Cut the taxes of rich conservatives, and raise them on all liberals. Problem solved!

[kanageddaamen]

supermario128 said:

The FairTax^SM Plan

Your money, your decision

The current federal income tax system is clearly broken -- unfair, overly complex, and almost impossible for most Americans to understand. But there is a reasonable, bipartisan alternative that is both fair and easy to understand. A system that allows you to keep your whole paycheck and only pay taxes on what you spend.

The FairTax is a national sales tax that treats every person equally and allows American businesses to thrive, while generating the same tax revenue as the current three-million-word-plus word tax code. Under the FairTax, every person living in the United States pays a 23% national sales tax on purchases of new goods and services. This rate is equal to the lowest current income tax bracket (15%) combined with employee payroll taxes (7.65%), both of which will be eliminated.

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I realize that 23% sales tax might sound outrageous to some, but this really is a great solution. Get rid of all other taxes except for taxes on new goods and services. You keep all the money you make and don't have to pay taxes unless you spend it on something you want. The rich don't get out of this because if they buy a million dollar car or 5 million dollar house they still have to pay 23% sales tax. It is fair because the rate is the same for everyone and it rewards people for saving their money.

This says WAY more about the American people than the system.  Our tax system is very simple to understand, particularly for most people's situation:

1. Take what you made in income
2. Subtract your deductions
3. Look up your tax on that value
4. Subtract your credits

Done.  If you want to get into more specifics on 4 (thoug most people just look on a table):

1.)Find out your marginal tax bracket
2.) For that bracket and each below it, tax the relevant income the appropriate amount

Done.

A national sales tax is a HIGHLY regressive tax.  You are talking about a massive tax increase on the poor funding a massive tax cut for the rich.  Consider a person who must spend all of their money on their living expenses.  Their effective tax rate is 23%!

Also, I am not sure how "taxing what you spend" is any more fair than "taxing what you earn"