I may be the only progressive Democrat who supports this bill. I've read the arguments and I can't see how at minimum it could possibly be worse than our current tax code. Our current system, which originally purported to be a "progressive" system of taxation, is in reality the most regressive system imaginable. It's been amended and expanded and tinkered with beyond all recognition, resulting in one giant mess, an almost self-sustaining drain on both the poor and businesses alike. The amounts spent on trying to work on your taxes, pay for legal help with taxes, time spent on planning for taxes, etc., all add up to completely unproductive spending!

As some evidence of what a joke our tax code is, note the recent flaps around two prominent political appointees to Obama's cabinet. Even the rich and powerful can't keep track of their taxes, and the rest of the county has a bit of secret sympathy, since most of us can't figure out our taxes without expensive software or a tax accountant anyway.

Both the right and the left have reason to support a Fair Tax system, to some degree for very different reasons. On the right it's seen not only as a stimulus for business, but also as a way of getting the government out of an individual's personal financial business. The left should be supportive because the system would guarantee an exemption for the very poor, in fact the Fair Tax proposes outright checks sent to poor families to guarantee that the tax would not be a burden to them. (Personally I think a card-credit system would make a whole lot more sense, something like a credit card, or food stamp cards that are now beginning to be used instead of the old paper stamps.)

And as someone who has lived long enough to see just too many executives get away with paying no taxes and living quite well, at the same time that those on unemployment, poor seniors, and those with almost no income still have to pay taxes just because they don't have expensive lawyers or lobbyists, I think it's time for a change.

Realistically though, with the current chaos and worry over the mess in the banking system and the overall focus on saving the economy, I don't think legislators will want to risk such a dramatic change in that system while we're teetering on this economic precipice. But I hope that if and when things calm down that attention will come back to this bill.

I disagree that we should wait until things calm down to bring attention to this bill. In the words of Rahm Emanuel, "Rule one: Never allow a crisis to go to waste". It is in the crisis that we are passing bills with unknown dollar figures that have no real impact on fostering a recovery and limiting the pain of the correction. Why not, instead, push for a bill that would strengthen citizen's liberties and lessen the politics that could be played with individual's money. Instead of sacrificing the future, let us work towards the future.

This would most certainly make millions of Americans happier than they may think. The problem with this bill is stated at the end of your comment. "a bill that would strengthen citizen's liberties and lessen the politics that could be played with individual's money"... This is EXACTLY what the current political powers that be want to avoid! They want sheep not citizens.
Let us keep our money and everyone pay what's fair.

This would be a hell of a stimulus package. The government would get equal revenue and the US Economy would explode with growth.

Simple math at work here:

Representatives who support this bill = representatives with a legitimate interest in bolstering the economy and restoring some level of personal freedom.

Representatives who oppose this bill = power brokers who do not want to relinquish the level of control held by the federal government.

Instead of crying out of the burden that this supposedly would place on low income families, perhaps you should read the bill, in particular Chapter 3 as a whole. Then again that may make to much sense for your mentality, that is educating yourself instead of having a mouth piece tell you what to follow.

Furthermore, as Sales Tax works now in most states the necessities of life have NO sales tax, and would remain the same. Having lived in Illinois, and now California neither state taxes unprepared groceries. Groceries are the ONLY necessity of life that one may argue is affected by sales tax. Medicine is not sales taxed, nor are your utilities.

Therefore, your argument of a sales tax putting a burden on the "low income" is fundamentally flawed as well as being worn out. Income tax does nothing but punish the average person and reward others with money they've never have or will contribute.

I definitely support this bill, although I doubt it can get enough support in Congress. I wish there was something we could do to help the bill. Any suggestions?

The Tax Code in America has become such a twisted mess that it is more farce than force. Loopholes, tax credits, number of fingers on your right hand, whatever. It's thousands of pages only succeed in making a simple concept confusing. We need this bill to bring some real common sense to our tax policy in America. Please do what you can to support this bill.

Nice intentions, but why not simply abolish the income tax and replace it with... nothing?

It's completely doable. For one, the income tax only accounts for 45% of the government's income. Secondly, 2006's budget was 58% larger than 2000's budget. So I say we cut spending back to 2000 levels, then abolish the income tax.

But, it's probably better than income tax.

A tax on income is essentially rent for living here. Something like FairTax is like paying for services. You can use them, or not use them. You're not required to pay part of your paycheck to the government.

This is the 5th or 6th session of Congress that this bill has been introduced. It's submitted on the first day of the session, is referred to Ways and Means, and dies there with the end of the Congressional session 2 years later. It has ZERO chance of ever making it out of Ways & Means for good reason -- it would be resoundingly defeated on the first vote. Both parties have been in control of Congress at one time or another during this farcical bill's 12 odd year history, and neither party gives it any serious consideration at all. It's a political ploy for its sponsors who use it to whine to their constituents that they are "trying" to "fix" things, but "nobody will listen."

Europeans have always had tax on their income. Where are you getting your information?

The tax code has become such a twisted mess written by attorneys/politican who screw up their taxes.
This is so dooable and simple.
IF you do not buy anything, you do not pay. IF you buy you pay. They do it in Europe and it works.

a) You would have your entire income to spend.
b) All corporate taxes and compliance costs are passed along to the consumers; a substantial part of the cost of goods currently accounts for these expenses.

The people who work for H&R Block, etc., will have to find something *useful* to do.

While I agree with the basic concept of this bill, the actual enactment of it is made impossible by the utter chaos that would be created during the transissional process. A flat tax system would be much simpler but making the switch is not possible. HOWEVER... we can work toward that end by initiating the action and making solid steps toward it. Our current system is wasting nearly 65% of the money it collects on the process of collecting it!!!??? Let's get our heads together and work out an action plan to see this accomplished!

You'd pay 30% tax on new cars and homes. Got an extra $6,000 for the tax on a new $20,000 car? Or how about $60,000 in tax on an new $200,000 home? I damned sure don't! (And since the tax does not increase the value of the car or home, you're not going to get a lender to loan you that money. You'll need to pay IN CASH at closing.)

No need to complicate things. Food and medicine are already exempt from the current federal sales tax, so you could easily just up the rate without causing any hassle.

Think about the cost to business of having to buy all new cash registers, the paperwork deciding which category every item goes in, and all the other headaches.

I would like to see no taxes on necesities such as ground beef and other unprepared foods, t-paper ect. A small tax on non-nececity foods such as ice cream, snack cakes frozen TV dnners and the like.

This would give people an incentive to buy things that they need to prepare, making their money going further.

Graduating the the tax up on things that are not bacis necesities, but are needed such as clothes with the highest tax on luxuries.

This would eliminate the need to send checks out because what you really need is already tax free.

This bill would also get taxes paid on illegal money, meaning drugs money or other that in todays system goes unreported.

The IRS would be able to stay as the governments auditing agency to ensure that business collet and turn in the taxes they collect.

SCARY. I thought this bill would be cool - then I read it. Red tape everywhere, seizure of stuff? And if you're dirt poor (like me) it sounds like you get the fun job of doing paperwork every month (goody...) to 'appeal' any sales taxes you have incurred or part of them (wait, how is that fair again? Isn't the point of sales tax that - besides food which is exempt - its basically a luxury tax which everyone should pay?) Only, if I don't want to do paperwork every month, I could just get a government 'smart card' and purchase things with that to keep track of my spending..(Creepy???) And then there are these 'seperate accounts' returned money must be kept in for some people, receipts that have to be kept for like everything for seven years @.@

I can say goodbye to my nice uncomplicated life. I really like the idea of a flat income tax bracket, personally, and getting rid of the estate tax, and letting states pick their sales or property tax levels.

Everyone knows that the Constitution was designed as an intricate system of checks and balances, but most people overlook that the election of Senators, the senior house, by the state legislatures was another check in the system.

Repealing the 17th would go a long way towards reducing the power of Washington.

The Seventeenth Amendment is damaging to federalism and state sovereignty. Originally, the senators would consult their state legislatures about impending legislation in Congress. This gave the state governments a say in Federal affairs. Now, senators consult the corporations and wealthy individuals who contribute to their campaigns.

Let all hope that some of our representatives read some of these comments and start to think about someone other then themselves or what party they are supporting. Maybe one day a representative with think about the people rather then big business for once. LOL like that will ever happen!

Why should we repeal the 17th Amendment? Direct election of Senators seems like a good idea to me...

So, the answer to a sick economy is to increase prices and decrease consumption, thereby lowering corporate revenues? Sounds like a plan...

This bill is great. No chance it gets passed unfortunately.

This bill is a step in the right direction for this country. As a candidate running for US Congress in Massachusetts against Barney Frank, I will say that I would vote for this bill 100%, and will help to promote it in Congress if I am elected. What I need is the support of the people to help me win the election and put this country back into the hands of the people.

www.KeithMessina.com

All of these clowns are corrupt, that is why they don't have a Corruption Elimination Bill, please sign our petition. The right is only mad because the left now has the control of the corruption. All this effort and none on the true problem.

http://mywhitehouse.org/dont-tread-on-me/

This is a scapegoat for politicians. It's time for Americans to simply stop paying income taxes by changing their # of dependents. Think about those Fat Cat politicians would mess their pants if they woke up and saw that not 1 American was paying 1 cent in income tax. They would stop in their tracks! They would then be forced to stop padding their own pockets, padding the pockets of their friends and political supporters, stop sending Americans hard earned money to support foreign dictators, foreign banks and The United Nations! America is NOT a Global Nation. I do not believe in ONE WORLD ORDER! I believe in Liberty (FREEDOM)!

Since we're not allowed to walk around naked, certain clothing should be considered basic necessities. Which items fall in that category would have to be carefully defined, though.