Steve Forbes wrong on tax reform!

[johnwk]

In a recent article (http://www.thevanguard.org/thevanguard/other_writers/forbes_steve/050821_steve_forbes.shtml) Steve Forbes contends that “A Flat Tax Would Unleash a Stupendous Economic Boom“.

But if Mr. Forbes is correct, the “boom” he speaks of will not be enjoyed by the American People, but consumed by the beast in Washington, D.C. and his flat tax will be nothing more than a tool to feed this beast.

The problem America faces is a Congress out of control; a Congress which will be happy to use the Forbes flat tax, or the so called Fair Tax, or even a value added tax to engage in its ongoing reckless spending and borrowing practices which have created a national debt now exceeding $ 50 TRILLION (http://www.ncpa.org/iss/bud/2003/pd103003a.html) and is the big problem which the America taxpayer faces.

Neither the Forbes flat tax nor the alleged Fair Tax promoted by radio talk show host Neal Boortz, or a value added tax does anything to control the wasteful spending and borrowing practices of Congress; does anything to encourage Congress to start following sound fiscal and economic policies beneficial to America’s businesses, industries and labor; nor do any of the above proposals compel Congress to extinguish annual deficits in a manner in which members of Congress would be quickly held accountable by their State Governor and Legislature for their reckless spending and borrowing habits!

Sad thing is, in this respect, the above tax proposals are nothing but cleverly concocted plans allowing Congress to skin the goose which lays the golden eggs and continue in its unaccountable profligate borrowing and spending habits which is the worm at the root of the tree. All the above proposals are variations of a single plan to support existing big government and the countless political plum jobs (http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/All_Agencies/index.shtml) on Capitol Hill, many of which have six figure salaries and redistribute money taxed away from hard working Americans for functions not authorized by the enumerated powers granted to Congress by our Constitution.

So, what should the people be supporting? I would say the answer is to support those who are promoting a return to our Founding Father’s original tax plan by adding the following words to our Constitution:

The Sixteenth Amendment is hereby repealed and Congress is henceforth forbidden to lay “any” tax or burden calculated from profits, gains, interest, salaries, wages, tips, inheritances or any other lawfully realized money.

Adopting the above wording into our Constitution will bring us back to our Founding Father's original tax plan.

Now, how does our founding father’s tax plan differ from the various big government friendly tax plans? Well, the founders created a plan which granted sufficient power, almost unlimited power to raise revenue for the new government they were creating, but they carefully designed it in such a manner to disburse the costs of government in a fair and equitable manner and they removed various known tools of oppression, and likewise included a number of self regulating checks and balances to control the actions of Congress!

Let us examine just one important part of the Founder‘s plan which was intended to be used to extinguish deficits in a manner creating a moment of accountability for every state’s Congressional Delegation.

Under the founders plan, if insufficient revenue was brought in from imposts, duties and excise taxes [Congress’ indirect taxing powers] and Congress borrowed to meet its exigencies, Congress was then intended to lay a direct tax apportioned among the states for the total sum of the deficit created and use this money to extinguish the debt.

Under the direct tax each state was intended to contribute a share of the total figure being raised by Congress based upon its number of votes in Congress___ representation with proportional obligation__ a constitutionally mandated fair share formula which our big spenders in Congress dread! You see, under the Founder’s plan there are no loopholes, no manipulation, and, those state congressional delegations with the biggest mouth in Congress, who would dare use their large voting strength to squander federal revenue, create big government or send our money to distant lands through a “United Nations” [a money laundering operation] were to bring home to their State’s Governor a bill for the largest share of the direct tax ___ a very important check and balance of our founding fathers encouraging each state’s legislature and its governor to keep a jealous eye on their congressional delegation’s spending habits while in Washington, which is no longer being practiced, but if practiced, would be an immediate cure for today’s irresponsible spending habits of Congress who have enslaved our nation’s younger generation with an ever increasing national debt.

There is no smoke and mirrors with the 'FAIR-SHARE' method of balancing the budget. The emergency direct tax ought to be statutorily imposed whenever Congress closes a fiscal year with a deficit. The structural mechanism which would immediately bring fiscal sanity to Congress is the requirement of having Congress send a bill to the Governor of each state, notifying him/her to remit their state's apportioned share toward extinguishing the deficit created during the year by Congress___ the governors and state legislators being left with the burden of having to raise this money, only then to then send it off to Washington, D.C.

Picture for a moment the expression on the faces of the Governor of New York and the New York State Legislature, if New York should receive a bill for its apportioned share [29/435] of the 2005 federal deficit. This threat would create a compelling incentive for the Governor of each state, and the various state legislatures, to keep a jealous eye on the spending habits of their Congressional Delegation . . . it would require the fiscal accountability which the state governments once demanded from their Senate and House Members!

I think Mr. Forbes is doing a very important job, very similar to that of Boortz, Linder, and those who offer various tax reform plans to the public which do nothing to control the actions of Congress and merely divide the people into various tax reform groups which diminishes their strength.

We all know there is a 70 - 80 percent approval rate among the American People to do away with “income” taxation and repeal the 16th Amendment, which would ironically bring us back to our founding father’s original tax plan which dishonorable politicians fear. And so, our clever folks in Washington have found a way to make such a large segment of our population impotent____ they have conned the people into thinking a replacement tax plan is needed if the 16th Amendment is repealed, and they have offered various government friendly tax reform plans for the people to argue over as a replacement to "income taxation", which separates them into various tax reform advocacy groups and diminishes their overall strength.

But the truth is, the only tax reform needed is to return to our Founder’s original tax plan, and that can be accomplished if the people stay focused, unit, and demand their employees in Washington, D.C. add the above recomended words to our Constitution.

JWK

[Mosaics]

This is so excellent. Can I copy it and use it...or is there a website I can link to and post elsewhere so other people (who aren't members here) can read it?

So many people are against abolishing the federal income tax because they think the country can't run without it and they don't understand that the Constitution provides an adequate system.

[TimV]

The Bible allows about a 6.5 percent tax on total profits per year, although that's an over simplification. There is no way government could act the way it is currently acting with that sort of financial limitation.

[Mosaics]

The Bible allows about a 6.5 percent tax on total profits per year, although that's an over simplification. There is no way government could act the way it is currently acting with that sort of financial limitation.

What do you mean "The Bible allows"? Where does it say that and do you believe it applies to nations or Christians today?

[TimV]

For an example I don't have to look up, the Poor Tax was ten percent of a persons profit every two years, so that's, simplified, 5 percent per year right there.

Why wouldn't it apply? Do you have a better idea?

[Mosaics]

For an example I don't have to look up, the Poor Tax was ten percent of a persons profit every two years, so that's, simplified, 5 percent per year right there.

Why wouldn't it apply? Do you have a better idea?

I guess you don't intend to answer the question.

[endangered]

I think what the Founders had in mind is well and good under a real money supply, but useless with fiat money and our current privately owned central banking system. That is the core issue to focus on before such a tax reform would be possible.

As long as the Federal Reserve controls the money (they ARE our money supply), they ultimately control (literally own) everything else in the country.

[johnwk]

This is so excellent. Can I copy it and use it...or is there a website I can link to and post elsewhere so other people (who aren't members here) can read it?

So many people are against abolishing the federal income tax because they think the country can't run without it and they don't understand that the Constitution provides an adequate system.

The complete un-edited article is posted at Hannity.com, and, I answer a number of important question in the forum. See:

Steve Forbes: flat tax would unleash economic boom! (http://hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27617)

The article can also be found HERE (http://www.sqlspace.com/steve-forbes-wrong-on-tax-reform-vt16713.html?sid=4eff05cbef02a1531c891a93b6b00dd8) and at the end of the article the following appears, which I have posted for all to use:

[Permission is hereby given to reprint this article if credit to its author and the ACRS appears in such reprint. No copyright is claimed for quotes within the article which are public domain materials.]


Regards.
JWK
ACRS

[johnwk]

I think what the Founders had in mind is well and good under a real money supply, but useless with fiat money and our current privately owned central banking system. That is the core issue to focus on before such a tax reform would be possible.

As long as the Federal Reserve controls the money (they ARE our money supply), they ultimately control (literally own) everything else in the country.


I agree with you in part but I think returning to our founding father’s tax system would make it less attractive for Congress to engage in its current reckless borrowing.

Having said that, I can assure you that much of today’s wealth which is produced by America’s labor and industries is plundered from them via federal reserve notes having been made A LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AN PRIVATE by Congress in violation of the clear intentions under which our Constitution was adopted . . .intentions forbidding bank notes to be made a legal tender as I have documented in my post at Hannity.com SEE POST NO. 21 (http://hannity.com/forum/showpost.php?p=757727&postcount=21)


Regards,

JWK
ACRS

[Mosaics]

The complete un-edited article is posted at Hannity.com, and, I answer a number of important question in the forum. See:

Steve Forbes: flat tax would unleash economic boom! (http://hannity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27617)

The article can also be found HERE (http://www.sqlspace.com/steve-forbes-wrong-on-tax-reform-vt16713.html?sid=4eff05cbef02a1531c891a93b6b00dd8) and at the end of the article the following appears, which I have posted for all to use:

[Permission is hereby given to reprint this article if credit to its author and the ACRS appears in such reprint. No copyright is claimed for quotes within the article which are public domain materials.]


Regards.
JWK
ACRS

Thanks for the link.

[TimV]

I guess you don't intend to answer the question.

?

Concede the 10 percent every two years and we'll go from there.

[Mosaics]

TimV, to refresh your memory, in response to your comment "The Bible allows about a 6.5 percent tax on total profits per year, although that's an over simplification. There is no way government could act the way it is currently acting with that sort of financial limitation." the question is as follows:

What do you mean "The Bible allows"? Where does it say that and do you believe it applies to nations or Christians today?

[TimV]

Oh. Well, the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for men and for nations.

[Mosaics]

Oh. Well, the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for men and for nations.

Another non-answer.

It may not be important to you, but it is important to me that when someone makes a claim that the Bible says something, it should be backed up with a Scripture reference and understood within the context.

Although, I believe that the Scriptures are the "only rule of faith and practice for men and nations", Christ did not institute a form of civil government for Christians. We are to be faithful Christians no matter what form of government we live under, be it a republic, a monarchy, etc. Neither did Christ institute a certain tax amount. The amounts that you speak of (even though apparently you don't know where in the Scriptures they are) were instituted by God for the Jewish nation in the Old Law which has now been done away with. We cannot bind any part of the old law on people today.

So...even though much of the Old Law and the form of government God set up for the Jews is an excellent pattern for us today, we are not bound by it.

[TimV]

Here is a link to Biblical verses concerning taxes instituted by Divine command:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg45-102.htm

You have to subtract some of them, because they go to the Church, e.g. the annual ten percent tax. The author is wrong to an extent when he says that the Levites were public servants, they were primarily religious. The Poor tax (my memory tricked me, it was 10% every third year rather than every second) was social in nature.

If the Bible isn't the only rule of deciding what form and amount of taxation is fair, then what is? What would be wrong with a 60% income tax?

[Mosaics]

Here is a link to Biblical verses concerning taxes instituted by Divine command:

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg45-102.htm

You have to subtract some of them, because they go to the Church, e.g. the annual ten percent tax. The author is wrong to an extent when he says that the Levites were public servants, they were primarily religious. The Poor tax (my memory tricked me, it was 10% every third year rather than every second) was social in nature.

If the Bible isn't the only rule of deciding what form and amount of taxation is fair, then what is? What would be wrong with a 60% income tax?

I read your link. The author used the Jewish law as an example of how much taxes should be levied or paid. As I previously said, that does not apply to nations today...nor to Christians because it was a part of the Jewish Law.

In answer to the question in your last paragraph...each civil government is to decide how much to tax. As I've already said, the Old Law is an excellent example of how to set up a government, including what is a fair tax, but it is not binding on us today.

The author of the article uses Rom 13:6-7, "For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." to show that it is a Christian's duty to pay his taxes. And rightly so. However, note the words above in orange. Our Constitution has decided how much and to whom the taxes are to be paid. We are not obligated to pay more or to pay a tax that is not in our Constitution. Taxes are not DUE to anyone in any amount other than what the supreme (civil) law of our land has instituted. Officials, politicians, judges, etc. can't just decide willy-nilly to tax whatever, whomever, for whatever cause they choose.

[endangered]

I agree with you in part but I think returning to our founding father’s tax system would make it less attractive for Congress to engage in its current reckless borrowing.

Having said that, I can assure you that much of today’s wealth which is produced by America’s labor and industries is plundered from them via federal reserve notes having been made A LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AN PRIVATE by Congress in violation of the clear intentions under which our Constitution was adopted . . .intentions forbidding bank notes to be made a legal tender as I have documented in my post at Hannity.com SEE POST NO. 21 (http://hannity.com/forum/showpost.php?p=757727&postcount=21)


Regards,

JWK
ACRS

Thank you for your reply. This country is headed for a cataclysmic train wreck. The only possible way to avoid such an event (naturalistically speaking) is to get the hand of the Federal Reserve off the throttle. The only way to do that is to cut it off and don't think that is going happen before the Lord comes.

Didn’t Rockefeller say something to the effect, “Let me control the money and I care not who makes the laws.”

Do you agree that our government, at its highest levels, is nothing but a puppet show, political theater intended to keep our minds from what is really happening behind the curtain? Though it is not hard to see when we take the time to look.

I believe that Rev. 17:17 is working even now so we should not become overly concerned about trying to reform government. It is in the Lord’s hands. We should be watchful and prayerful, knowing that all these things should be accomplished.

Rev 17:17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:

[johnwk]

Thank you for your reply. This country is headed for a cataclysmic train wreck. The only possible way to avoid such an event (naturalistically speaking) is to get the hand of the Federal Reserve off the throttle. The only way to do that is to cut it off and don't think that is going happen before the Lord comes.

Didn’t Rockefeller say something to the effect, “Let me control the money and I care not who makes the laws.”

Do you agree that our government, at its highest levels, is nothing but a puppet show, political theater intended to keep our minds from what is really happening behind the curtain? Though it is not hard to see when we take the time to look.

I believe that Rev. 17:17 is working even now so we should not become overly concerned about trying to reform government. It is in the Lord’s hands. We should be watchful and prayerful, knowing that all these things should be accomplished.

Rev 17:17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
Yes! I agree our country is headed for a cataclysmic train wreck. But I believe it is within the people’s power to avoid that wreck. Unfortunately, too many otherwise honorable people have become part of the problem by not working to take control of that runaway train. As to the quote you referred to, I believe it was Rothschild, not Rockefeller, who said:

“PERMIT ME TO CONTROL THE CURRENCY OF A NATION
AND I CARE NOT WHO MAKES ITS LAWS!”

As to our folks in Washington, indeed, the overwhelming majority are the most corrupted and dishonorable people on the planet, unfortunately, people who proclaim to be Christians have played an important role in voting these scoundrels into office even though they have promised they will violate our most basic laws during their political campaigns…our constitutions, state and federal!

The old saying goes, ye shall reap what ye shall have sewn. Sad to say, we, as a nation, have propagated and condoned the very kind of government we now complain of.

Witness the federal hurricane slush fund which is now being created with the approval of the American People!

As to the extraordinary circumstances brought on by the hurricane, it is my opinion the federal government acted within the four corners of the Constitution in the actual saving of lives and to restore peace and order within a state which one may truthfully say was in state of insurrection. But in the rebuilding of the damage of private property caused by the hurricane within a state‘s borders, there is no authority in the Constitution allowing Congress to tax and spend, and all such money appropriated by Congress would be a misappropriation of federal revenue, and should be recognized for what it is___ an opportunistic money laundering operation by which the federal treasury will be plundered by those in charge of it under the guise of helping the poor and needy.

I can assure you unjust private fortunes will be created overnight for many of those well connected with our folks in Washington who will be in charge of appropriating money from the federal treasury‘s newly created hurricane slush fund.

JWK

"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce. ... The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives and liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State." Federalist Paper No. 45 (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed45.htm)

[endangered]

I have a co-worker who also believes that it is in the people’s power to avoid the unavoidable. I have no such optimism. There is no power on Earth beside the Lord Himself who could dislodge the Federal Reserve from the seat of power. It’s just not going to happen until He does it.

There is no organization they could not derail long before it became a threat to them. It has been tried over and over again. Perhaps JFK was our last great hope. They killed him and after all these years, the American people are no wiser as to who did it than the day it happened. They control everything. Resistance is futile.

As passengers on this train we are all part of the problem because, as you say we are America’s labor force, which provides the fuel for the train. Since we can’t seem to disengage the Federal Reserve the only other option is to individually vote with our feet by disengaging ourselves. That is to stop buying and selling, not going to work, liquidating all mortgages and debt. That is not possible as far as I can see either though because I still need food and shelter which requires some kind of commerce.

So, as I see it we are locked into a system that has three basic laws. They are the laws of thermodynamics:
A. You can’t win
B. You can’t break even
C. You can’t get out of the game

Therefore, I would disagree that “we as a nation have propagated and condoned the very kind of government we now complain of.” The American people have been loosing control of the government from the day Washington took office. If we didn’t vote for scoundrels, they became scoundrels after they got there, not all of them, but enough to get us where we are. It is the bankers and their secret societies that have hijacked government and made it what it is.

But I do agree that we are reaping what we have sewn because as a nation, we have abandoned the spiritual high ground we once held. Those who proclaim to be Christians have failed, not in the voting booth, but in the prayer closet. That is where votes are faithfully counted and count for much greater things than politics.

[johnwk]

I have a co-worker who also believes that it is in the people’s power to avoid the unavoidable. I have no such optimism. There is no power on Earth beside the Lord Himself who could dislodge the Federal Reserve from the seat of power. It’s just not going to happen until He does it.

There is no organization they could not derail long before it became a threat to them. It has been tried over and over again.


Well, I was brought up to believe that all that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing. For one to withdraw from the never ending confrontation with evil, knowing that such evil exists, and assert it is unavoidable that evil shall succeed, is to not only assist and encourage evil to carry on in its practices of false weights and measures, but is to go against the teachings of our Lord.

There has always been dishonest money as witnessed during the Roman Empire, and those who profit from its illusion pass this engine of corruption to their heirs! Fortunately, our founding fathers accomplished the very goal you say is impossible...they forbid our employees in Washington to emit bills of credit, or make anything but gold or silver a legal tender. And why forbid paper money?

We are informed by Madison that Mr. READ of Delaware “…thought the words, if not struck out, would be as alarming as the mark of the Beast in Revelations.” See The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, reported by James Madison : August 16 (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/debates/816.htm)

Your postulating that “Resistance is futile” is the very kind of thinking which keeps the beast alive!

If Thomas Hutchinson believed resistance to paper money was futile, Massachusetts may very well not have been able to play its important role in the Revolutionary war, a war which ultimately closed down the mark of the beast.

"Hutchinson proposed that parliament should be asked to send over the money in Spanish dollars, which should be used to buy up and cancel the paper at eleven for one. Whatever paper remained after this summary process should be called in and redeemed by direct taxation, and any issue of paper currency in future was to be forbidden. "This rather caused a smile," says the diary, "few apprehending that he was in earnest; but upon his appearing very serious, out of deference to him as speaker, they appointed a committee." After a year of hard work, Hutchinson's bill was passed, amid the howls and curses of the people of Boston. "Such was the infatuation that it was common to hear men wish the ship with the silver on board might sink in her passage." They wanted no money but cheap paper money. At the election in 1749 Hutchinson was defeated by a great majority, but was immediately chosen a member of the council. People soon found, to their amazement, that a good hard dollar had much greater purchasing-power than a scrap of dirty paper worth scarcely more than nine cents; and it was further observed that, when paper was once out of the way, coin would remain in circulation. The revival of trade was so steady and so marked that the tide of popular feeling turned, and Hutchinson was as much praised as he had before been abused. His services at this time cannot be rated too highly. To his clear insight and determined courage it was largely due that Massachusetts was financially able to enter upon the Revolutionary war". See:
Anne Marbury Hutchinson (http://www.famousamericans.net/annemarburyhutchinson/)

Your help is needed to defeat the beast and not perpetuate its evil.

Regards,

JWK

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, (i.e., the "business cycle") the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. Thomas Jefferson

[endangered]

I see the debate you linked to also has a comment from Mr. Butler who observes that “paper was a legal tender in no Country in Europe.” The exact opposite is true today, not only for Europe but also for the entire world, correct? There is not a single country that lacks a central bank and fiat money.

I don’t presume that I am anywhere close to your league in knowledge of this subject, but my understanding is that the topic of banking was hotly debated in the early days. It was by a very narrow margin that we emerged from that struggle with the system we started with. But that was not the end of it. It was only the beginning.

If the battle was barely winnable then, the odds now are not even comparable to those faced by Gideon. I do not say it is impossible with the Lord, but in my judgement no human effort could possibly succeed today and accomplish what the founders did then.

Who knows that it wasn’t the men and women of faith, as some of them were, but also those who did not have a voice in those historical meetings but whose voice was heard in heaven that tipped the balance for the good.

Resistance through the flesh is always futile against an enemy that is spirit.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I agree in principle that evil succeeds as good men do nothing, but it is not guns and bullets, or marching in protests, or even voting can turn the tide of evil that is bringing darkness over our land and the world today.

What our Lord teaches us, is the battle is His and it is already won on our behalf at Calvary. We are taught to cast all our cares upon the Lord, because He cares for us. That is not only the cares of me and mine, but cares about unborn babies ripped from the womb, :( cares about immorality, soldiers, the homeless, and our political leaders who have rule over us. That is the work He calls His family to too.

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

He taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Everything He said would happen, will happen, just the way He said it would. Ultimately, evil will not succeed, but I believe we are entering into a period of time when it seems like it will.

If (and when) there has ever been honest money, it has been corrupted, and every time there has been corrupted money, it has sooner or later failed. There is no doubt that our currency will fail and it will be one of the cars in the train wreck that was the US of A.

[johnwk]

Major flaw found in H.R. 25 [Fair Tax proposal] and is reported in Money Magazine.

But Neal Boortz, a talk radio show host and co-author of The Fair Tax book snaps back and points out the book‘s introduction says“…the book isn't about saving a penny in taxes "and promises to make a correction in a reprinting of his book. But the painful truth is, the Boortz/Linder book has conveniently confused tens of thousands of readers into believing something which the Fair Tax will not do, and obviously turned them into wishful thinking fair tax supporters because of misleading information.

For the Money Magazine article see: Just how fair is the 'FairTax'? (http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/)

The following is quoted from the article:

“What The FairTax Book fails to mention is that prices can only fall this sharply if companies cut wages. I asked Jorgenson about this, and he agreed. Say your salary is $100,000 a year today, but you take home $80,000 after taxes.

Your company is still paying that extra $20,000. In a FairTax world, it will save that money, and be able to lower its prices accordingly, only if it can reduce your salary to $80,000. In other words, your take-home pay is the same as before. Sure, you'd get to "keep 100 percent of your paycheck," as Boortz and Linder repeatedly write, but it would be a smaller paycheck. That's kind of a big thing to leave out.

I pressed the point with Boortz and Linder. Boortz denies that the book intentionally overpromises. The introduction, he notes, emphasizes that "this book isn't about saving a penny in taxes." But he concedes that the book is confusing about this, and vows to correct it in later printings. Fair enough.”

Meanwhile, these guys want to replace the entire tax code, they've ignited a populist movement to get it done, and tens of thousands of copies of the uncorrected book make the FairTax sound like magic.”



Regards,
JWK


The only stinking tax reform we need is for the American People to demand their employees in Washington add the following words into our Constitution:

The Sixteenth Amendment is hereby repealed and Congress is henceforth forbidden to lay “any” tax or burden calculated from profits, gains, interest, salaries, wages, tips, inheritances or any other lawfully realized money.