Jim Bennett's Posts - Fair Tax Nation2024-03-29T06:09:24ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennetthttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/364977116?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.fairtaxnation.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1n44ifipdfjds&xn_auth=noPhil Cannella (CBS 1210 AM Phillie) Interviews FairTax leadershiptag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2014-12-29:2636007:BlogPost:1898692014-12-29T16:15:31.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<p><span><span>Please tune in here:</span></span></p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cedafa59-96be-79b5-7a66-6d4daee74d4b"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/philcannella/phil-cannella-interviews-fairtax-leadership/"><span>http://www.mixcloud.com/philcannella/phil-cannella-interviews-fairtax-leadership/</span></a></span></p>
<p><span><span>Please tune in here:</span></span></p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cedafa59-96be-79b5-7a66-6d4daee74d4b"><a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/philcannella/phil-cannella-interviews-fairtax-leadership/"><span>http://www.mixcloud.com/philcannella/phil-cannella-interviews-fairtax-leadership/</span></a></span></p>Welcome New FairTax State Director for New Hampshire, Don Overmantag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-10-01:2636007:BlogPost:1129212010-10-01T15:08:14.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<p><font face="Courier New">Everyone,</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Please welcome our newest State Director, Donald L. Overman, of New Hampshire. Don's leadership will be particularly valuable in an area where the FairTax has been dormant.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Although Don is the newest member of our group, he is one of the original advocates of replacing the Income Tax with a consumption tax. Don has been part of this effort since his college days, and he…</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Everyone,</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Please welcome our newest State Director, Donald L. Overman, of New Hampshire. Don's leadership will be particularly valuable in an area where the FairTax has been dormant.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Although Don is the newest member of our group, he is one of the original advocates of replacing the Income Tax with a consumption tax. Don has been part of this effort since his college days, and he worked with the first national consumer tax group in 1976.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Don is a U.S. Navy veteran, having served four years during the Korean conflict and having been honorably discharged in 1955.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Don attended Eastern College of Commerce and Law where he received a degree in Accounting. Don has worked in media sales and management through 1988. Since then, Don has been a media and marketing consultant.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Don has been a political activist since 1963 when he worked on the national Goldwater for President champaign. He served as chair of the Attlebroro, Massachusetts Republican City Committee and co-chair of the Nashua Arts and Science Center, near Hudson where he makes his home. Hudson is in the Southern part of New Hampshire and towards the East, near the Massachusetts border.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">Don has developed a strategic plan that can serve as a model for start-ups in other states where the FairTax has been recumbent.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">We wish Don success in establishing the FairTax movement in New Hampshire and the surrounding area and look forward to his contributions.</font></p>
<p></p>
<p><font face="Courier New">~Jim</font></p>Missouri FairTax Constitutional Amendment did not pass this yeartag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-08-24:2636007:BlogPost:1078482010-08-24T19:39:25.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
It is important for FairTax-ers to be informed about setbacks as well as accomplishments. In that spirit, I am disappointed to have to pass on a report from Missouri State Representative and constitutional amendment sponsor, Ed Emery, that the Fair Taxation Resolution did not pass this year.<br></br><br></br>Former Lieutenant Governor and FairTax-er, Bill Phelps, gave me the following comments:<br></br><br></br>"The proposed constitutional amendment was assigned by the Speaker to a committee which delayed it…
It is important for FairTax-ers to be informed about setbacks as well as accomplishments. In that spirit, I am disappointed to have to pass on a report from Missouri State Representative and constitutional amendment sponsor, Ed Emery, that the Fair Taxation Resolution did not pass this year.<br/><br/>Former Lieutenant Governor and FairTax-er, Bill Phelps, gave me the following comments:<br/><br/>"The proposed constitutional amendment was assigned by the Speaker to a committee which delayed it so it would not have time to be considered. The Speaker is term limited but will be in the Senate next year.<br/><br/>"The Senate Bill was passed out of committee, and when the Sponsor tried to bring it up on the floor in the last week of the session, the Democrat Minority Leader announced that he had 47 amendments, so that was in effect a filibuster, and ended the opportunity to have a vote. A group of former bureaucrats had opposed it with a number of misrepresentations.<br/><br/>"We believe that we made progress. The legislative process is a matter of educating the public to build the grassroots support to which the legislators respond. We willl have more support next year."<br/><br/>House Sponsor Ed Emery will not be returning to the Missouri Legislature. Andrew Koenig will take his place in introducing the constitutional amendment in the House. The Senate sponsor will probably be Chuck Purgason.<br/><br/>Without the push from our Missouri FairTax-ers, the measure never would have made it through the door of the Capitol in Jefferson City. This reversal is not a wall but merely a speed bump. Let's help our Missouri friends push the measure again next year.<br/><br/>~Jim Bennett<br/>38 Fairview Ave<br/>Summit NJ 07901-1728<br/>USA<br/>(609) 984-2901 Daytime<br/>(908) 273-4578 Evenings<br/>(908) 598-2888 Home Fax<br/>(908) 578-4975 Mobile PhoneNational Association of Letter Carrierstag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-08-14:2636007:BlogPost:1074282010-08-14T10:30:22.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
Doug Dash reports from Annaheim, California that the FairTax resolution did not pass at the biennial convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers and that its Executive Council had recommended against the resolution. We of course were not present at the internal deliberations of the Council, but we know there are three firebrands on that board.<br></br><br></br>The process was skewed in favor of the Executive Council because the Council did not announce its position until the handout of…
Doug Dash reports from Annaheim, California that the FairTax resolution did not pass at the biennial convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers and that its Executive Council had recommended against the resolution. We of course were not present at the internal deliberations of the Council, but we know there are three firebrands on that board.<br/><br/>The process was skewed in favor of the Executive Council because the Council did not announce its position until the handout of convention materials. Furthermore, its spokesperson had an unlimited amount of time to speak, and the "pro" speakers did not. Finally, there is a tendency of delegates to follow the recommendation of the Executive Council. But it was slightly fairer this time than two years ago, when the resolution was came up unannounced on the last day - as delegates were leaving.<br/><br/>I know Doug spoke very well because I heard his proposed speech ahead of time. Doug got several thousand pieces of FairTax literature into the hands of labor activists. His other speakers stayed on message.<br/><br/>Doug will obtain a transcript of the proceedings. Let us all thank Doug for this initiative and wish him and his wife, Janet, a well-deserved vacation to enjoy what Southern California has to offer. We need to encourage him to propose a FairTax resolution again in two years.<br/><br/>Rob Woodall Declared the Winner in Runoff - Likely to become the Next FairTax Sponsortag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-08-11:2636007:BlogPost:1072972010-08-11T01:45:46.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<pre>Rob Woodall, Chief of Staff to retiring Congressman and FairTax sponsor, John<br></br>Linder, GA-07, has just been declared the winner of his Republican primary<br></br>runoff election, in Georgia's Seventh Congressional District. Woodall soundly<br></br>defeated his second-place rival from the earlier Republican primary, Jody Hice.<br></br><br></br>FairTax Regional Director, Phil Hinson, says that the winner of the Republican<br></br>primary is likely to become the next Congressman in this heavily…</pre>
<pre>Rob Woodall, Chief of Staff to retiring Congressman and FairTax sponsor, John<br/>Linder, GA-07, has just been declared the winner of his Republican primary<br/>runoff election, in Georgia's Seventh Congressional District. Woodall soundly<br/>defeated his second-place rival from the earlier Republican primary, Jody Hice.<br/><br/>FairTax Regional Director, Phil Hinson, says that the winner of the Republican<br/>primary is likely to become the next Congressman in this heavily Republican<br/>district.<br/><br/>This development is good news for FairTax-ers. Woodall was a co-author of<br/>"FairTax - The Truth," and he campaigned heavily on the FairTax. Woodall has the<br/>best grasp of the FairTax of anyone in Washington and will do a superb job<br/>carrying the flag about to be handed him by John Linder.<br/><br/>We welcome Rob Woodall as the new head of the growing club of FairTax<br/>co-sponsors.<br/><br/>~Jim Bennett<br/></pre>A Little FairTax History and Loretag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-07-16:2636007:BlogPost:1053072010-07-16T18:02:08.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<p>All,<br></br>Here is a little bit of FairTax History and Lore. There were Democrats on the original legislation.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The FairTax was first introduced as the National Retial Sales Tax Act of 1997 by Congressman Dan Schaefer, R, CO-06, on June 19, 1997 in the 105th Congress as H.R.2001. John Linder was one of the original co-sponsors.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There was a related bill, H.R.1325, which had the same sponsor and same title, all of its 10 co-sponsors (including John Linder) in common,…</p>
<p>All,<br/>Here is a little bit of FairTax History and Lore. There were Democrats on the original legislation.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The FairTax was first introduced as the National Retial Sales Tax Act of 1997 by Congressman Dan Schaefer, R, CO-06, on June 19, 1997 in the 105th Congress as H.R.2001. John Linder was one of the original co-sponsors.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There was a related bill, H.R.1325, which had the same sponsor and same title, all of its 10 co-sponsors (including John Linder) in common, similar subject matter, and was introduced, appropriately, on APRIL 15, 1997. I am speculating that 1335 lost steam and was overtaken by 2001 - but 1335 was never formally withdrawn.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The co-Sponsors of H.R.2001, and the dates they signed on, are:<br/>Rep Barcia, James A. (D) [MI-5] - 6/25/1998<br/>*Rep Bono, Sonny (R) [CA-44] - 6/19/1997<br/>Rep Brady, Kevin (R) [TX-8] - 10/1/1997<br/>Rep Callahan, Sonny (R) [AL-1] - 2/3/1998<br/>Rep Campbell, Tom (R) [CA-15] - 10/21/1997<br/>Rep Chenoweth, Helen (R) [ID-1] - 7/22/1997<br/>*Rep Hall, Ralph M. (R) [TX-4] - 6/19/1997<br/>*Rep Hefley, Joel (R) [CO-5] - 6/19/1997<br/>Rep Hunter, Duncan (R) [CA-52] - 3/11/1998<br/>*Rep Linder, John (R) [GA-11] - 6/19/1997<br/>*Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins (R) [NC-9] - 6/19/1997<br/>*Rep Norwood, Charles W. (R) [GA-10] - 6/19/1997<br/>*Rep Packard, Ron (R) [CA-48] - 6/19/1997<br/>Rep Peterson, Collin C. (D) [MN-7] - 10/1/1997<br/>Rep Scarborough, Joe (R) [FL-1] - 10/8/1998<br/>*Rep Stump, Bob (D) [AZ-3] - 6/19/1997<br/>*Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) (R) [LA-3] - 6/19/1997<br/>Rep Traficant, James A., Jr. (D) [OH-17] - 8/6/1998<br/>*Rep Wicker, Roger F. (R) [MS-1] - 6/19/1997</p>
<p></p>
<p>*=also a co-sponsor of H.R.1325. H.R.1335 had 1 Sponsor: Republican, 10 Co-Sponsors, 9 Republican, 1 Democrat, all signed at the beginning when the bill was introduced.</p>
<p></p>
<p>H.R.2001 had, by the end of the 105th Congress, 1 Sponosor: Republican; 19 Co-Sponsors: 4 Democrats, 15 Republicans.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Both H.R.2001 and H.R.1325 expired with the 105th Congress at the end of 1998.</p>
<p></p>
<p>~Jim<br/></p>The FairTax and the VATtag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-06-28:2636007:BlogPost:1044682010-06-28T16:54:49.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<p>All,</p>
<p>One of the misstatements of which many of us FairTax-ers are guilty is the claim that the VAT is a hidden tax, and the FairTax is not. I attach (see discussion) a copy of my hotel bill from a recent trip to Germany, in which the VAT is clearly broken out. The only German you need to know to read the bill is that the German word for VAT is "Mehrwertsteuer," or "MwSt" abbreviated. The rest is numbers.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The 4 breakfasts and the telephone calls of 53.20 Euros were…</p>
<p>All,</p>
<p>One of the misstatements of which many of us FairTax-ers are guilty is the claim that the VAT is a hidden tax, and the FairTax is not. I attach (see discussion) a copy of my hotel bill from a recent trip to Germany, in which the VAT is clearly broken out. The only German you need to know to read the bill is that the German word for VAT is "Mehrwertsteuer," or "MwSt" abbreviated. The rest is numbers.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The 4 breakfasts and the telephone calls of 53.20 Euros were subject to a VAT of 19% (tax-exclusive by the way). The room charge of 214.00 Euros was subject to a reduced-rate VAT of 7%. Out of my total bill of 267.20 Euros for two nights for my wife and me, the VAT was 22.49 Euros, and the net-of-VAT charges for the room, breakfast and telephone calls were 244.71 Euros.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Given the same rate, the FairTax arrives at the same numerical result, and Title II, Section 510(a) of HR25 requires the FairTax to be separately stated and charged - just as the German VAT is required to be.</p>
<p></p>
<p>One of our values as FairTax-ers is that we do not exaggerate the benefits of the FairTax or make unsupported claims. Our real quarrel with the VAT is not whether it is hidden. Our real quarrel is that the current proposal is to impose a VAT IN ADDITION to the panoply of taxes we have today. The FairTax, by contrast, REPLACES these taxes. Our second viable argument against the VAT is that, with the FairTax, the same money changes hands only once because we tax only the final retail sale. With the VAT, the same money changes hands at every stage of production. The reporting between the two is similar.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about the VAT and the FairTax.</p>
<p></p>
<p>~Jim</p>
<p></p>
<p>PS: By the way, Schloss Auel is a beautiful castle hotel in the Westerwald country, between Bonn and Cologne and a few kilometers to the East. We highly recommend it.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Comment by Paul Zuzzio adding a point I had missed:</p>
<p></p>
<p>Jim,</p>
<p>One of the other big quarrels with the VAT, and my personal main sticking point, is that it is varied by target. Your own bill shows this with the varied rates per different parts of your bill. This leads yet again to lobbying and bribes....um sorry, CAMPAIGN DONATIONS..............and more bribes.......oops, I meant EARMARKS....etc ad nauseum.</p>
<p>So just like the "progressive" income tax, we are left at the bottom of the behavior control barrel paying higher tax rates for purchases that are not "approved" while paying lower or no VAT rate for those that have been paid off by the industry.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Very Respectfully,</p>
<p>Paul A. Zuzzio</p>
<p></p>
<p>Comment by Karen Walby:</p>
<p></p>
<p>Just want to point out that while Germany discloses the VAT, many countries do not.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Best,</p>
<div>Karen Walby</div>Notes of May 11 Leadership Council Conference Calltag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2010-05-19:2636007:BlogPost:1017272010-05-19T10:09:16.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
<font face="Verdana" size="1">A conference call of the Grassroots<br></br>
Leadership Council took place on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. The<br />
meeting was chaired by John Collet and attended by all the members of<br />
the Council, including Terry Stockham as a non-voting member, and by<br />
Sean Matula. There were three items on the agenda, but due to time, the only one that was reached was the Strategic Plan.<br></br><br></br>The Outline of
a Framework Document for the Strategic Plan had been drafted by…</font>
<font size="1" face="Verdana">A conference call of the Grassroots<br/>
Leadership Council took place on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. The<br />
meeting was chaired by John Collet and attended by all the members of<br />
the Council, including Terry Stockham as a non-voting member, and by<br />
Sean Matula. There were three items on the agenda, but due to time, the only one that was reached was the Strategic Plan.<br/><br/>The Outline of
a Framework Document for the Strategic Plan had been drafted by Phil<br />
Hinson. The document is two pages and divided into the main headlines of<br />
Vision, Mission, Values and Intermediate Goals/Performance Metrics -<br />
probably to be renamed Tactics.<br/><br/>Phil incorporated the comments
from the phone conference into a subsequent draft to be discussed by the<br />
Leadership Council shortly. Following that discussion, it is<br />
anticipated the document will be circulated to the Grassroots leaders for input. This step will be an important precursor<br />
to action to grow the Grassroots.<br/><br/>Other discussion took place
concerning expanding the Leadership Council through subcommittees.<br/><br/>Discussion
has<br />
also taken place about the direction of the organization as it relates<br />
to the database and software capabilities. Further work is needed.<br/><br/>The
conference adjourned at about 9:30 p.m. Eastern time.</font>New Senate Co-Sponsor for FairTaxtag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2009-05-10:2636007:BlogPost:547412009-05-10T18:56:24.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
It's now public. Senator Richard Burr, R-NC, announced this week that he has<br />
become a co-sponsor of S296, The Fair Tax Act of 2009. Senator Burr is the first<br />
new Senate co-sponsor in several years. The Sponsor of the FairTax in the Senate<br />
is Saxby Chambliss [R, GA].<br />
<br />
The 4 Co-Sponsors now are:<br />
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]<br />
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK]<br />
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]<br />
Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]<br />
<br />
~Jim<br />
<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
38 Fairview Ave<br />
Summit NJ 07901-1728<br />
USA<br />
(609) 984-2901 Daytime<br />
(908) 273-4578…
It's now public. Senator Richard Burr, R-NC, announced this week that he has<br />
become a co-sponsor of S296, The Fair Tax Act of 2009. Senator Burr is the first<br />
new Senate co-sponsor in several years. The Sponsor of the FairTax in the Senate<br />
is Saxby Chambliss [R, GA].<br />
<br />
The 4 Co-Sponsors now are:<br />
Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC]<br />
Sen. Thomas Coburn [R, OK]<br />
Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]<br />
Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]<br />
<br />
~Jim<br />
<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
38 Fairview Ave<br />
Summit NJ 07901-1728<br />
USA<br />
(609) 984-2901 Daytime<br />
(908) 273-4578 Evenings<br />
(908) 598-2888 Home Fax<br />
(908) 578-4975 Mobile PhoneNational Small Business Associationtag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2009-05-09:2636007:BlogPost:542692009-05-09T02:00:00.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
I replied:<br />
<br />
Thank you, Molly.<br />
Let me suggest another approach. Would you be willing to contact your New Jersey members and ask them whether they would let FairTax volunteers place holders with pocket cards (proof sample attached) in their businesses? If any respond positively, you can let me know who they are.<br />
<br />
Best regards,<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
State Volunteer Co-Director<br />
Americans for Fair Taxation<br />
<br />
<br />
-----Original Message-----<br />
From: Molly Brogan [mailto:mbrogan@nsba.biz]<br />
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2009…
I replied:<br />
<br />
Thank you, Molly.<br />
Let me suggest another approach. Would you be willing to contact your New Jersey members and ask them whether they would let FairTax volunteers place holders with pocket cards (proof sample attached) in their businesses? If any respond positively, you can let me know who they are.<br />
<br />
Best regards,<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
State Volunteer Co-Director<br />
Americans for Fair Taxation<br />
<br />
<br />
-----Original Message-----<br />
From: Molly Brogan [mailto:mbrogan@nsba.biz]<br />
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2009 08:47 AM<br />
To: james@jamesbennett.com<br />
Subject: Membership list<br />
<br />
Good afternoon, Mr. Bennett.<br />
<br />
I received your letter and applaud your efforts on the Fair Tax. We know what an important issue taxes are for small businesses and look for any opportunity to move the ball forward. Unfortunately, we don't share our member lists outside the organization and a limited number of sponsors. Because this is a critical issue to NSBA, we may be open to some kind of partnership, however. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions on how a partnership would be mutually beneficial and I'll touch base with some folks here to see if we can come up with something.<br />
<br />
I look forward to talking with you again soon.<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
Molly<br />
<br />
<br />
Molly Brogan<br />
VP of Public Affairs<br />
National Small Business Association<br />
1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 1100<br />
Washington, DC 20005<br />
(202) 552-2904 office<br />
(202) 276-2131 cell<br />
(202) 872-8543 fax<br />
mbrogan@nsba.bizFairTax Fantasytag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2009-04-24:2636007:BlogPost:496622009-04-24T11:37:42.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
Dear Mr. Hewitt,<br />
I was disappointed with the content of your radio interview with your fellow Chapman University Professor, Hank Adler, on April 21, 2009 about the FairTax. I read the transcript. If your interview is indicative of the content of your book, both contain numerous straw men and material omissions, the effect of which is to mislead the audience.<br />
<br />
I have replied previously to a piece by Mr. Adler. You can read my November 26, 2007 piece, "A Harder Look at the Fair Tax,"…
Dear Mr. Hewitt,<br />
I was disappointed with the content of your radio interview with your fellow Chapman University Professor, Hank Adler, on April 21, 2009 about the FairTax. I read the transcript. If your interview is indicative of the content of your book, both contain numerous straw men and material omissions, the effect of which is to mislead the audience.<br />
<br />
I have replied previously to a piece by Mr. Adler. You can read my November 26, 2007 piece, "A Harder Look at the Fair Tax," at<br />
http://jbennettatty.blogtownhall.com/2007/11/26/a_harder_look_at_the_fair_tax3.thtml. My piece was in reply Adler's November 22, 2007 blog, "A Hard Look at the Fair Tax."<br />
<br />
I will not reply to your interview point-by-point here. But if you send me a copy of your book at no charge, I will be glad to read and critique it for you.<br />
<br />
Very truly yours,<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
<br />
~Jim Bennett<br />
38 Fairview Ave<br />
Summit NJ 07901-1728<br />
USA<br />
james@jamesbennett.com<br />
(609) 984-2901 Daytime<br />
(908) 273-4578 Evenings<br />
(908) 598-2888 Home Fax<br />
(908) 578-4975 Mobile PhoneMy reply to Clarence Page on the McLaughlin Grouptag:www.fairtaxnation.com,2008-12-29:2636007:BlogPost:1692008-12-29T02:35:07.000ZJim Bennetthttp://www.fairtaxnation.com/profile/JimBennett
Thank you, Marilyn Rickert, for alerting Fair Tax supporters to this broadcast. Here is my letter to the McLaughlin Group sent to comments@mclaughlin.com.<br />
~Jim<br />
<br />
-----------------------------<br />
<br />
Dear Sir,<br />
I was puzzled by the comment of Clarence Page on December 27, 2008, during an airing of the McLaughlin Group, that he thinks the Fair Tax merits an award for the most stagnant idea. If Page's idea of a dynamic code is today's living breathing Leviathan, with over 20,000 pages (plus 47,000 pages…
Thank you, Marilyn Rickert, for alerting Fair Tax supporters to this broadcast. Here is my letter to the McLaughlin Group sent to comments@mclaughlin.com.<br />
~Jim<br />
<br />
-----------------------------<br />
<br />
Dear Sir,<br />
I was puzzled by the comment of Clarence Page on December 27, 2008, during an airing of the McLaughlin Group, that he thinks the Fair Tax merits an award for the most stagnant idea. If Page's idea of a dynamic code is today's living breathing Leviathan, with over 20,000 pages (plus 47,000 pages of regulations and revenue rulings) which leaves the economy stagnant, I cannot argue with Page. However if one measures stagnation and dynamism of an idea by its effect on the economy instead of on the code itself, the Fair Tax is indeed dynamic. Economists agree that taxing consumption instead of income, as the Fair Tax does, reduces economic distortion.<br />
<br />
I give Page my award for the most glib statement.<br />
<br />
~Jim Bennett