Posted: May 03, 2005 By: Casey Duren

Subject: Keep the Current System with

Comment: I've been reading and keeping up with all the discussions and all the debate over tax reform. Its an interesting topic and everyone has an opinion. So, let me share mine.

Honestly, I think with a few minor touch ups and tweeks the current system is just fine. I'm in the middle class and I want my deductions and credits for my kids, my house, my schooling, etc. Get rid of the AMT and you've made the current system more simplified and fair.

So what if you have to pay a tax preparer. Most of them are excellent and know their stuff. I'd rather pay them to do it anyway. Eventhough I can work on my own car, I take it to a mechanic. Its just so much eaiser. Plus, it creates jobs. The economy benefits from the creation of these tax preparer jobs.

If you scrap the current system completely for a national sales tax or VAT, you're going to create sticker shock amoung so many groups of people. The under and uneducated people out there aren't going to understand. Those on the tax panel need to realize that a huge majority of people fall into this under and uneducated category. They are not going to comprehend paying more sales taxes when they go to Wal-mart and seeing this as paying the same or less taxes. The perceptions of unfairness is going to be even worse. I can already forsee the massive protest in front of these retailers. And, retailers shouldn't be burdended with these collecting taxes for the government.

In short, if I were on this panel, I'd recommend a "tweeking" of the current system and not replacing it. The disasters of scraping and replacing are just to numerous. I'm a Georgia Republican but I don't support John Linder's national sales tax. It just takes too much away from what is important to me. Scrap the AMT, "tweek" the current system and remember the importance on home ownership and charitable contributions. These things are important to me.

And, keep the tax pros! They are an asset to our economy and their profession. I'd much rather pay a professional anyday to tune up my car than do it myself.

Thanks for listening and I hope you guys on panel settle for a reforming of the current system and not tackle creating a new one!