Comment: We have to begin thinking in terms of resources used vs. USEFUL products created; considering the long term consequences of our current tax system that encourages competition and deceit rather than cooperation. Competition is the fastest way to use resources, not the best way to preserve our families, land, and future. Our government and society has spent the last 100 years working to replace the 'drudgery' of farm and manual labor with oil-based 'labor-saving' devices. Now that the oil is getting expensive and will becoming scarce, we need to think in terms of what actions we take now may encourage the repopulation of our rural areas and farms. A simple tax code, no matter what it's exact quantified burden, encourages people to comply and it allows them the freedom to work at the things they are good at doing, rather than interfering with their production of useful necessities on a local basis. The current system only encourages the exploitation of 'cheap' overseas labor as long as the cheap fuel is available to transport goods, and as long as corporations are allowed to deduct inflated advertising and propaganda known as 'consumer education' from their incomes. We currently work 6 months of the year for food and taxes. The other six we work for corporations' whims through coercive advertising. The corporations own the government, so we actually work 11 months for them. By passing the FairTax (HR 25), we could end up with a 25% tax to government and the usual 25% 'profit tax' to corporations and no loopholes or paperwork. Perhaps that would help even out the disparity for a while, since 50% of an individual's wealth would be kept discretionary, wasteful advertising would be discouraged, since 'expenses' would no longer be deductible by corporations. Almost all of our major problems (Middle East oil security, obesity, transportation infrastructure, crime, drugs, health costs – in whatever order you favor) are the result of overconsumption. Almost every demand for government services is due to these problems, and thus, government revenue should be based on consumption, not individuals' production. Encouraging mass consumption was a good idea when we had a vast planet full of resources with no people living on it, but we now have to reverse the trend of 'conquering' resources and conquer our own wasteful behaviors. The checks and balances designed into the constitution set the best example, so let's follow it ourselves with the FairTax. Dan Conine 2684 Cty Rd D Belgium,WI 53004 920-994-2365 P.S. The people make the country, not the Economy. Nobody has all the answers, but if you simplify the way government works (not necessarily making it smaller), some of the answers will become more visible. |