse our balance of trade, stop the
fall in the value of the US dollar, save our industrial base (that is
necessary for our national defense) and return to us the freedoms we have
lost due to the income tax.

By eliminating the ruse of “business” taxes people will see, on every
sales receipt, their true tax burden for the first time in generations.
This visibility of taxes is the self-limiting factor on taxation and size
and reach of government that was intended by our Founding Fathers.

The FairTax eliminates the buying and selling of tax favors by public
officials and lobbyists that today corrupts our political system. By
this means it transfers power from Washington back to citizens where our
Founders intended it to reside.



By the way the 23 percent tax would not be imposed on the sale
of used or previously owned items. Our garage sales are safe :)
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helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 3:28pm
We say no more to death taxes on our money that has already

been ding-dong taxed ! HiYaah!



shirtflirt
shirtflirt on Jan 28 '08 at 3:30pm
excellent blog good sir.
tracerbullet
   tracerbullet on Jan 28 '08 at 3:31pm
the fair tax is definitely a pretty cool idea. if only someone other than huckabee was promoting it...
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 3:34pm
It's time to score one against the tax code right where it counts!



helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 3:35pm
tracerbullet,

Huckabee isn't the only candidate supporting the Fair Tax.

I'm not sure who the others are though.
tracerbullet
   tracerbullet on Jan 28 '08 at 3:36pm
he's the only i've heard talking about it. i haven't heard a thing from a democrat, unfortunately.
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 3:40pm
Thanks shirt flirt

Hopefully we'll be able to make some kind of impact



that will crumple the entrenched leaders who continue to

scrape our backs to lotion up theirs
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 4:22pm
Friends kick friends in the groin before they let them become tax collectors !



adamwhite
   adamwhite on Jan 28 '08 at 4:35pm

adamwhite
   adamwhite on Jan 28 '08 at 4:36pm

helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 4:48pm
ha ha ha - adam

great illustrations! May they all feel what's coming their way through the FairTax
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 5:55pm




Let's kick it for the removal of the



• individual income tax



• Capital gains tax



• self-employment tax



• death/inheritance tax



• embedded taxes (like the gas tax & cigarette tax)



• Estate taxes



• taxes on large monetary gifts



• alternative minimum tax (AMT)



• corporate and business income taxes



• Social Security taxes



• Medicare taxes (along with all other federal payroll taxes)

Steve The Great
Steve The Great on Jan 28 '08 at 5:57pm
i'm just here for the groin kicks
Cactus Pirate Jr.
Cactus Pirate Jr. on Jan 28 '08 at 6:13pm
adam, those illustrations are amazing!
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 6:20pm
Let's send a message to those who illegally weasel around paying their fair share of taxes



ryanwho
ryanwho on Jan 28 '08 at 6:22pm
I remember when fair tax was called communism.
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 6:28pm
ok then *shrugs shoulders - not knowing how else to react*
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 7:45pm
! ! ! No more April 15 ! ! !





( I wish the jersey had a 15 on the back )

Pizazz
Pizazz on Jan 28 '08 at 7:51pm
Adam, those illos are killer!
maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 7:57pm
ummm i realize they are trying to "sell" this as having 'prebates' to mitigate the inherently regressive nature of sales tax systems



but I'm not entirely buying it.



agree to it.. and BAM next congress reduces the "prebates" or even worse reinstitutes some form of federal income taxes AND the sales tax.



i'm not saying i'm for or against yet per se.. I'm saying i'm extremely dubious on the whole thing however.



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:06pm


Funnily enough, there is no law that states we as american citizens have to pay income taxes. the only problem is that when parties are taken to court by the IRS, that piece of evidence is inadmissible in many cases, thus the defendant is usually convicted for tax evasion.







above is part 4 of 11, watch at least 2 minutes into this one, you should really watch it from the beginning and all of it. This isn't some BS conspiracy theory thing, it's the truth.



awesome illos Adam!



maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:08pm
if you wish to wind up in Federal prison



listen to people that tell you... you need not pay your federal income taxes.
Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:10pm




Joe discovered that his employer, the Internal Revenue Service, was operating OUTSIDE the law, it had no statutory legitimacy, and was engaging in criminal activity in forcing people to pay income tax in violation of their rights under the US Constitution. Thus the IRS is, in fact, a DOMESTIC enemy of the US Constitution - and all government officials, be they politicians, military or police, have taken oaths to protect and preserve the US Constitution from precisely such enemies.







Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:12pm
maddingo

maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:08pm

if you wish to wind up in Federal prison



listen to people that tell you... you need not pay your federal income taxes.




when did I say you need not, I said that there is no law but because the government has a badge & a gun and likes to incaserate there own ppl like there's no tomorrow, yeah, yeah, pay your fucking taxes.



but also know the facts. keep taking it in the ass because your government is giving it to you long time baby!



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:13pm
* incarcerate



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:14pm
jeezuz, typos!



* incarcerate their people
maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:16pm
i didn't say you where I was just expanding with my thoughts on the "u don't need to pay income tax peoples"



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:17pm
ah-huh



suuuurrrrreeee.
maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:18pm
THE MORE YOU KNOW =p
Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 8:19pm
but you are right, maddingo, they will throw you in the fucking slammer.



that series that I posted above is great. there is actually one scene of an IRS investigative agent interviewing this old farmer (I think, from what i recall). The IRS agent is a dick and then the farmer throws him into check-mate, it's an absolutely brilliant moment.
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:22pm
Yes, the dangers are there, but the dangerous waters we're

swimming in right now are bad enough to take the risk. Having a national sales tax and a reinstituted form of federal

tax would be like having a leech and basketball sized tick

latched on. I'm pretty certain that it would take an amendment

to the Constitution to get the FairTax in place and part of

that amendment would be the declaration that other taxes

could not be implemented without adding another amendment.

Does that make things look better?



By the way a book is about to be sold on Amazon and in

stores that directly deals with all the questions/attacks

people have for the Fair Tax.



maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:25pm
16TH Amendment to the Constitution ratified on February 3, 1913



~~~

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

~~~

helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:26pm
It's time for a Karate kick right to the tax code & another groin kick photo





helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:29pm
It's hard to avoid the 16th amendment. That's why we need

another amendment to eradicate the junk were in now and

to replace it with something more fair and palatable.
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:30pm
sort of like a governor on the 16th amendment
maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:36pm
btw Rob read the 16th Amendment please btw...
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:57pm
maddingo,

Everything I say next is based on the first video Robsoul

posted. I'm not saying I agree with it. I would need to do

further research to verify things. The video mentions that

the Supreme Court ruled that the 16th amendment didn't

give the government any new powers to tax that they didn't

have before. And since the courts ruled that a man's wages

are his personal property and not "income", then the gov't

has no basis to tax our wages. "Income" was defined in the courts as profit related to corporations (I might not be

remembering that part well). So that's the explanation

the video gives for how the 16th amendment doesn't

apply to our wages.

maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 9:02pm
helo.. the courts have routinely ruled that the 16th does in fact make income taxes legal..(actually in certain cases the courts ruled that they were legal before..but that the 16th just removes the requirement to share the revenue w/ the States).



hence why you have to pay them...
Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 9:13pm
the courts have routinely ruled that the 16th does in fact make income taxes legal



therein lies the rub and why you'll go to jail. refer to - helo on Jan 28 '08 at 8:57pm - but I do agree with that video



maddingo, why the hell are you arguing in favor of the system that gouges you day after day? I don't get it.



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 9:14pm


Adam, do one with Chenney grabbing his heart!!!

adamwhite
   adamwhite on Jan 28 '08 at 9:19pm
Ha, unfortunately I didn't do them. They are few examples from an amazing collection by Travis Millard.



Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 9:20pm
oooo, thanks for sharing his work.
Robsoul
   Robsoul on Jan 28 '08 at 9:21pm
I love seeing the work of new artists, keeps me alive, that and low grade internet porn.
maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 9:22pm
~~~

maddingo, why the hell are you arguing in favor of the system that gouges you day after day? I don't get it.

~~~



Taxation has been bitched about since goverments began... If we accept that having a government is a necessary thing.



someone is going to have to pay for the damn thing.



I'm not saying by any stretch of the imagination that the "perfect" system has been achieved currently.



however i am of the view that sales taxation schemes are by their very nature regressive.. and trying to go with an inherently regressive mechanism and tacking a complex mechanism onto it to try to make it less regressive is not an improvement on the current structure.



Not to mention my "concerns" that once in place the anti regressive components would get scrapped. (technically i guess i did just mention it...)



helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 9:23pm
Again, based on the videos (I'm not taking sides until I

see the courts' decisions in their historical context) the

courts that ruled that the 16th does in fact make income

taxes legal were ruling in direct opposition to what the

Supreme Court ruled.



The second video makes the claim that the 16th

amendment was never ratified by the states!

I'm trying not to laugh. Who really knows until

a thorough case is presented with all the evidence

displayed?



I'm going live my life as if the 16th is in full effect.

If the videos are right, then the people behind them sure

are lame big time at getting the kind of lawyers that know

how to use the media to make some of the biggest stories in

American history.

helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 9:27pm
Time for another groin kick photo!

the proper form of saying good-bye to today's tax man

(metaphorically speaking of course)





maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 9:50pm
i'm trying to be a diplomatic as I can but the videos and that type of "theory" in general are bullsh*t



sorry but the it wasn't ratified argument consists basically of saying there were typos in the documents all but 4 of the states ratified (minor typos) and as such the actually (non typo'd 16th wasn't ratified.



this argument has gone down in flames in court.
helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 10:48pm
Want to see how much of a difference the Fair Tax

would make in your life? Just click on the button

to do a quick run through the Fair Tax calculator.

Here's a button to send people to the the FairTax calculator

to see how much the Fair Tax would affect their life specifically.





helo
helo on Jan 28 '08 at 11:39pm
Don't let a huge guy in a red suit keep gouging you with today's taxes!

Start kicking him in the groin ! ! !





maddingo
maddingo on Jan 28 '08 at 11:43pm
SALES TAXES ARE BY DEFINITION (look it up) REGRESSIVE





why should people favor a tax structure that tries to slap a cockamamie prebate scheme on to a regressive tax in order to call it a "progressive sales tax"



they lost me the second they tried to call a sales tax progressive.

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