More and More People Are Getting It...
At this time (29 August 2005) the FairTax book is #4 in Nonfiction and #18 overall on Amazon.Com.
A lot of people are getting exposed to this. But oddly enough, it seems there was a precursor book called America’s Best Kept Secret -Fairtax: Give Yourself a 25% Raise. Published in 2002, it’s currently down around #27,517. I don’t recall there being much promotion of it at the time - but we did have other stuff to worry about then and I can see how it’d get overlooked.
If you take a look at the reviews on the FairTax book, you’d think you were looking at the comments section of a blog. There’s folks posting who have clearly taken the time to go through the book, and their reviews show that. There’s others who obviously haven’t even looked at the book before spouting off what a bad idea this whole FairTax thing is - and their reviews show that also. But one really struck my eye by J.P. Bayle. (I took the liberty of separating his review out in what looked like reasonable paragraphs...)
I am not a rich man. I have nothing to gain by supporting the rights of the wealthy to hold on to their wealth. In this country, however, I have to ask why it should be taken? Are we not a land of opportunity? Are we not free to make our futures better? Under the current system, we are not.
My objection to progressive taxation is that it is unfair. We are Americans, not Soviets. We have the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We do not have the right to be equal to every person as regards our finances. But how do we achieve equity across all levels of society? How do we ensure that the rich pay their fair share? How do we ensure that the poor are not victimized? Read this book. It will answer those questions.
We’re taxed as we spend, and the tax burden up to the poverty level is ZERO. Not one dime. The more you spend, the more you’re taxed - so the rich will certainly pay the lion’s share. The more you save, the more you’re rewarded, so the poor can save without penalty, enabling them to build a better future for themselves.
I have heard many arguments against this proposal. Each time I’ve confronted the person who opposes it, they have either not read the book, are not fully familiar with the bill before Congress, or have something to gain by keeping the current system in place. And of course there are the few mindless drones who believe the special interest demegogues who play on the fears of the terminally uninformed.
To this last group I issue this request: Read the book, or a copy of the bill before Congress. Go to www.fairtax.org and read the information provided. Ask questions. Investigate. Think for yourself.
The current system has been tweaked and changed so many times that it is no longer understandable. It is a monster that cannot be tamed. It must be killed. We need a new system. The FairTax is a system that will be fair and equitable - not to mention the fact that it will strengthen our economy. It will bring our jobs home from foreign shores.
Say what you like, but this plan is workable. It is what its name implies. It is fair. That’s all I really want from the government.
Isn’t that what we all want? A fair shake?
