Subject: Fairtax Comment: COVER PAGE FROM: MARLEEN LASKA SUBJECT: COMMENT TO FEDERAL TAX REFORM PANEL SUBMITTER CATEGORY: INDIVIDUAL DATE OF SUBMISSION: 29 APRIL 2005 CONTACT INFORMATION: 1142 EGYPT RD, PO BOX 842, OAKS, PA 19456-0842, 610-531-5570 (WORK), 610-580-5686 (HOME) As a preface, I have 18 years of education and earn a six-figure salary. I’ve been working full-time since Sep 1979. I was active-duty Air Force and am currently in the process of retiring from the Naval Reserves after 20 years of service. I am passionate about Tax Reform. Why am I so passionate about Tax Reform?? I am passionate about tax reform because I want to move forward with my life!! • I want to start a new business. However, having had a business in the mid-90's I vowed NEVER AGAIN to start a NEW BUSINESS until the INCOME TAX IS REPEALED. The overhead and stress of the current tax system makes starting a new business too undesirable. I will NEVER go through that pain again! • I want to re-join my 401K. I stopped contributing last year after I got caught up in a very unpleasant scenario caused by the IRS imposed restrictions on the loan program. The experience made me realized that my 401K money is MY MONEY! I saved that money and I REFUSE to allow the government to treat me as a child relative to decisions on how I use that money. I also refuse to be SOCIALLY ENGINEERED! After the experience I immediately STOPPED CONTRIBUTING to my 401K and will NOT resume again until the tax treatment changes. • I want to change my real-estate investments. I’ve had investment properties and have also had very bad experiences relative to those properties and the current tax system. Dealing with the paperwork on a yearly basis and also the paperwork associated with selling and re-buying simply leaves me paralyzed. I will not change any of my real estate until the income tax is repealed! I’ve dealt with Real Estate CAPITAL GAINS problems and I will not put myself in that position again! • I want to contribute more to charities. However contributing now puts me into a dilemma. I want so hard to NOT CLAIM MY CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS because I want to feel like I'm contributing because I care and not for the tax breaks. But, I feel so STUPID if I don't take advantage of the deductions. Doing NOTHING is just plain easier! I suspect that I am not the only one who has the above feelings. Please help me and many others move on with their lives. The only real Tax Reform Alternative is HR25/SR25, the Fairtax. The country DESPERATELY NEEDS to rid ourselves forever of the HORRIFIC income tax system! It is a ball-and-chain that is stopping me and this country from moving forward. Please repeal the 16th Amendment and adopt HR25/SR25. Moving to a consumption based tax system will breathe NEW LIFE into this country. And new life is something we all urgently need! |