[ale] fair tax

[Jim]

Chuck Huber wrote:
> Not exactly.  The 23% national consumer sales tax will remove what's called
> "embedded taxes" in purchased goods.  
And what's so special about the 23% number?  It's the number proponents 
have calculated would be necessary to make the fair tax "revenue 
neutral".  I. e. the government would be getting the same revenue from 
the fair tax as they would have gotten if the existing 
income/medicare/ss taxes were still in place. 

Does it have a snowball's chance in hell of ever happening?

Not a chance.  Even if somehow it gets passed, the special interest 
groups will add so much baggage and exemptions and exceptions it'll make 
the existing tax code look like a childs first reader.

Just my opinion.  Don't get me wrong, I'm in favor of a simpler tax 
scheme and this one looks promising, but because it is "fair" it won't 
see the light of day.  "Fair" and "just" are not words working 
politicians are interested in pursuing.  Their goal is to remain in 
office.  To do that you have to have money.  To get enough money, you 
have to sell your soul to the special interest groups.

Jim.