State is the name of the coldest of all cold monsters.

Coldly it lies; and this lie slips from its mouth:
"I, the state, am the people."

-----Lysander Spooner

Liberty and Nothing Less


Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force.
Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

-George Washington

George Washington was the indispensable man in US history. He well understood the natural character of government and led the fight for American Liberty against oppression. Unfortunately today we Americans are still fighting the same fight except it is not against a foreign government but our own.

I leave you with a final thought by syndicated radio talk show host Paul Harvey to ruminate:

They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?

Opinion Review: Senator McCain Digs In

In the Sunday April 20th, 2008 Opinion Page of the New York Times, an article was presented showing McCain as an irresponsible presidential candidate by wanting to cut taxes even more. McCain wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and to repeal the alternative minimum tax which would save American taxpayers over $1 trillion dollars in taxation that would be utterly wasted by an inefficient federal government on programs they have no Constitutional right to involve themselves in as it is. The opinion actually stated that these two tax cuts would reduce tax revenue to the government.

The Article points out that he wants to double the dependent exemption further reducing tax collections by $171 billion over the next 4 years, suspend the gasoline tax over the summer which would reduce taxes by $10 billion, and finally cut corporate taxes. The author of the article finally points out that McCain has given no way to make up these tax cuts except cutting out loopholes and McCain's favorite action to "cut pork-barrel" spending.

The author concludes that this is all political pandering to buy votes and McCain must go back to the drawing board to show how he would govern without adding to our fiscal problems.

Concluding with the authors opening thoughts. The author opens the article by stating the federal government will not be able to deal with problems of the future such as health care (not in the federal government jurisdiction - state and personal level), road and bridge repair (state and local level jurisdiction), and alternative energy (better handled by the free market, when the people demand it and when it can become economically viable without government subsidies it will occur).

The author of the article clearly misses the point that these issues are not in the federal governments jurisdiction (check the Constitution for your answer on this and then read the 10th Amendment, the answer to all these issues are there) and are all better left to the individual and state levels. Eliminating these costly programs would save Americans billions of dollars each year in unnecessary and inefficient government programs allowing Americans to invest more wisely and with much greater efficiency for their needs.

Fair Tax: Recap

A little confusion seems to be out their with the Fair Tax so I will do a brief recap of the Fair Tax. The information is widely available for FairTax.org and numerous books.

The Fair Tax or HR 25 is a complete replacement of the current tax code. The Fair Tax will repeal all payroll, income, savings, investment, estate, gift, and death taxes. The Fair Tax is a 23% federal sales tax on the final purchase of any new item or service. Used items or items produced in the home are untaxed. The Fair Tax does not change any current government program like Social Security or Medicare. The only thing that changes are how taxes are collected.

Under the Fair Tax productivity and hard work are no longer penalized as taxes are no longer based off of your income. Likewise people are free to save and invest without paying taxes on the interest or resulting income from a stock, CD, or other investment related transaction.

Under the Fair Tax you will receive your full paycheck.

The Prebate:

Under the Fair Tax every citizen in the United States will receive a prebate each month to cover the taxes on spending up to the poverty level. The prebate is dependent only on family size and the current poverty level rate as determined by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (In some cases the poverty level is also dependent upon the state of residence). The prebate will be adjusted for the rate of inflation yearly in accordance with inflation changes by the poverty level.

Under that Fair Tax your income is not reported to the federal government. The only thing reported is your employment status by the company of employment to determine Social Security status.

To clarify. The Fair Tax prebate is not based on income. A single person with no children will receive $196 per month no matter their level of income. To the prebate size you would receive each month please visit FairTax.org prebate levels.

Since taxation is based on spending, those who spend more will pay more. If you don't spend above the poverty level you don't pay. A family that spends twice the poverty level will have a tax rate of 11.5 percent. As spending increases the rate of taxation will increase until the rate reaches 23% because of the prebate. Taxation is totally voluntary under the Fair Tax. Because of the prebate the Fair Tax is a progressive tax.

I hope this recap clarifies some misconceptions that have popped up about the Fair Tax.

Happy Tax Free Day

Well I got too busy yesterday and really just forgot but I hope you had a Happy Tax Free Day. Yesterday was the first day of the year where you finished paying your federal income taxes and began earning your money. That's right! Up until yesterday April 23rd you were working to pay your taxes for the year.

If that makes you feel good I hate to think what makes you feel terrible.

With the Fair Tax you have the decision when and who to pay taxes to. If you don't like what the government is doing, stop spending. If you like what they are doing spend more. If you can't afford taxes you won't pay as long as you live within your means.

To find out how to change the tax system please review my blog or go to FairTax.org.

Hope is just a desire. Change can happen, but you have to make it happen.

November Election

I am torn right now between two candidates. One is a member of a party I identified with for my entire life (John McCain) and the other of as the potential nominee of the Libertarian Party of which I have just become a member. The decision is an important one and one that all Conservatives and Libertarians should consider if they truly support smaller government and individual liberty. The risks are large as a Democratic Presidency is very likely this year. The decision will be far from easy, as one will be a vote to keep the Democrat out of office while the other will be a vote based more on principal, and will not likely be resolved by myself well into the year, probably not until November.

Please take a moment to read this article by Bob Barr on his blog at bobbarr2008.com.

Light Up the Darkness
April 23, 2008 by Bob Barr

The time is drawing near for me to make a final decision on whether or not I will seek the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party and run against John McCain and the Democrat candidate.

This decision does not come easy.

If I decide to run, not only will I be affected by the events of the next six months but my family, and those for whom I care, will be forced to sacrifice a great deal in their lives. Indeed, whatever the outcome of the election, my decision will impact the lives of my family for many years to come.

Powerful people and parties will do all that they can to discredit and discourage me and those close to me. As a matter of fact, this pressure has already started to a significant degree.

Just the other night, I discussed this matter with my friend, Russ Verney, who will be managing my campaign if I choose to run. Russ ran the campaigns for Ross Perot and witnessed firsthand what can and does happen when a credible, third party candidate enters the presidential arena.

Russ was completely candid with me and did not hold back on the tactics and strategies that will be used against me and my family.

This is both discouraging and infuriating, but it is a reality in today’s political climate. Anyone who dares to challenge the establishment, two-party system is bound to pay a price for such audacity.

While this factor alone hardens my resolve to seek the nomination, it also gives me pause in making a final decision.

In choosing my future path, I’ve thought back and imagined what some of my personal heroes would do in a similar situation.

One man I admire answers also to the name, “Bob.” He was a person possessed of a gift that allowed him to speak to and lift the spirits of other men and women with his words and music.

When watching a film one evening, I was reminded of an event in his life and how he inspired so many with what would normally have been an easy decision.

In December 1976, this other Bob, along with his family and friends, were rehearsing for an upcoming concert when gunmen burst into his home and opened fire.

Bob was wounded, with a round entering his chest and passing though his arm. His wife, Rita, had been struck with a bullet in the head while fleeing with their five children.

Both survived and were rushed to the hospital, treated and released a day later.

The following evening, the concert went on but, out of fear of further violence, without many of the acts that had been scheduled to play. Despite a realization that the main performer and others would most likely not appear, a crowd of 85,000 people managed to gather for the concert.

Not to be discouraged, Bob raced to the concert at the last minute and rushed onto the stage.

Wounded and more than likely staring at his own gunman in the crowd, Bob Marley promised the joyous audience, “just one song.” He and his wife Rita, wrapped in bandages, took the stage for 90 minutes.

Later, Bob was asked why he would go through the effort to perform just two days after being attacked. He answered simply, “The people who are trying to make this world worse are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness.”

I take faith in the brave words and actions of that man and his wife.

We live in increasingly dark times as the flames of liberty diminish with each new grasp at power by those who attempt to control our lives and our nation.

We have a responsibility to ensure that those flames burn brightly for others to see despite the overwhelming challenges that we face.

Because of those odds, it will take more than one man to carry a torch for liberty. It will take the tireless efforts of all of those who truly cherish freedom.

Only then can we light up the darkness.

In 2008, we will face a choice between two candidates, both of who seek to move us further away from freedom and toward increased government power.

Instead, I want to give our nation a choice for liberty.

My time for a decision is now, and I need to hear from you and know that I have your support today and when times get tough down the road.

In the coming days, call up a friend or talk to a neighbor to tell them about this race and the need for a pro-liberty candidate.

Not only do we have an opportunity to make in impact during this election year but I also believe we have an obligation to do so.

However, I cannot do this without your help.

Please do all you can — and together — we can carry a light of liberty to the people.

Clinton Get's Crucial Win in Pennsylvania

Hillary Clinton wins PA by 10% or over 214,000 votes with 96% of votes counted. This is great news for most Republicans as the race continues and the constant attacks of democrat on democrat will continue for the next few weeks and possibly months. Separation of the Democratic Party is increasing as recent polls have suggested the 26% of Clinton supporters would vote for McCain in the fall over Obama (the future nominee of the Democratic Party) and 13% would not even show up. A similar number of Obama supporters would be in the same boat if Clinton were to get the nomination.

Clinton has narrowed the popular vote lead down to around 500,000 tonight. 2 weeks from now when North Carolina and Indiana vote no real change will really occur. Obama will win North Carolina and Clinton will win Indiana making for a wash and continuing the primary further on into late May and into at least early June. Then comes the real entertainment.

Hillary will try to get Michigan and Florida delegates seated and will make an argument that the momentum in the election has changed and the she not Obama will be the stronger candidate because she has won the most important states, possibly tied the popular vote, and won the biggest states for the nomination. Momentum will likely be on her side but she will have to take a substantial number of super delegates to get the nomination something I don't expect to happen.

Obama will make the argument that according to the rules set forth that he has won the nomination, received the most popular vote (although a tie is possible), and most importantly has won more pledged delegates. If the nomination is taken from Obama, the Democratic Party will be irreparably damaged with major constituencies alienated.

The next few months should be fun. McCain is in good position right now. The one possible spoiler for McCain though is the Bob Barr factor, possible and likely nominee of the Libertarian Party, who recently polled in at getting 7% of the vote. Keep in mind he has had no national campaign yet and his numbers would likely increase due to alienated conservatives looking for a place for their vote. The one positive for McCain though and one that could potentially erase the Bob Barr factor is the Ralph Nader campaign. Recent polls have indicated that up to 17% of the Democrats would consider voting for Nader if their nominee does not get elected.

McCain is in solid position right now but he must capitalize on his strengths and minimize his weakness. This is an unusual situation though as McCain's expertise is foreign affairs where a very unpopular war comes into play. In order to win McCain must minimize his focus on the war and create a viable exit strategy that would allow for a further reduction in troop deployments. Americans as a whole want troops out but they want victory. This will be McCain's strength. McCain must create a strategy for exit of Iraq while still pushing for victory. Further, McCain must define what victory is and how it will be reached so troop levels can be drawn down in his first 4 years in office. If he can do this McCain should be able to minimize the affects of an unpopular war and the unpopular Republican President George W Bush and go on to win the presidency.

Secondly, McCain must pick a solid choice for VP that would help reintegrate alienated conservatives. The pick should be from a state that would not normally be Republican or one that is right now a draw. The pick should also be recognizable nationwide and preferably help McCain minimize his weakness's. The best pick would be a popular governor that is knowledgeable about economics.

McCain can win but he must stay positive, create an exit strategy, define victory and a plan to achieve that victory in his first 4 years in office, and pick a solid VP that would minimize his weakness's and reintegrate disenfranchised conservatives. McCain must act resolutely during the democratic infighting.

Fair Tax: Helps the Middle and Lower Income Earners the Most

As covered before in my Fair Tax Myth post about 2 weeks ago we have learned that the Fair Tax contrary to popular belief is not regressive but progressive because of the monthly prebate. Remember, a progressive tax is one that taxes those most heavily those that can pay taxes while a regressive tax, like current payroll taxes, which tax those who have the least ability to pay more heavily.

The Fair Tax does other things to help lower and middle income earners versus the current income tax system. A Macroeconomic report performed by Arduin, Laffer, and Moore Econometrics in 2005 indicated that the Fair Tax would increase economic growth in our country significantly. This means that job growth will increase to account for new business opportunities and most of those jobs will likely occur in the lower to middle income range. Low and middle income workers will be the most likely to lose their jobs during and economic downturn. Since the Fair Tax has been shown to increase economic growth job security will increase. In addition, because of increased profits, wages will increase as companies try to retain and compete with other employers for employees.

Additionally, the Fair Tax eliminates income tax withholding, the regressive payroll taxes, and eliminates yearly compliance costs associated with their collection. As mentioned before, because corporations no longer pay taxes on their profit the embedded tax in goods and services, estimate to be around 22%, is eliminated. When replace with the Fair Tax the average increase in the price of goods is 1%.

Don't forget about the prebate. Those with the least ability to pay can pay no taxes if they control spending and spend at or below the poverty level. Even if you choose to spend over the poverty level, lets say twice the poverty level you will only pay an effective tax rate of 11.5% a dramatic increase for many Americans.

Also since investments are no longer taxed, you can put money away for a rainy day without having to worry about punishment for taking positive action to ensure your economic security in the future. The same macroeconomic report mentioned earlier (which I will review more thoroughly for you in an upcoming post) has shown that savings will increase dramatically under the Fair Tax. Since Social Security is quickly going bankrupt this is a net positive for lower and middle income earners who will be able to save for their retirement more effectively without the punishment of taxes for a sound economic decision.

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Over 161,000 signatures have been turned in on the petition for the Fair Tax. The movement is gaining momentum daily and is supported by liberals, conservatives, and libertarians (I'll explain later why each of these groups support the Fair Tax). I urge you to write your congressman about the Fair Tax and ask them for their support.

If you need information you can check my blog or go to FairTax.org to provide evidence in your letter. To figure out how to contact your congressman click here.

Fair Tax Clarification: Does Not Change Government Programs

Some people have misunderstood the Fair Tax to take it to mean that government programs like Social Security, MediCare, or MediCaid because the taxes that are collected in payroll checks will no longer exist. This is not the case at all. The Fair Tax does not change any government program or eliminate any government program. The Fair Tax does change the way that taxes are collected for the programs.

Social Security, MediCare, or MediCaid programs would not change their coverage. In fact these programs would be more stable and have greater longevity under the Fair Tax as their is no upper income level for which taxes are no longer collected like the Social Security Tax. The taxes instead are accounted for in the calculation of the Fair Tax rate of 23%. With the increased economic growth that has been accounted for in a recent Macroeconomic study of the Fair Tax, the increased growth rate of the economy in ensuing years from the replacement of the income tax with the Social Security Tax would increase revenues to the government to stave off the inevitable bankruptcy of these programs.

In addition, people who receive assistance from these programs will benefit more under the Fair Tax as they will no longer be double taxed in the instance of Social Security or be forced to pay any taxes because spending up to the poverty level would be returned via the monthly prebate to cover the costs of the taxes on items of necessity. Only spending over the poverty level would be taxed.

The Fair Tax does not change any government programs. The only thing the Fair Tax changes is the means by which the tax is collected.

Book Review: Dumbing Us Down - The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto was a teacher for New York's government (a.k.a. public) school system for 30 years. He won numerous awards for his teaching including New York City Teacher of the Year 3 times, New York State Teacher of the Year in 1991, and the Alexis de Tocqueville Award for Excellence in Advancement of Education Freedom.

This book is actually a collection of 4 speeches given on different occasions as he notes at the beginning of each chapter and 1 essay. Despite this fact the are compiled in a manner that lends to a natural ebb and flow and brings clarity and reason to the problems of government schooling.

Mr. Gatto explores his teaching career and has come to startling conclusion about the realities of government schooling. He constantly entertains the idea that true education is not the primary function of government run schools and insists that instead "schooling" is their primary goal. Schooling does exactly what it was meant to do essentially "to be the mass production economy directed from a handful of command centers. Such an economy has desperate needs: in order to work it requires a particular kind of 'human resource,' specifically one driven to define itself by purchasing thins, by owning 'suff,' by evaluating everything from the perspective of comfort, physical security, and status (99)." He argues that individuals are not important because they do not fulfill these needs and will therefore live a life of frustration.

An examination of the government school system by the author from his first hand experience in the profession has led him to conclusions about his 7 primary lessons he engaged in as a teacher.

  1. Confusion - School has no natural flow or harmony in its lessons as Mr. Gatto explains. Schools teach too much information that is simply disconnected from one another.
  2. Class Position - The author explains that every child is placed artificially into a class where they will remain. They look at other classes with disdain or fear, those below them or above them, respectively. Children are taught that "everyone has a proper place in the pyramid and here is no way out of your class except by number magic (5)."
  3. Indifference - Remember back to your days in school. You would be sitting in a class you enjoyed immersed in thought and the bell rings directing you to your next work station where you once again become immersed in thought and then move again. This happens throughout the day. This lesson, the author suggests, is a teaching of indifference where you are programmed to not care much about for any subject. "Bells destory the pas and future," Mr. Gatto writes, "rendering every interval the same, [like that] of a map render[ing] every living mountain and river the same, even though they are not (6)."
  4. Emotional Dependency - Children are conditioned to surrender their own desires so they gain the favor of the leader, in this case the teacher through any number of means like a hall pass, a good grade, or some other reward. Individuals are punished while conformists are rewarded.
  5. Intellectual Dependency - Children are taught to trust the expert instead of formulating their own thoughts and ideas. If they do develop their own ideas on an issue they are punished or told they are wrong. This impregnates children with the idea into their adulthood that they should seek and expert for answers because they do not have the certification to come to a correct conclusion.
  6. Provisional Self-Esteem - Mr. Gatto expains that grades do not really reflect competence in a certain area but instead are designed to prevent individual thinking and stifle self confidence to instead rely on an expert to measure your worth.
  7. One Can't Hide - This perhaps is seemingly the most outright statement by Mr. Gatto. Children are constantly under surveillance and allowed no private time for self contemplation because privacy allows for individuality. Since government schools are operated by the government, privacy must be abolished as constant surveillance is the only way to create a more uniform and tightly controlled society free of individuals who will threaten government or more specifically the teachers control of the network.
Mr. Gatto concludes that government schooling is a root of the problem of social problems, along with an overabundance of a fantasy world created by television, because children are stifled of their creativity by the unnatural education that current schooling provides and taken away from the family that has been the primary education unit for children throughout history. Independent reports add weight to the argument as they show teenage suicide, drug and alcohol use, crime, and a variety of other self destructive habits are the most prevalent in America compared to the 19 most industrialized countries in the world. These problems continue into adult years as can be seen from the ever increasing size of welfarism, crime rate, drug and alcohol use, divorce rate, and other family problems in the United States. This is primarilly because children are taken from the community and family the most important elements in child development and instead imprisoned in a network of emotionally separated and uncaring individuals.

"Schooling" is not a matter about education but about the teaching of principle and indoctrination to create a society that punishes individuals, stifles independent thought, and strangles local interactions in an attempt to create a more centralized authority. Independent reports once again corroborate that government schools are not in the business of education as US students compared with other students through international testing have among the lowest test scores on the basic functions schools are supposed to teach: reading, writing, science, and mathematics. He also cites one report by Massachusetts's Senator Ted Kennedy that the literacy rate before the government monopoly of the school system was found to be at 98% in Massachusetts while after compulsory schooling literacy has never peaked past 91%. This is startling research that lends evidence to his argument.

Mr Gatto believes firmly that homeschooling is currently the preferable way to educate students until free market solutions can be introduced into the field of education where schools are forced to compete for survivability instead of the current system where a government monopoly on the education dumbs down our society. He correctly asserts that decertification of teaching should happen quickly and that education is a community responsibility. Afterall, who better to teach your children about business than a local business owner, government functions than a local government leader, fire safety than a fireman, or any other number of issues instead of "experts" who have little first hand experience with the topic.

He cites numerous times that the basic premise of education should be about self-education. After all, the basics, reading, writing, and math, can be taught to proficiency in less than 100 hours.

Mr. Gatto urges his readers to create an open debate in the public sphere for as long as it takes to change the system. The most startling assertion he makes is that government schooling is all about the creation of machines that are made from schooling that creates incomplete men or women. "Schools are a great mechanism to condition the onrushing generations to accept total management, to impose a kind of lifelong childishness on most of us in the interests of scientific management. Efficient management requires incomplete people to manage because whole people, or those who aspire to wholeness, reject extended tutelage (99)."

I encourage readers of this blog to pick up this book. It is barely over 100 pages in length and can be had for a few dollars. The premise is simple to understand. If you want to pick up this book or view other reviews please follow the link in my "Try Reading Something" section.

Another Supporter of the Fair Tax: Why Democrats Should Love the Fair Tax

On Sunday 24 February 2008 this article written by Laurence J Kotlikoff appeared in the Boston Globe. Mr. Kotlikoff is an economic professor at Boston University, consultant to the Americans for Fair Taxation and economic consultant to former Democratic Presidential nominee and now Libertarian Mike Gravel

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Such a candidate would be hailed by the left and reviled by the right.

Thus, it’s remarkable that so many Democrats, with the exception of Presidential candidate Mike Gravel, oppose the FairTax and so many Republicans, particularly presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, support it. In fact, the FairTax, which replaces all federal taxes with a federal retail sales tax and provides a rebate, represents a way to tax wealth, reduce taxes on wages, and disproportionately redistribute money to the poor.

A sales tax effectively taxes wealth?

It does. When we buy goods and services with our wealth in a sales tax world, part of the payment goes to sales taxes. So we end up with fewer real goods and services.

Take Megabucks, who’s sitting on $65 million and wants to buy a jet like Oprah’s a 10-passenger, $50 million Global Express XRS. Under the FairTax, the plane costs him an extra $15 million because of the 30 percent sales tax. Megabucks gets the plane, but the extra $15 million, which he’d budgeted for Beluga, Dom PĂ©rignon, and other flight snacks, goes to Uncle Sam.

Now $15 million is 23 percent of $65 million so the FairTax cost Megabucks 23 percent of his wealth. Precisely the same outcome would arise were Uncle Sam to directly tax Megabuck’s $65 million in wealth at a 23 percent rate, leaving him with $50 million to buy the jet at the original price.

What if Megabucks sits and counts his money? With a direct wealth tax Mr. Megabucks pays $15 million immediately and is left with only $50 million in purchasing power. Under the FairTax, Megabuck’s in the same boat. Retail prices rise by 30 percent and Megabucks finds that his $65 million can only buy $50 million in real goods and services; Megabucks has the same number of dollars, but 23 percent less purchasing power.

This equivalence is no coincidence; taxing consumption is mathematically identical to taxing the resources used to buy consumption -- current wealth holdings plus wages as they are earned. The beauty of the FairTax is that taxing wealth at a 23 percent rate generates enough revenue to reduce workers’ marginal tax brackets to 23 percent. This is dramatically lower than the 30 percent to 45 percent marginal tax bracket confronting most workers under our combined income and payroll taxes.

The FairTax sales tax rate isn’t graduated; everyone’s resources get taxed at the same 23 percent effective rate. What makes the FairTax progressive is its rebate. The rebate is a trivial share of the resources of the rich, but 23 percent of the resources of the poor. Since our current tax system is regressive, adopting the FairTax would achieve progressivity.

Our current tax system is regressive because none of the corpus - the principal -- of their wealth of the rich, including our more than 400 billionaires, is subjected to taxation. Instead they pay taxes only on the income earned on their wealth. But this income comes primarily as capital gains, which are taxed at only 15 percent. Furthermore, capital gains taxes are levied only when wealth holders realize their gains -- when they sell their appreciated assets.

But the super rich don’t need to sell their gains. If they need cash they can borrow using their appreciated assets as collateral. When they die, they can hand their heirs their appreciated assets with a step-up in basis, which wipes out prior capital gains. With the right estate planning, they can also avoid most estate and gift taxes. Unlike most of us, what the super wealthy and just plain wealthy pay in taxes is a matter of choice their choice. When Warren Buffet says his tax rate is much lower than his secretary’s, he’s got it right.

So why do so many Democrats think the FairTax is regressive? Because they consider taxes relative to annual income rather than resources, and the former is a terrible proxy for the later. Bill Gate’s income this year may be zero given what’s happening to stocks. If so, a man with over $47 billion in resources will be classified, based on income, as no better off than the homeless. And since Gates consumption is based on his resources, not his current income, the ratio of this “poor” person’s FairTax payments to his income would be sky high. Measuring taxes relative to income will thus suggest regressivity with respect to consumption taxation where none exists.

Our economy needs a simple, transparent, and progressive tax system. The FairTax is the answer. Democrats should give it another look and a fair chance.

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Take 30 seconds and email this article to someone and help spread the word about the Fair Tax. Following that take another 30 seconds to sign the Fair Tax petition at ChangeDC.org or visit FairTax.org for more information about the Fair Tax and its benefits to you.

Fair Tax: Over 90,000 Signatures, Sign for Change by April 15th

I visited FairTax.org moments ago to see the update on their petition for the Fair Tax. Just two days ago the number stood at 70,000 signatures. Today the number stands over 90,000 and increasing daily. Our goal is to get over 100,000 signatures by April 15th, 2008. Remember that April 15th is Tax Day.

If you have not signed the Fair Tax petition yet please take a mere 30 seconds of your time to do so. Imagine a life where each year you did not have to purchase software, hire accountants, call the IRS just for them to give you the wrong answer anyway, spend hours filtering through savings and investments statements, and finally the possibility that you might be audited and get penalized heavily for some small error in your calculation because of a tax system the has over 67,000 pages of rules and regulations.

Now imagine that replaced with a transparent tax that is completely voluntary, that does not penalize hard work or high achievement, that does not institute regressive forms of taxation against the lower and middle classes, that does not require you to file your taxes each year, and can be written in a mere 133 pages. If you believe in the Fair Tax and greater transparency in our tax collection system do not waste another moment.

Visit ChangeDC.org today and sign the petitions for the Fair Tax. Remember that you have until April 15th to do so to get your name on the petition this year. If you need more information please visit FairTax.org.

Fair Tax Myth: It's a Regressive Tax and Disproportionately Hurts the Poor and Middle Classes

This myth could not be further from the truth. First though it is important to understand what a regressive tax is. By definition a regressive tax is a tax that decreases as the ability to pay increases. In laymen terms this means that the more you pay the less you are taxed and the less you make the more you pay. Doesn't really sound fair does it? Well the Fair Tax takes this into account as the Fair Tax is progressive. Let's prove it.

Examining our current system of taxation reveals a regressive nature. The income tax is graduated or progressive; however, the FICA payroll tax is highly regressive and for middle and low income families can represent over half the tax burden each year. For instance the Social Security Tax, one of the FICA taxes, (around 7.65%) has an income taxation cap around $95,000 where income after that level is no longer taxed. This means that the more you earn the less you pay as a percentage of your total income into the Social Security tax, while low wage earners pay a higher percentage of taxes relative to their total income. Under the Fair Tax this highly regressive tax is abolished and included in the 23% Fair Tax rate.

Put into perspective under the Fair Tax system. A family whose spending equals the poverty level will have a 0% tax rate. A family whose spending is at twice the poverty level will incur an 11.5% tax rate and this rate continues to increase as spending increases. This means that the richest people in America who spend the most money will incur a tax rate approaching 23% while the poorest family whose spending does not exceed the poverty level will incur no or low taxes.

How does spending up to the poverty level not get taxed?

Go back and read my previous post about the Fair Tax "prebate." I discussed this in great detail already.

In summation, this places the Fair Tax clearly in the category of a progressive tax. The tax rate is increases proportionately with the ability to pay.

The Fair Tax helps low and middle income classes in other ways as well. This will be the subject of my next post on the Fair Tax.

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Tax day is just around the corner. To help put a stop to thousands of wasted man hours and money just to prepare your income tax (not to mention the headaches of just trying to figure out how to compute them or getting the IRS to help you and give you a right answer) please sign the petition at ChangeDC.org by April 15th, 2008. Be part of the solution and take a stand for Fairness in our tax system!

Fair Tax: What is the Prebate?

One of the most common questions on the Fair Tax is what exactly is the "prebate" is and how it would work. It is a simple concept that upholds the basic principles of the founding of our government that "all men are created equal."

The "prebate" is by definition a rebate for the taxes that any person would incur up to the poverty line as designated by the Department of Health and Human Services. To further define, the poverty level is the minimum level of which must be earned to be able to provide the basic necessities in life. This figure is adjusted yearly for inflation, takes into account for family size, and in some instances your state (Hawaii and Alaska). The poverty guidelines can be found a the Department of Health and Human Services Website if you have questions about your current level of income as regard to where it stands.

The "prebate" would be given out monthly to every citizen in the country regardless of income level because no person should be required to pay taxes for the "necessities of life." This sounds like a lot of work but could be done quite simply. Each year you would file a report, a single page, to the US government your family size (parents/guardians and dependents), the names of the individuals, their Social Security number, address, and a financial institution where the money could be electronically deposited each month. Paper checks would also be available for those who choose to do so.

On a side note, some of the major credit card companies have expressed interest in such a system and have indicated that they would be willing to pay the electronic transfer fee's incurred by the federal government to have the privilege of the money transfered to one of their credit cards. Another possibility would be the issuance of a debit card specifically for the purpose of depositing the tax rebate.

Well, How much would I get back?

To find a detailed list of how much your family would be rebated each month and yearly please visit the figures provided by FairTax.org FAQ page. The calculation is easy to perform though. Take the poverty line for your family, as provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, and multiply by .23 (this is the 23% Fair Tax rate on all new items or services). This number is the yearly rebate (divide by 12 for the monthly rebate). A family of 4 would expect to be rebated $337 each month or $4,048 yearly. It is simple math and simple to understand.

Some ask "Why not just untax 'items of necessity'?"

The answer is two parts. First, politicians will never be able to agree which items are "items of necessity" nor should they tell you that these certain items are and these aren't. For instance, potatoes but not potato chips. The choice should be left up to each individual and each family. Second, people who earn more tend to spend more on food and other "items of necessity" of which is not are not necessary to the preservation of the basic levels of living. These items are not "needs" but "wants" like buying a Jaguar versus a Honda. Both items provide transport but one is pure luxury. Basically, no person should have to pay taxes on the "necessities of life."

What does this mean? Quite simply, the Fair Tax is voluntary. If you decide to save your money or become more frugal with your spending you have no tax burden because of the "prebate". It is your choice. Also remember that taxes are only paid on new items or services so buying that used car or house will never result in taxation.

For more information on the Fair Tax view my March 2008 blog archives or visit FairTax.org.

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Tax day is just around the corner. To help put a stop to thousands of wasted man hours and money just to prepare your income tax (not to mention the headaches of just trying to figure out how to compute them or getting the IRS to help you and give you a right answer) please sign the petition at ChangeDC.org by April 15th, 2008. Be part of the solution and take a stand for Fairness in our tax system!

Hillary Fired: Lie's and Unethical Behavior Go Back to Watergate

This news column was first brought to my attention during the Neal Boortz Show on April 1st. It turns out Hillary stole documents and ushered them to her office which proved the Nixon would have been allowed a representation during impeachment hearings. She then wrote a knowingly false legal brief that if it had been submitted would have gotten her disbarred and her legal and political career would have ended. She was fired from the House Judiciary Committe for unethical behavior.

Former general counsel and chief of staff of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Zeifman, a longtime Democrat, has kept a diary of the events and has tried to get the story published since the mid-1990's. Look for this to hit the mainstream news soon.

Please check out this excellent article written by Dan Calabrese of the North Star Writers Groups exposing Hillary Clinton's lies back to her brief time on the House Judiciary Committee.

Watergate-Era Judiciary Chief of Staff: Hillary Clinton Fired For Lies, Unethical Behavior

Spoiled, Whining Children

Let's lay out a little background before I apply this seemingly difficult concept for alot of parents and politicians to our current political situation and state of American's.

Right now I work at a local retail store so I know this story all to well. Although, I am sure that all of you are also familiar with it almost every time you go into a supermarket or other store of your choice. Maybe this will take you back.

Your shopping in your local grocery store and you see a parent and her children walk buy. Suddenly you hear the child ask for that box of sugary cereal or candy sitting on the shelf. Under most circumstances the parent quickly replies with a "no." All of you know what happens next. The kid starts whining, running around, screaming, and making such a ruckus that you think the parent is beating them silly. The parent then tries to calm the child but invariably fails. After all this is probably not the first time this happened, actually I can guarantee it (the same thing happens to the at home). Invariably words do nothing so the parent puts the candy in the basket but the whining doesn't stop so the parent adds some more and the child stops whining.

If you are one of these parent's shame on you for giving in. Your kid has learned that whining will eventually get them the things that they wants. Put more simply, you have rewarded negative behavior so the behavior will continue to happen. By this time I figure your wondering where this is leading if you were educated in our government schools (yeah I don't like our government schools though we'll leave that discussion for a later day) what does this have to do with anything. Your child has learned that bad behavior and actions will get them the thing that they want because you have rewarded them instead of punishing them.

Let's take this concept in a new direction. In the United States we have millions of people utilizing welfare services whether they be in the form of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security (this will get everyone eventually, even me who is an ardent opponent of this program), or food stamps which is estimated in a recent report to top 28 million this year. If you haven't figured out where I'm going yet I'll lay it out.

A large majority of the people on welfare in this country believe that the money from these programs is an entitlement to them (that they actually deserve this money because of some injustice that they had to have in their lives) and they expect more everyday even though they are totally nonproductive members of society. These people continue whining for more like the children they raise and politicians like bad parents give in to their every wish in an effort to buy them off and get their votes.

(There are some people who do need help, those who have debilitating mental conditions or physical conditions that render them unable to carry even out the most basic of tasks that is beyond their control. My writing is not aimed at these people.)

These people are the spoiled whining children of our society who contribute nothing and steal our money through one of our "wonderful" (sarcasm) government welfare programs that trap these people into a life of disparity, degradation, oppression, and mental imprisonment all so our government can continue to erode the personal freedoms or the hardworking and industrious people that this country was built upon and so politicians (namely Democrats and liberals) can stay in office. And we wonder where our children learn this from!

These people will continue to be non-productive members of our society as long as it is economically feasible for them to do so by rewarding them instead of punishing them. As soon as the rewards for bad behavior end and punishment starts, welfare programs will decrease in size and the unethical redistribution (a great word since income is earned not distributed) of income through welfare services will diminish.

And we wonder where our children learn this from!

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