Communism in America

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Here is a good comparison between flat tax and fair tax.
link
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyph.../#6092d5f75561

The Fair Tax isn't the worst idea by far. However, the probability of getting the Fair Tax as it is presented is rather unlikely. The Constitution states:

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.

This means that the Government has a "Constitutional" power to collect income taxes. In order to eliminate income taxes, there would have to be another Constitutional Amendment passed to eliminate this power. Else we'd get a national sales tax (essentially a VAT tax) on top of our income taxes. And sadly, the process to produce such an Amendment would include needing support from two thirds of both houses of Congress, and three fourths of all state legislatures ratifying. And this is highly unlikely. So, it's like proposing we arm unicorns as part of our secret military weapon.

The Flat Tax is a flat tax on income. Therefore, no Constitutional Amendment is necessary. It just has to be passed by Congress and signed into law. This makes the Flat Tax a far more obtainable goal.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Aquila

The Fair Tax isn't the worst idea by far. However, the probability of getting the Fair Tax as it is presented is rather unlikely. The Constitution states:

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.

This means that the Government has a "Constitutional" power to collect income taxes. In order to eliminate income taxes, there would have to be another Constitutional Amendment passed to eliminate this power. Else we'd get a national sales tax (essentially a VAT tax) on top of our income taxes. And sadly, the process to produce such an Amendment would include needing support from two thirds of both houses of Congress, and three fourths of all state legislatures ratifying. And this is highly unlikely. So, it's like proposing we arm unicorns as part of our secret military weapon.

The Flat Tax is a flat tax on income. Therefore, no Constitutional Amendment is necessary. It just has to be passed by Congress and signed into law. This makes the Flat Tax a far more obtainable goal.

Nope.
You need to read more!
FairTax would be in effect with just a passage by Congress and signature from the POTUS.
Ideally, the 16th amendment would be repealed, but not necessary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predic...of_the_FairTax

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Nope.
You need to read more!
FairTax would be in effect with just a passage by Congress and signature from the POTUS.
Ideally, the 16th amendment would be repealed, but not necessary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predic...of_the_FairTax

Oh, I understand the idea behind it. But... I don't see it.

I believe that the effort would be challenged in court by any state that felt it was unconstitutional. And with the Constitution's set method of passing an Amendment, I think in the end we'd see the 16th Amendment still standing, and the effort viewed as a way to circumvent the Constitutional process. Because if such a ruling were in favor of the legislation, we'd essentially have two ways to amend the Constitution, one of which not even specified in the Constitution. This is why I believe that it is a trick to pass a VAT tax on top of the federal income tax. Unless the 16th Amendment is amended in accordance to the Constitution's own process, I believe supporting it is a risk of increasing taxation, not relieving taxation.