Subject: Tax Reform Idea Comment: Dear Sirs, It has come to my attention that we as the American People finally get to voice our opinions on a long standing institution that needs to be fixed. A tax reform idea would be to just initiate a simple 5% federal tax straight across the board, for everyone... period. No special tax codes for special interest groups, no more loopholes for the overly wealthy. Everyone pays the same and you, the government will always know how much to budget for each fiscal year. It will help elevate the strain on high fuel prices the consumer has to pay for many years to come. You can even work in a raise in the tax rate to be incriminated after 20 years. Guarantee the 5% tax rate for 20 years, to help the public feel at ease about the transition. The economy will explode with new purchases, greatly stimulating growth in every sector. Then you can set small incremental limits to the tune of 1% every 5 years. This way everyone is on board with the changes and can anticipate the increase. This idea will also help with collecting the all dreaded “Internet Sales Tax” that seems to elude every state’s coffers. Make it simple and easy, the people will conform almost willingly. The problem with Internet Sales Tax, is that the internet is not American, it’s global. But if we as a country establish a universal sales tax, it would be known the world over, that anything bought here or through an American based business gets charged a mere 5%. No fuss. Also as a benefit, wages would not have to keep climbing in order for most of Americans to stay financially afloat. That fact alone would keep people in lower paying jobs, rather than facing unemployment. Even with the potential jobs lost from all of the current tax system workers, nearly everyone of them can transition easily into some other sector. (Remember, they won’t have to look for a job of equal pay during the transition) Besides, as an adaptable American, we can overcome and move on to anything we set our minds to. If the private sector has to deal with that reality, then so do workers of the IRS and tax industry. The Government will save billions of dollars each year, while turning a profit. The people will be happy and the economy will benefit greatly. Morale and public opinion will be higher than that of the famous “New Deal” era. Mr. Bush, if you want to leave a legacy other than war, and opposition to terrorism, this is the one that will have a more lasting effect on each and every person in the United States of America. Wars will come and go, and there will always be extremists and factions that hate us. But every person that lives here has to deal with money on a daily basis, even other countries economies hinge on our dollar. Please keep our dollar strong and the people happy. I’ve always felt that the Government could actually make money off it’s people if they had something to sell that the people wanted, and could only buy from them. It’s the way that business’ stay in business... why not the government as well? The 5% plan is the next best thing to selling fuel or baked goods directly to the public. It will have an immediate impact that can only be beneficial over the course of the long term. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration, – Mr.Bill Decker |