Welfare State: Handouts Make Up One-Third of U.S. Wages

[Zero Sum 305]

mawilson is not and never has been a polling firm.

I believe that would have been on a quantitative statement.

[rika60607 215]

According to Wikipedia, this is NOT how a fair tax would work. I was almost sold on the idea as you describe it, but...

1. I like my filet mignon.

2. There would not be any distinctions for filet mignons vs baby back ribs. ALL expenses over poverty limit would be taxed at 30%, both goods and services. That's awful. And then government would adjust that tax every year based on how they see fit. Even worse.

The other advantage is you are not "taking" anything. People understnd that there is tax on goods and services. You CHOOSE to spend your money. On Payday you have in your hand ALL the money you have earned. ALL. You will be refunded for the tax you will pay on basic necessities. So you can eat, buy normal clothes, shoes, medical care, etc., TAX FREE. So after woring 40 hours, buying groceries (not filet mignon), your shoes, coat, etc., you still have paid -0- tax. Now, if you choose to buy a boat, you will pay tax on that boat. You know you will pay tax on that boat and the more the boat costs the more tax you pay. You will actually pay tax on every dollar you spend, but will be refunded a portion of that based on an index of the tax on "basic necessities" Each PERSON with a SSN gets the rebate. If you get paid once a month, on the first of the month you have ALL the money you earned PLUS your rebate check for what you will spend for basic neccesities. Now you decide how much to spend. Buy cheap food and you may actually keep that rebate check. Buy your lawnmower at a garage sale and keep that part of the rebate for yourself. Put 10% of your earnings in savings...no tax. Retirement account? No tax. In your mattress...no tax. April is just the middle of the month. No tax returns to file. There is no income tax, what is to report? Businesses will save BILLIONS just in the cost of tax compliance. No W-2s to send. Businesses will have more money for BUSINESS, for buying things, making things and giving jobs to people.

Illegal immingrants will pay the same rate of tax you do. Drug dealers will pay tax, prostitutes will pay tax. Waitresses making tips will pay tax. Tourists will pay tax. Rich people will pay the same rate of tax. No deductions and loopholes for them. No "tax shelters", other than savings which is a tax shelter for everyone. Investment bankers will pay the same rate as their secretaries. Billions of dollars held in off shore accounts and foreign accounts to AVOID being taxed as income...BILLIONS!...will come home to be invested (businesses are exempt from this tax, business do not pay tax, they COLLECT tax) Business will flood into the country, we would have the lowest business tax in the world. -0- %

[Zero Sum 305]

We should try that flat tax for a few years, say, 20 years, and see how everything goes.

Make more than X amount? No rebate.

The individual surplus more than makes up for it.

IMO, it will fail.