Republican debate

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I know I'm in the minority here, but "No, not even vets." By doing so it simply shows favoritism over one group of people, further it's simply used as a manipulation to entice poor people to join the military. Don't get me wrong, I would be thankful hand over fist if we had some sort of military that protected our mainland from an attack or even thankful if we lived in an environment where militarymen were on every street corner protecting all the citizens. But That doesn't occur. That isn't what our military does or has ever done.

The US has never been attacked, thus the purpose of the military since it's existence has been to go mess with other countries. I don't support violence regardless of whether or not it's to wipe out a dictator, terrorist, etc Further, what typically happens is you have quite a bit of civilian casualties, and I don't think paying people to go to another country to kill that country's citizens is a very honorable thing to do. So no, I would never offer perks to someone that is simply doing our government's unhonorable dirty work.

I do recognize that most of the folks that join the military are the high school dropouts, kids with behaviorial issues, kids that can't get into or afford a college education, etc... thus I do support paying these kids for the opportunity to perhaps have a brighter future or get their act together. Their pay and the opportunity to go to college is reward enough for the risks they take. It's their choice, get paid more than they would otherwise and there is the chance they get injured or die... or don't. Do you realize how many perks military people get? Heck, even here we read about military folks wanting the privilege of a quick visa process. Why? So they can bring over a fiance or spouse who isn't going to be able to be with them anyhow as they are overseas somewhere? I'll support the military the day we really need their help. As far as I know, the US has never really needed them. That being said, without them then things would be certainly different, so as individuals sacrificing their time and life for the potential to need to protect us, I salute them all. For doing what they do (which isn't really their choice once they are in) I really have very little respect for anyone who would kill another human being. It's really our government and ideals that I have the issues with, not the individual folks who join. As far as I'm concerned though, it's just another job... until the day we really need them to protect us.

The military has required a high school diploma or GED since the late 1970s. The Marines were a bit late to that party but eventually also went along. Given the results we achieve with the military I have no question as to their education and ability

Just like any other group of workers, they try to get as much as they can. Why not? Everyone else does it. Just say NO. I can understand the expediting of visas for ,ilitary that will be deployed to combat areas, otherwise, no.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

From what little I know about it, the Fair tax is not compatible with the realities of politics.

It's so easy to change the tax code, we start off with a flat tax, next year we make exemptions of service men or seniors or the very poor or people who buy a solar system.

In no time at all you are right back were we are WITH a huge sales tax on top of it.

Read the FAIR TAX book and then you will not be making comments about something you know so little about. Why would you do that?

The Fair Tax is NOT a flat tax and is not subject to exactly the problems you describe abd that is why our current system is so broken.

The FIRST item in the Fair Tax bill is the passage of a constitutional amendment prohibiting ANY form of tax on income, without the passage of that amendement the Fair Tax is not implemented.

Please study the bill. Read the book.

As usual, the ONLY objections to it are those based in ignorance or distortion.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Seemsd like y'all need to read the fair tax bill. It includes a monthly rebate for each PERSON that covers the amount of tax that would be spent for necessities. In other words, poor people would still pay no tax. It wouls also eliminate the current hidden tax you pay on every item you purchase. Did you think corporations are losing money to pay tax?

The fair tax also will apply only to retail sales and services. One can avoid this by shopping at thrift stores, garage sales etc. Basically it gives YOU some control over the amount of tax you will pay.

Fair tax is designed to be "revenue neutral"

Yes I do know that the proposal was added to give he poor a check to offset their having to pay any tax. Nice way to get the middle class on board with the idea. The richer you are than they will be paying a ever smaller percentage of their income on taxes. They will come out ahead. The middle class gets the burden.

[웃 910]

Yes I do know that the proposal was added to give he poor a check to offset their having to pay any tax. Nice way to get the middle class on board with the idea. The richer you are than they will be paying a ever smaller percentage of their income on taxes. They will come out ahead. The middle class gets the burden.

Anyone that wants a 40% national sales tax on every dollar you spend is nuts.

Spend $10,000 for the year = $4,000 in taxes

A terrible idea.

[Danno 1,228]

Read the FAIR TAX book and then you will not be making comments about something you know so little about. Why would you do that?

The Fair Tax is NOT a flat tax and is not subject to exactly the problems you describe abd that is why our current system is so broken.

The FIRST item in the Fair Tax bill is the passage of a constitutional amendment prohibiting ANY form of tax on income, without the passage of that amendement the Fair Tax is not implemented.

Please study the bill. Read the book.

As usual, the ONLY objections to it are those based in ignorance or distortion.

Q: It takes an amendment to implement the Fair Tax...... what is required to change it, say adjust the percentage of tax or the amount or income level of those who get the rebate?

If simple politics can play with these numbers..... my concerns are well founded.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I'm not a fan of Muslims either. But I'm also not a fan of Jews, Christians, Mormons, you name it.

Religion is like a #######. It's okay to have one. It's okay to be proud of it. But it's not okay to pull it out in public and dangle it in front of other people, and even less it's okay to shove it down other people's throat. Keep your religion to yourself and talk about politics instead is what I expect from politicians.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anyone that wants a 40% national sales tax on every dollar you spend is nuts.

Spend $10,000 for the year = $4,000 in taxes

A terrible idea.

More distortion. There is no proposed 40% tax. If you wish to debate it at least be accurate.

You forget to mention that hidden taxes embedded in prices would be removed and you would KEEP all the money you earn, essentially giving you a 22% raise (SS, medicare and income withholding)

But it is the usual response. Make up lies. Read the bill, read the book.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Q: It takes an amendment to implement the Fair Tax...... what is required to change it, say adjust the percentage of tax or the amount or income level of those who get the rebate?

If simple politics can play with these numbers..... my concerns are well founded.

It does not take an amedment to IMPLIMENT the fair tax. It takes an amedment to ELIMINATE income tax and make sure we would not have BOTH.

A vote of congress could increase the rate. But that is where "simple politics" ends. How "simple" will it be for congress to raise the tax rate on EVERYONE? How will we react to that? No more "We will give you this and make business pay for it" or "We will make the RICH pay for it" (they never really do) When they MUST raise taxes on EVERYONE it will become a lot less simple, politically speaking. Another reason politicians do not like it. As we see right now, a congressional act is rarely "simple".

Good questions. All are answered in the FAIR TAX BOOK. Get one.

How much better off will we be when the BEST place to keep offshore money is HERE? You know why they keep it offshore, don't you? You now that it is hundreds of billions of US dollars, right? You know that the government is currently talking about a temporary tax holiday for funds brought from offshore accounts, don't you? Why not a PERMANENT tax holiday on all income? How many bsinesses may locate here and bring jobs when we have the LOWEST business tax? And please, do not come off with the silly "Ireland" argument. Ireland is an isolated island with limited resources, people and infrastructure. It is not the US of A. Elinating business tax in Ireland did not work because it is Ireland, not because eliminating tax is a bad thing.

Seriously, read the book. It helps when people lie about 40% tax rates.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Anyone that wants a 40% national sales tax on every dollar you spend is nuts.

Spend $10,000 for the year = $4,000 in taxes

A terrible idea.

I agree. Good thing it has not been proposed.

[MyLittlePony 340]

I'm not a fan of Muslims either. But I'm also not a fan of Jews, Christians, Mormons, you name it.

Religion is like a #######. It's okay to have one. It's okay to be proud of it. But it's not okay to pull it out in public and dangle it in front of other people, and even less it's okay to shove it down other people's throat. Keep your religion to yourself and talk about politics instead is what I expect from politicians.

This one for me too.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm not a fan of Muslims either. But I'm also not a fan of Jews, Christians, Mormons, you name it.

Religion is like a #######. It's okay to have one. It's okay to be proud of it. But it's not okay to pull it out in public and dangle it in front of other people, and even less it's okay to shove it down other people's throat. Keep your religion to yourself and talk about politics instead is what I expect from politicians.

I had never heard it put quite that way.

[Dan and Judy 614]

I'm not a fan of Muslims either. But I'm also not a fan of Jews, Christians, Mormons, you name it.

Religion is like a #######. It's okay to have one. It's okay to be proud of it. But it's not okay to pull it out in public and dangle it in front of other people, and even less it's okay to shove it down other people's throat. Keep your religion to yourself and talk about politics instead is what I expect from politicians.

Whats wrong with shoving your ####### down someones throat?

[웃 910]

More distortion. There is no proposed 40% tax. If you wish to debate it at least be accurate.

You forget to mention that hidden taxes embedded in prices would be removed and you would KEEP all the money you earn, essentially giving you a 22% raise (SS, medicare and income withholding)

But it is the usual response. Make up lies. Read the bill, read the book.

Actually the distortion is when the scam artists say it is a 23% fair tax when actually it is a 30% tax ($100 + $30 is a 30% tax on $100 BUT PUNCH IN YOUR CALCULATOR $130 *.23 and you also get $30).

Talk about scam artist math...Obviously the retail price was $100 and the tax was $30.....So 30% tax....Not 23% from $130 total....That is a distortion, a lie, and a scam.

Then I read somewhere you need around 34% (not just 30) when looking at the big picture to match the current system of tax revenue (and if they say 34% then it's probably 44% or higher).

And this does not include state taxes. And it doesn't include the tax dodging (buying out of country) to save on luxury goods. And it is a real incentive to SAVE (ie less spending; ie less tax revenue) with such an absurdly high tax. Want that $500 apple product? Not so much when the taxes are $200 on a $500 product.

So when I say fair tax is a flat 40% tax on all goods that is cutting straight to the chase, all bullsh!t aside.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Actually the distortion is when the scam artists say it is a 23% fair tax when actually it is a 30% tax ($100 + $30 is a 30% tax on $100 BUT PUNCH IN YOUR CALCULATOR $130 *.23 and you also get $30).

Talk about scam artist math...Obviously the retail price was $100 and the tax was $30.....So 30% tax....Not 23% from $130 total....That is a distortion, a lie, and a scam.

Then I read somewhere you need around 34% (not just 30) when looking at the big picture to match the current system of tax revenue (and if they say 34% then it's probably 44% or higher).

And this does not include state taxes. And it doesn't include the tax dodging (buying out of country) to save on luxury goods. And it is a real incentive to SAVE (ie less spending; ie less tax revenue) with such an absurdly high tax. Want that $500 apple product? Not so much when the taxes are $200 on a $500 product.

So when I say fair tax is a flat 40% tax on all goods that is cutting straight to the chase, all bullsh!t aside.

Coorect. 23% why would you say 40%?

Now figure in that of that 23% a portion is refunded to you every month as the tax on necessities AND you get to keep every dollar you earn...no witholding, AND the products you buy now have embedded tax that will go away. AND you can choose to avoid tax by buying second hand items or simply conserving and not spending as much. There is no tax on saving and investments. And, of course, no tax on the returns from that.

State taxes are not part of the equation, they exist already. This is a method to fund the federal government. If we want to include all the tax we pay NOW, including excise taxes on goods and services, then by any calculation we pay about 50% of our income or more in tax. If you are going to use such calculations to apply to the fair tax, then you have to use a similar comparison to what we have now. Don't be silly.

The system we have NOW does not work. Period. We are deficit spending and borrowing just to pay the interest. It MUST be changed. Not only does it not work, it runs business and jobs right out of the country. The Fair Tax makes the US the greatest tax shelter on earth for everyone else.

I seriously suggest ytou read the FAIR TAX BOOK rather than just what the people opposed to it say. The people opposed to it always distort the truth which ought to be a clue.

[Danno 1,228]

I'm not a fan of Muslims either. But I'm also not a fan of Jews, Christians, Mormons, you name it.

Religion is like a #######. It's okay to have one. It's okay to be proud of it. But it's not okay to pull it out in public and dangle it in front of other people, and even less it's okay to shove it down other people's throat. Keep your religion to yourself and talk about politics instead is what I expect from politicians.

You left out "Atheism" and how shoving that down people throat so often is most unpleasant.