tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.comments2011-07-31T14:02:19.522-05:00DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-39480044730048068672010-02-19T15:49:32.650-06:002010-02-19T15:49:32.650-06:00Unfortunately, jpberthiaume, that&#39;s just a bad example with the guys drinking/paying for beer. This is known as an &#39;argument of distortion&#39;. Distort the facts as something obviously out of whack and then cast out the distortion. What&#39;s the distortion? You assume everyone drinks the same amount and the same drink at the same cost and propose by adjusting costs things go from fair to unfair. Just your initial example of a rich guy paying $59 for a beer that another would pay a dollar for is so out of whack that your example is ridiculous.<br /><br />Your next example with 10, 25, and 65 is better but still highly inaccurate as it doesn&#39;t relate to any actual entities or facts. In fact, it would be most accurate if the one who should pay $65 reduced their taxes to 0 by deductions and other means as this is far more common and actual examples are more numerous (do I need to dig this up for you?).<br /><br />Ask yourself this. Why do the richest companies and individuals fight against a flat tax. Why do these same companies lobby the government with huge sums of money to keep things the way they are or give more breaks for large companies/income producers. If you even think the richest 10% are paying for 50% of the taxes then you are highly misinformed and do not understand U.S. economics. You are also manipulating statistics by looking at gross pay versus net income. Gross may pay for 50% but their net is not nearly the same burden and the middle or lower class.<br /><br />My strongest point I&#39;d like to state is this. A &#39;flat tax&#39; will never occur in America! America is primarily run by large companies and they very much like the way things are. If you, as an individual, are so disinclined to believe this and really, honestly, believe in a flat tax then go to another country that has a flat tax. No one is stopping you, there&#39;s nothing wrong with doing so (it&#39;s not &#39;un-American&#39;) and you will learn a huge amount. <br /><br />Regardless, these trite examples proposed in this Blog are just people venting and who do not understand facts, statistics and actual real world data. Like philosophers they will argue and never come to an agreeable conclusion. Meanwhile, in the real pay-as-you-go world, all of us will live with tax policy until things get so bad we revolt or leave the country. We aren&#39;t even CLOSE to a revolt or even able to gather as a group to work against IRS policy. And as for individual revolt, look what Joe Stack did; pointless, waste of time, will be forgotten in a week.<br /><br />So move on to something that can be changed people and stop wishing for a fantasy. Grow up, move to another country if it works better for you. You do not have control of America or large corporations.allamerican777http://allamerican777.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-59441891298708127502009-12-23T07:51:49.498-06:002009-12-23T07:51:49.498-06:00The argument is so true, get the religion out of civil marriages like many other countries do and let whoever is in love and want to get married married, because we all know that the states that have allowed gay marriage have neither entered into the 7th circle of hell by allowing this nor have the children been FORCED to learn about gay marriage (it&#39;s all over the news anyways,) nor have people wanted to marry pets, plants and other inanimate objects, CT,MA,VT,IA, they have all gone on with their lives. I agree that video made me laugh, although I was waiting for bridezilla to start yelling and swearing...Andresterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02311870612180005967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-36668647005497657192009-07-28T10:15:04.824-05:002009-07-28T10:15:04.824-05:00DC,<br /><br />I believe a national sales tax would be preferable to the income tax, but I don&#39;t support the Fairtax legislation. Too many moving parts. AFFT tried to do too much, too quickly. Based on lessons learned over the past five years of studying the Fairtax and HR25, I think a simplified version might be better. I call it Fairtax-Lite, and it is a 12% national sales tax with no exemptions, no inventory tax credits, no taxation of government consumption, retains the payroll tax as well as the gift/estate taxes, and phases in over five years or so. Walk before running!!!<br /><br />As for prices, you seem to believe that the 22% embedded costs would be removed and a 23% sales tax added for little or no change in retail prices. Not true on two accounts. First, the merchants have to add 30% to their costs in order to arrive at a 23% tax inclusive price. Simple math! For instance, if the merchant cost is $1.00 and he added 23% as you suggested, the price would be $1.23 including a tax of $.23. But, notice that .23 divided by 1.23 is only 18.6%, not the 23% required by HR25. Add .30 and the price is $1.30, which when divided into the $.30 results in a 23% inclusive price as advertised. If you still don&#39;t believe me, go to the Fairtax site, find the FAQ section, and read the 4th faq from the bottom. When asked about what rate would be added at the cash register, AFFT answered<br /> &quot;30%&quot;.<br /><br />Prices will not remain about the same. That 22% in embedded costs you are familiar with includes employee income tax and payroll contributions. The embedded cost study author, Dale Jorgenson, confirmed that he assumed that everyone would agree to have their gross pay reduced to their current net after withholding. That money belongs to the employee, not the employer, and the most likely scenario is that we will get 100% of our pay, and prices will rise by 17%. Based on 2007 tax revenue, business income taxes amounted to $291 billion, the business share of FICA was $435 billion, and the 2007 compliance costs were $265 billion. When measured against retail sales of $9.5 trillion in 2007, income taxes were 3% of sales, FICA was 4.5% and compliance costs were 2.5%, for a total tax cost of 10% of sales on average across 20 million businesses. Remove 10% from costs, and add a 30% sales tax and the retail price has to rise by 17%. (1.00 x .9 x 1.30 = 1.17)<br /><br />And, no, I don&#39;t support any of the idiotic programs you listed. <br />We both should pray that cap and trade as well as universal health care don&#39;t get passed, and that the stimilus and bailout programs come back to bite the Congress and Administration!Dutchman3http://www.blogger.com/profile/04598625693698270641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-38816790767219707432009-07-28T08:29:41.506-05:002009-07-28T08:29:41.506-05:00To be clear, in general I still prefer a consumption (sales) tax over a production (income) tax EVERY time. Carrot vs stick.Lexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210792335221765966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-69036169880266978702009-07-28T08:27:50.205-05:002009-07-28T08:27:50.205-05:00I was a fan of the fairtax until I learned that if we eliminated the personal income tax completely we would have a balanced budget if we spent at 1997 levels. Cut the spending (pick one: Iraq war, stimulus, TARP) and you can skip the federal tax altogether.Lexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210792335221765966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-3702128774130175092009-07-28T05:48:26.428-05:002009-07-28T05:48:26.428-05:00DC,<br /><br />What I&#39;m saying is that the Fairtax as described in HR25 is unfair to my family. It would add $2600 in taxes over my current situation, and that&#39;s including the &quot;prebate&quot;. It double taxes my savings, forces me to resume paying for my SS pension with my sales tax dollars, and raises retail prices by an estimated 17%. Bad idea!<br /><br />However, I do believe that a national sales tax would be better for the economy than the income tax. After having the income tax for 95 years, the problem is how to transition. The Fairtax tries to do too much, too quickly, and fails to recognize that Congress is institutionally conservative and much prefers evolutionary change to revolutions such as the Fairtax.<br /><br />A simpler alternative I call Fairtax-Lite might have a better chance of getting rid of the IRS. Fairtax-Lite is a 12% national sales tax with no exemptions, no inventory tax credits, retains FICA and the gift/estate taxes, does not tax governments, no prebate but retains the EITC, and phases in over five years or so. While there may still be some unfairness to some folks, Fairtax-Lite is less unfair than the Fairtax and might have a better chance of Congressional consideration. Walk before running!<br /><br />You wonder why industry doesn&#39;t locate in the US? There are many reasons to locate offshore and federal taxes are pretty far down the list. Do you know that corporate income taxes amounted to only 3% of sales in 2007? More important reasons might be the cost of labor in the US, the need to access both raw materials and foreign markets, and the current emphasis on offsets when dealing with foreign customers. Blaming taxes for business relocations is badly over done, imho.<br /><br />A word on prices. You seem to believe that costs can be reduced by 22% and adding the 23% sales tax would be essentially a wash. Wrong on two counts. In order to arrive at a 23% inclusive price, merchants must add 30% to their costs. Simple math which I can demonstrate if you need further explanation.<br /><br />What you don&#39;t seem to understand is that the 22% in embedded costs include employee payroll contributions and income tax withholding according to Dale Jorgenson, the author of the embedded cost study. That money belongs to the employee, not the employer! Unless you believe that everyone&#39;s gross pay would be reduced to their current net, then business costs can only be reduced by 10% of sales and after adding the 30% sales tax, retail prices will rise by 17%. You can&#39;t say on the one hand that everyone will get 100% of their pay, and then claim that prices will remain about the same. There is no free lunch!!!<br /><br />And, no, I don&#39;t support any of those stupid proposals you suggested. Let&#39;s both pray that cap and trade and universal health care don&#39;t get enacted, and that the stimulus and bailout will come back to bite the current Congress and Administration.Dutchman3http://www.blogger.com/profile/04598625693698270641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-37239840408351102072009-07-27T20:49:02.115-05:002009-07-27T20:49:02.115-05:00So let me get this straight, I just want to see it in writing: You think our current tax system is better than the FairTax?<br /><br />I just need to get it in writing that you think all the billions upon billions used each year in complying with the income tax, IRS salaries, and &quot;tax planning&quot; is better than the FairTax alternative?<br /><br />As far as your theory that businesses would not come here, do you realize companies do not even consider basing themselves in America? Last time I checked corporations don&#39;t even have the USA on their short list of possible countries to base out of. I wonder why...<br /><br />So my question to you is, do you support the current taxation system, and if not, please present an alternative that is &quot;fair&quot; in your opinion, since obvoiusly the fairtax is so unfair! Amazing how you do not have the facts right - 23% INCLUSIVE not exclusive tax, and the prices would be about the same (did you even read the &quot;marketing comic book&quot;?).<br /><br />Let me guess, you support cap and trade, universal healthcare, the stimulus plan, and the bailout?DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-59470640325279728662009-07-27T20:18:23.698-05:002009-07-27T20:18:23.698-05:00Reading two marketing comic books written by a radio talk jock and an obscure Georgia Congressman gives you only half of the story. There is a lot of research available from both pro and con Fairtax experts that also needs reading. Try fairtaxblog.com for a good reference source.<br /><br />The Fairtax isn&#39;t fair. I&#39;m retired and living on two SS pensions plus around $6000 in interest income from my &quot;nest egg&quot;. I pay zero income tax and, of course, pay no FICA. Why on earth would I trade that status for one where everything I purchase would have a 30% exclusive tax added to the cost of almost everything? And why should I be forced to resume paying for my pensions with my sales tax dollars? Very unfair!<br /><br />The Fairtax proposes to tax State and Local government consumption which is inappropriate, if not unconstitutional, under our republican form of government. Stand by for higher rates as the base shrinks under Supreme Court guidance.<br /><br />Sales taxes are regressive and the Fairtax &quot;prebate&quot; simply moves the point of regressivity from zero to the poverty level. It is still regressive for most of us!<br /><br />Why on earth would US or foreign firms move to the USA? Read section 905 and learn about the 23% tax on income earned in the US by foreign owners. <br /><br />Read Section 801-806 and learn about the implicit tax on both investment and debt instruments. That VISA/MC monthly bill is going up! <br /><br />The Fairtax is a bad idea whose time has passed with the 2008 Huckabee disaster. The bill will not budge out of the House W&amp;M Revenue subcommittee while the D&#39;s are in control. Count on it!Dutchman3http://www.blogger.com/profile/04598625693698270641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-85084183080718279502009-07-24T14:52:22.809-05:002009-07-24T14:52:22.809-05:00As an entrepeneur, this industry has also caught my attention. And not just for the reasons that I believe this plant based product has more medicinal benefits than side effects. But because of the many Hemp products that can be made from the by-products. <br /><br />I have been following the first company to go public in this industry, (and bought shares) Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC:MJNA). They have a payment and tax remittance system that makes it easier to comply with governments and keeps the transactions safer. Check them out at www.medicalmarijuanainc.comHerbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12156144555224336771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-88263128273044563552009-07-16T11:07:35.390-05:002009-07-16T11:07:35.390-05:00Check out Schiff on the Lew Rockwell show (scroll down to episode 104 when you follow the link):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/podcast/?p=archive" rel="nofollow">Episode 104. Peter Schiff: Why Was Anyone Surprised By the Crash?</a><br /><br />It is the best explanation of the housing bubble I have ever heard...danehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029351412339545541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-39693943000735307282009-06-30T16:52:08.683-05:002009-06-30T16:52:08.683-05:00Yeah I can&#39;t wait to read it, even though I have been avoiding it by reading shorter (yet still good) other books. It will be interesting to look more deeply into her views of Christianity/Religion and the like.DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-24532705004356060812009-06-30T16:50:53.315-05:002009-06-30T16:50:53.315-05:00Yeah we will be okay. I hate to have another four years of Obama, but he (as well as fellow Dems) are doing a lot of damage to their party, though they might not know it yet. I truly believe people like McCain, Bush, etc. have odne a lot of damage to the Republicans because many see them as the face of limited government/free market while in reality they are not. <br /><br />We just have to keep defending the free market and not let worthless politicians destroy it!DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-26238788732720314412009-06-30T16:44:57.384-05:002009-06-30T16:44:57.384-05:00I finished reading Atlas Shrugged about a month ago - impressive work - you will enjoy. I too found it tough to deal with her atheism. I think it stems from a mis-interpretation of Scripture on her part. Keep up the good fight!Lexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210792335221765966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-16522329579108821792009-06-30T16:41:57.422-05:002009-06-30T16:41:57.422-05:00I too was excited about a possible Sanford 2012 run and was so disappointed with this turn of events. I enjoy your site and it gave me a psychological boost I needed today. Thanks!Lexshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210792335221765966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-65864475643119807222009-05-19T19:30:31.324-05:002009-05-19T19:30:31.324-05:00Absolutely! I just sent you an email!<br /><br />Dane, nice I will have to see if I can match that ; ) I'm excited about the Rand Paul run as well!!! He has a great chance of winning. I haven't blogged for a while because of finals but I can assure you starting Friday it will be a very regular occurrence!DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-82200039953652453252009-05-19T18:13:54.559-05:002009-05-19T18:13:54.559-05:00I'm currently volunteering for the Kokesh for Congress, Exploratory Committee. I am trying to get a list of bloggers interested in Adam's run for congress so future blog release can be sent directly to you. Please email your contact information to Media@kokeshforcongress.com if you would like to be included on this list. <br />Thank you for your work!KokeshForCongresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00002441577068740718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-694338255296225302009-05-01T12:18:00.000-05:002009-05-01T12:18:00.000-05:00I matched your $20 and pushed it to $50 at <br /><A HREF="http://kokeshforcongress.com/" REL="nofollow">http://kokeshforcongress.com/</A>;-)<br /><br />On another front, unfortunately I recently heard Schiff say he is thinking about permanently moving to Florida and, thus, probably will not run for Dodd's Connecticut Senate seat.danehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029351412339545541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-65612758439954604262009-04-22T15:05:00.000-05:002009-04-22T15:05:00.000-05:00i laughedMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730364918423900155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-52765166234861012042009-04-20T23:43:00.000-05:002009-04-20T23:43:00.000-05:00No no no your statement was "I ONLY read Theology books"<br /><br />You'd like to know more about THEOLOGY than know anything about anything else<br /><br />:PDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-54694169975625496052009-04-20T22:49:00.000-05:002009-04-20T22:49:00.000-05:00I only read Theology books. I prefer to know more about God than Ron Paul.<br />Jknotacalvinist13http://www.blogger.com/profile/08704789450972057534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-13618713509820520302009-04-09T10:52:00.000-05:002009-04-09T10:52:00.000-05:00Everyone needs to take heed of this video. Give up a little liberty here and there and the next thing you know, these are the kind of idiots that will be "guarding" our safety...<BR/><BR/>Many see the TSA as a bunch of bumbling idiots that make people remove their shoes in the name of security. That is how it starts, seemingly harmless and just an inconvenience. As time goes by, these idiots start to think they have more authority than they really do. They abuse people's liberties out of their own sense of importance and growing power. <BR/><BR/>The TSA needs to be eliminated before it evolves into an American version of the Nazi's Gestapo. They are an unnecessary and incompetent bureaucracy. The only thing they are successful at is getting people's socks dirty...danehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17029351412339545541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-28676341758476025762009-04-01T02:19:00.000-05:002009-04-01T02:19:00.000-05:00I like it keep on making a strong stand!!!GZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06381225444129976999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-38533700736352914412009-03-14T02:42:00.000-05:002009-03-14T02:42:00.000-05:00<A HREF="http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com</A>Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926724594223947612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-2952992126264351972009-03-14T02:39:00.000-05:002009-03-14T02:39:00.000-05:00Awesome would you mind sharing the link so i can check it out?DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17984105035100069759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6097708507772553366.post-91534257299332241852009-03-14T02:00:00.000-05:002009-03-14T02:00:00.000-05:00I am very much a Schiff fan, although he has been a bit early in his inflation projections, but I think thats only a matter of time. Another person I have really become a fan of is Michael 'Mish' Shedlock's blog. He has been right on everything going back a long time.Ronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02926724594223947612noreply@blogger.com