October 5th, 2007
02:00 PM ET
15 years ago
Huckabee: Scrap, don’t tinker with tax code
Watch Huckabee speak at the Americans for Prosperity Summit Thursday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is among one of several Republican presidential hopeful’s addressing the “Defending the American Dream Summit” Friday held by Americans for Prosperity, a group that advocates for lower taxes and less government regulation of business. Huckabee says that radical change is necessary for the U.S. tax code.
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Blah blah blah, the FairTax is still a Bad Tax, Huckster.
Why not profile Ron Paul, who has really different, and IMPORTANT, ideas about tax reform, unlike the rest of the Republican "borrow and spend" candidates (as opposed to the "tax and spend" Democrats)? Shame on you CNN, get with the program!
The FairTax is a GREAT tax. I'd be shocked if Ron Paul doesn't support it, too. I agree that Paul is the better candidate and deserves much more attention.
Former Gov. Huckabee is witty, I'll give him that, however he has NO experience with Taxes, having lived under part of his tenure as Governor of Arkansas I can tell you that he did nothing but to allow the republican run congress to increase taxes on cigarretes and gas, allowing multi-billion dollar industries to leave the natural state. I don't believe he is ready for the role of president and I certainly do not believe he understands what it would take to have a "fairer" tax. I'm not a Republican, but I did like McCain's attitude (which at times reflects Hillary's attitude) that we should have the best and brightest Amricans in important roles in the government (suggesting Greenspan to re-shape the tax code in this country), think out of the box Governor, but be logical about it...
There is no such thing as a fair tax. All taxes are unfair.
Besides, those who are promoting the so-called fair tax have patented the term “Fair Tax”. No one else can use that term anymore.
The way to deal with the present tax system is have one flat tax which includes all taxes like federal, state, county, and city taxes, so that the people realize how much they are paying. Then start decreasing 1/2 percent tax rate every year until tax is history.
How would we pay for what we get for these taxes?
Well, you pay for what you want and I'll pay for what I want. Don't force ME to pay for what YOU want. It is that simple!
Everything Huckabee says or does became irrelevant the minute he raise his hand to signify he didn't believe in evolution. America will not, and cannot, elect such a dunce.
How about no tax; I love the idea of getting to keep every penny we earn. Paying taxes on what we buy instead of what we make would bring more revenue because money would come into the federal revenue from people who make their money illegally such as drug dealers.
Kind of a Ron Paul type of idea, but think about it.
The US government does not need income tax to continue to function. I agree with the comments on raising sales revenue tax. Let people pay tax on all their luxuries and SUVs and going out to restaurants and vacations, but let those who don't waste money keep their earned money!
How dare they lop one-third right off the top, then listen to Hillary propose the biggest tax increase in US history...
Huckabee's consumption tax will impact the economy just as much, if not more than the so called "production" tax which includes income tax and capital gains.
Instead of paying a local and state income tax on goods and services the consumer will now have to pay an additional consumption tax. This will put some goods and services out of reach for some consumers costing some workers their jobs. Companies make less profit because consumers control their purchases or can't afford items because the tax is too high. The economy takes a big hit under a consumption tax.
In theory a consumption tax is not a bad idea. In practice, because of the amount of money our government spends, the consumption tax would be very high.
Here is an example: I pay income tax on money I make. The more money I make the more tax I pay. I am not going to stop making money just because I have to pay income tax. Therefore my tax burden is ongoing.
With a consumption tax I control how much tax I pay to the government through my consumption. The less I consume the less tax I pay. Therefore, by control, my tax burden is lessened.
What does this mean to the government? Less tax dollars flow into the government because consumers control their spending. Government programs become underfunded or not funded at all. Paying down the nation deficit becomes impossible. The consumption tax would either have to constantly increase to make up for lost revenue or the government goes back to business as usual and starts taxing production.
Unfortunately the average voter can't or won't do the math or the research before casting a vote.
Hey CNN, Mike Huckabee's not wearing a flag pin. If all the other candidates have to wear one, so should he.
For poor people who make little money, a consumer tax hurts them even more. As a student, I make no money, rather, I rake in large amounts of debt. A 20% consumer tax would increase my student debt by 20%. A poor family who makes $20K a year and pays no income tax currently would effectively make $16K with a consumer tax. Flat tax based on income is the FAIR way to do it.
Did anybody happen to notice that Mrs. Obama also had her index finger stuck way out like that also. That's hideous.
Response to "Everything Huckabee says or does became irrelevant the minute he raise his hand to signify he didn't believe in evolution. America will not, and cannot, elect such a dunce."
What? You didn't know that man did not evolve from apes or anything else? You didn't know that "evolution" does not explain the origin of life? You did not know that God created everything?
That stuff is all so obvious. What was wrong with all of those candidates who couldn't see it?
ThirstyJon
freedomthirst.com
OK tax haters, start lining up to tell us which governmental services that YOU use should be cut? Public schools? I don't have any children and I resent school taxes. Amtrak? Get rid of it. I don't ride trains. Municipal golf courses are boondoggles. I don't use them. Health inspectors for meat? Don't make me pay for that, I'm a vegetarian. Police? I don't need them. No burglar has ever robbed my house and I've never been assaulted. Fire departments? Why should people who are careful with fire pay for the mistakes paid by firebugs. Lead in toys? Let parents pay for their own lead testing; I don't have any children. Job safety laws? I've never been hurt at work. Why should I pay for careless people? Equal pay for women? I'm a man. I could make more money if women earned less. Besides, they only need money for makeup and clothes. Their husband is the breadwinner. Public transportation so your undocumented maids can come clean your houses? Why should I subsidize people who are too lazy to clean their own houses? Universities? I already have two degrees and don't plan to get more. Besides, you don't need a degree to flip burgers and deliver Chinese products to your customers. Global warming? Who cares? I'll be dead before it gets too bad. The poor, the sick, the humble, the aged, the children? Screw 'em.
NPR/PBS/Jim Lehrer? Can't live without it so the government should keep paying for it. NASA? I'm a sci fi fan. Keep those rockets flying. Museums and libraries? I love them. We need to put more tax money into them.
You people in the "free lunch" crowd have to accept the fact that we can't run the global economy – which was forced on us by Conservatives, by unknown old men in suits who meet in Seattle and Brussels to decide our futures, and for whom no one has voted – comes with a host of problems. It's always the people who got us into the messes that don't want to pay for the cleanup.
some of you geniuses rattle on about things of which you are obviously ill informed or you must just be out and out lieing.
For the college student who will be hit hard by the FairTax; So much for what the college education is doing for you! The FairTax totally untaxes poor people, PERIOD! Look it up!
Not a good form of taxation? Even economist who do not like the FairTax admit that the GDP will increase by upwards of 5% within the first year of enactment. Other's place the percentage at 2 to 3 times that much. There are 80 well reknowned scholars and economists who support FairTax.
As far as Ron Paul goes, yeah, it's a great idea that we just do away with income tax and replace it with nothing. Well, it is untill you do the math and see that even if you raise the terrifs, ect. there is still a huge amount of money uncovered in the yearly debt. If we removed EVERY SINGLE federal expenditure that is not an entitlement such as social security including shutting down the military and getting every employee of the federal government to work for free... we fall BILLIONS short of covering the yearly budget.
And the genius who said Americans For Fair Taxation patented the words; 'Fair Tax'... They made the word "FairTax" a service mark logo. Note that it's only one word and no space in between. No one can patient commonly used words. That would be silly, now wouldn't it
If you are going to dog the FairTax, at least learn what the heck it is your talking about so you don't look so ignorent! Either that or quit lieing about it.
I preffer Ron Paul's idea. We get 1/3 of our nation's income from the income tax. We spend more than that on the Iraq war. End the war. Eliminate the IRS. Cut unneeded government spending. We'll pay less taxes AND balance the budget (actually we'll be making surplus and paying off our national debt).
I suppose the Rudy group thinks I'm just the internet and this is my fifteenth post on the same news story. I mean, surely this many people can't support Ron Paul, right?
Ron Paul is the only chance this country has. I don't want to see a revolution in my lifetime, but that's pretty much the only other alternative.
Jim Cordova – so much for YOUR education. Try using a spell check, or perhaps learning the words for yourself. terrifs? patent, not patient. "Ect" is throwing some voltage across the frontal lobes, "etc." means et cetera.
To Blake, October 5, 2007 6:56pm. You need to get your money back from whatever collage you go to. If you had read the Fair Tax book you would know you would get a prebate check from the goverment every month to cover any Taxes you would pay on goods and services up to the national proverty level. Same goes for your poor family they would end up keeping there 20k and not the 16k your state. Grow a brain!
"For poor people who make little money, a consumer tax hurts them even more. As a student, I make no money, rather, I rake in large amounts of debt. A 20% consumer tax would increase my student debt by 20%. A poor family who makes $20K a year and pays no income tax currently would effectively make $16K with a consumer tax. Flat tax based on income is the FAIR way to do it.
Posted By Blake : October 5, 2007 6:56 pm"
References:
A. Form 1040, U .S. Individual Income Tax Return.
1. Lines 15a and 15b.
2. Lines 16a and 16b.
B. Form 1040, Instructions booklet.
1. IRA Distributions, pp 21-22.
2. Pensions and Annuities, pp 22-23.
What provision of the proposed replacement of the IRS Income Tax by a FAIR, CONSUMPTION, or SALES Tax will permit recovery and spending of AFTER-TAX dollars without paying taxes on this money a second time (double taxation)?
I paid tens of thousands of AFTER-TAX dollars into my retirement account and currently can recover a portion each year as "untaxable" income (ref A2 and B2).
I have asked this question several times of the organizations lobbying for this UNfair change and they have failed (probably unable) to respond to this question.