Once again I have to say: READ IT.

And I think we might be talking about two separate things here. You mention
the VAT. I am not talking about that at all. I am talking about a national
sales tax. Two different animals. The VAT is the 'pretty baby' of the
liberal left, like Hillary Clinton. I am not proposing we use that model.
I agree with you on that one. But I am talking about a simple sales tax as
opposed to an income tax.

Yes, there is always pain when systems change. Some will come out ahead,
some behind. But if old people come out a little behind because they are
living on savings, well, why should we care really? They will all be dead
soon anyway. So, before too long it will become a more fair system.

No, seriously, perhaps some provisions could be made to make the transition
smooth, and more fair.

Lonny B

--
"Rock stars! Is there anything they don't know?" Homer Simpson


"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
"Lonny B" wrote
You should actually READ the national sales tax proposal.

I have read a lot of it.

... It includes a monthly rebate to all citizens for taxes paid on
necessities of life.

And you think that's a good thing? As good as being able to keep your
money in your own pocket in the first place?


There are many other provisions that make it the only fair way to go,
IMHO.

Why?
Nothing about it strikes me as fair, and it's rife with opportunities for
corruption. It is the gov't sticking it's hand into th ewallet of every
person, every business, in every single transaction throughout the land.
It is as good as a proclamation that all money belongs to the gov't, they
just let you keep a little of it temporarily.

The worst thing about the VAT system is that it strangles economic growth.


... The current system is not working.

Agreed. But it would be instructive to look at how our current tax system
got the way it is. We started off with very sensible and fair (IMHO)
taxes, then the gov't needed more money so they jacked them up... then
people gave money to their representatives to get special exceptions for
themselves & their business, which got written into the laws. Now we have
literally tens of thousands of pages of tax law.

The problems are not so much with the tax system itself but with the use
of it as a patronage system.

And will Congress give up this patronage? I doubt it very much, and if a
VAT is passed it will become the same sort of multi-headed python, for the
same reason. Congress likes it perks, & it likes screwing over the average
citizen so as to hand favors to it's pals.

Another implication of our current system, which the gov't very much
enjoys, is that *everyone* is always in violation of something or other.
This represents a wonderful way to exercise political power.


... However, many lawyers and accountants make their living off of the
complex system under which we currently operate.

And I suppose the administration of a VAT system does not require hardly
any bureaucracy at all? I think you should take a closer look.


katysails wrote:
Jewelry counts as a necessity, right?

Yes, of course. So does sailing gear. And everybody should get a free
gallon of epoxy resin, once a month...

Fresh Breezes- Doug King