Help DU Our US Congressman sends us a letter that is, well, you

[texpatriot2004]

tell me what you think. I would like your input. I think it could be damaging to him. What do you think?

My spouse wrote our "Representative" a (R) regarding his issues with the current tax situation in Washington. I do not have his letter in front of me, however, I do have the Congressman's reply.

Here's what he says verbatim:

"I believe that the income tax punishes the values of hard work, savings, investment, and I am committed to restructuring our tax code. The best long term solution is to abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the income tax and replace it with a national retail consumption tax to be administered by the states. I am a lead cosponsor of Representative X's (R) bill, H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act. The bill would repeal all federal personal income taxes, capital gains taxes, and gift and estate taxes and replace these taxes with a 23 % sales tax on all retail sales of new goods and services. As a member of the congressional working group on fundamental tax reform, I continue to push aggressively for passage of the Fair Tax and the permanent extension on the tax cuts of 2001. Unless Congress takes action to extend these tax cuts, Americans will face the largest tax increase in history on January 1, 2011, when the marginal rate reductions expire, and the marriage penalty and death tax fully reappear.

Thank you for entrusting me to represent you in the United States Congress. Please visit my website at ..."

Now, here's the deal, if one were so inclined, couldn't this letter be used against him? I mean what he lays out here is a radical plan, a plan he is "committed" to; a plan that is clearly NOT in the best interest of the nation or the majority of its citizens.

I am currently keeping records regarding the votes and actions that this Congress takes which are NOT in my best interest and those that do NOT represent my values, my needs, etc. I think that if enough is acquired, a case could be made against "Representatives" who are putting big business, corporate greed, religious extremist views, or other political agendas that are not in keeping with the OATH they have sworn.

[Lasher]

1. Sure could

Why don't you share this with the newspapers in your district? Most people think rich folks have gotten enough tax cuts already.

[texpatriot2004]

2. Yeah, like a LTTE you mean? nm

[Lasher]

12. Exactly right.

Republicans want to eliminate taxes for the rich, and gut all our social services. Your Representative's enthusiasm for the 'fair tax' scam is a clear example of this mindset.

They have been making progress. Having run up unprecedented deficits with their tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, and with their irresponsible spending on anything but social services, Republicans have ruined our treasury. Your Representative's 'hell in a handbasket' fiscal philosophy would make this even worse (even better from his point of view).

Florida Governor Jeb Bush has said we can't afford to support Medicaid as it is, and is acting on a plan to cut benefits. This is being hailed by right wingers as a model for all other states to emulate.

You will never hear Jeb say we can't afford Dubya's failed Maginot Line in the sky missile defense white elephant or his adventure in Iraq. Democrats say the Medicaid cuts are an example of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor. Democrats are wrong on one point here. Republicans are not interested in balancing the budget, as evidenced by their unfaltering enthusiasm for more and more tax cuts for the rich. More and more deficits = more and more cuts in social services.

"My goal is to cut government in half in 25 yrears, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." - Grover Norquist, GOP Strategist

[Kenneth ken]

3. among other problems

it makes corporations exempt from all taxation. "...a 23 % sales tax on all retail sales of new goods and services. " - corporations don't pay retail for their raw materials, nor do, for instance, car dealerships pay retail for the cars they buy from manufacturers.

there is at least one thread in the Economics forum that discusses the so-called "Fair Tax" if you want to find a lot of things to criticize about this person's support and commitment for a really bad idea.

[MnFats]

4. this should raise a squawk. what an asshole.

23 percent sales tax: mega-boning for the middle class and poor people.

[kevinbgoode]

5. Absolutely. . .

send this to your local newspaper. . .this wingnut sales tax scheme does not have much popular support.

[Dr.Phool]

6. And, how many people are in a 23% fed tax bracket?

I've always made good money, but with my home deductions, etc., I stay at about 15%. I would also lose the few deductions I have.

And...this 23% is in ADDITION to state, local, and county sales taxes. It's just a way to convince freepers and morans to take on more of the country's tax burden. Also low income people, the so called "lucky duckies" who don't make enough to pay taxes, will find themselves in the 23% bracket.

[OneBlueSky]

7. I take it he's a Republican? . . . n/t

.

[texpatriot2004]

14. They are so obvious to spot. Yes. nm

[PaulaFarrell]

8. Also the 23% is a net received

ie. if you buy something for a dollar, you'd get charged about 1.30 so that the net tax was 23 % (30 of 130).

This is a good (old article):

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/12-10-98/curr2.htm

" How does this deep voodoo work? Well, the backers of the national sales tax say their 23 percent figure is "tax-inclusive." In other words, they've arrived at their 23 percent number by figuring that $30 is 23 percent of $130--the $100 price tag on an item, plus the 30 percent tax--"which isn't the way anyone thinks about a sales tax," says Michael Ettlinger, tax policy director of Citizens for Tax Justice, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group."

[sam sarrha]

9. NOT 23% it is 50% at least.. having no disposable income that's income tax

[OKNancy]

10. Goods AND services?

That would never fly. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, hairdressers, housekeepers, plumbers,accountants, music and dance teachers etc. would have to charge 23% tax on services. No way. Not only would that cause pain, but a lot of service providers would balk at the extra bookkeeping and paperwork.

Is that what he means by retail sales of new goods and services?

[texpatriot2004]

15. He did not define that part but I think that's what he means. nm

[TreasonousBastard]

11. He could be a shill for various financial interests, or...

he could just be an idiot. Either way, he's gotta go.

So, you start the campaign early by LTTE's about this and anything else you can think of to nail him.

Casually bring it up whenever you can to get the meme going. Never argue, but just get people thinking that this idjit is going to cost them money.

A national sales tax sounds great until they realize that it's another 30% added to the cost of a new car, the gas to run it, and even an oil change.

And another 30% added on to the phone and electric bills. And the cost of heating the place in winter.

A big tax on a Big Mac may be bad enough, but what if they added a tax to your mortgage or credit card bills?

[NoPasaran]

13. Who is this idiot?

Ron Paul?

Michael McCaul?

Or some other dimwit?

[texpatriot2004]

16. He's a Rethug from Texas. That's all I am going to say. n.t

[ClassWarrior]

17. Hell yeah! Make sure his Dem challenger...

...and every voter in your district knows about this. He wants to shift the tax burden to the working classes. TWENTY-THREE PERCENT on every CD, restaurant meal, and item of clothing you buy!!! YIKES!!

Go for it tex!!

NGU.

[texpatriot2004]

19. Oh that's a good idea, his Democratic challenger...thanks. nm

[ClassWarrior]

18. kick

:kick:

NGU.

[texpatriot2004]

20. 16th Amendment of US Constitution contradicts Congressman

Amendment XVI

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxvi.html

[Doremus]

21. Dimwitted jackasses. What do they think a repressive sales tax

would do to retail sales? Obviously they haven't thought that far, the assholes.

I think I read in the last couple of weeks that a flat tax is off the table, thankfully. However, if it's revived and we have this thing ramrodded down our throats, the only comfort I take is in knowing that I personally and probably many, many other folks barely hanging on to middleclass-dom don't spend that much of our disposal income on new cars, new clothes, dinners out and the like. Unfortunately, they've got us with fuel, groceries and other necessities.

Being an antique dealer, I know where to buy practically anything I need on the secondary market, i.e. not new and therefore not subject to tax. Course, prices for used goods will escalate as their tax-less basis makes them attractive to more people, but they'd still be less expensive as their eventual price wouldn't go beyond the cost of new.