Subject: Basis for Tax Code Comment: Before more tampering occurs with the tax code, a statement of the basis for the tax code needs to be written and published. Most of the recommendations for changes in the tax code presented in the LA Times on April 24,2005 were mere tweakings of the tax code which is perceived as unfair. Representative Bill Thomas got it right in a press conference on Social Security Reform on April 29, 2005 when he said that there needed to be a basis for reforming Social Security not just changing it according to someone's personal favorite. The same philosophy needs to be applied to reforming the tax code. There needs to be an understanding of the responsibility of the various economic/social groups (however they may be defined) for the fiscal health of the country. After the rationale is determined we can argue about the dollars and cents until the end of time. Platitudes won't do it. "It's your money" sounds good, but try using the same techniques in say China or Iran. The political and economic system are important and freedom isn't free. To change the tax code yet again without a basis is merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. |