Posted: Apr 27, 2005 By: Mark Rhodes

Subject: Tax Reform

Comment: I truly believe with all my heart that the time is now to take on the big economic issues of our day. With the ballooning deficit endangering our future and the government bureauracy just getting bigger and bigger, the need for a complete overhaul of government is here. With all due respect to the President, going after social security reform first was a mistake; tax reform should have been first. Once the FairTax proposal is passed (which it will have to be for our country to stay solvent), the need for social security reform will diminish because there will be more than enough funds coming in to address this and other woes. In addition to the income tax amendment being abolished, the IRS can be dramatically downsized or even eliminated, the burden on the American public will disappear, the GPA of this country will go skyhigh almost immediately, and the trade imbalances we've been experiencing will diminish because our corporations will be much more competitive in the international marketplace. And we as a people will finally get the opportunity to control how much money is going to the government by our own actions. I forsee a rush to privatize parts of government just to save money: Amtrak, the Post Office, the TSA, education will all need to be divested. Giving these and many other functions over to private interests will spur competition like never before. It'll be much easier to reform social security (turn it back into a basic safety net that keep people above the poverty line and that's it) and healthcare (the government handles 100% catastrophic and disability and insurance companies/health savings accounts handle the rest at our option). It's so obvious the only reason I can see that none of this is being done is entrenched special interests and addition to money by the government. It's time to do what's good and right for our country or risk the country losing all faith in their government (which is closer to reality than anyone might think). It's a no-brainer; pass the FairTax proposal as is and let market forces take over. Prepare to be amazed!