Huckabee on SC Flag: In Ark, We’d Tell’em Where to Put the Pole
Myrtle Beach, SC-
Flanked by wrestler Ric” The Nature Boy” Flair, and roundhouse-specialist Chuck Norris, GOP White House contender, Mike Huckabee, took the old American flag adage of “Don’t Tread on Me”, and went a step further when alluding to the SC controversy over the flying of the confederate flag.
”South Carolina people know true conservatism when they see it.You don’t like people outside the state telling you how you ought to raise your kids, you don’t like people from outside the state telling you what to do with the flag,” Huckabee said during a rally at a Myrtle beach airport hangar. “In fact, if somebody came down to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we’d tell’em where to put the pole.”
As it did in 2000,the confederate flag remains a divisive, and a hotly-debated political issue here. Many in the Palmetto state see the flag as a symbol of Southern pride and heritage, while others, including the NAACP see it as representative of racism. Today, as a compromise from past debates, the flag flies not over the SC capitol dome, but on the capitol grounds, in front of the dome.
During a press conference held tonight in Columbia, Huckabee was pressed by reporters about his specific position on the flag.
“It’s really not something that is an issue for the president of the United States. That’s an issue South Carolina would deal with,” He said.
One of Huckabee’s closest advisors on the campaign’s South Carolina strategy is former governor David Beasley(”The Beaze”, as Huckabee calls him) ran into a brick wall of Republican opposition when as governor he tried to remove the flag from above the state capitol dome.
Perhaps the Beaze is giving Huck good advice on what not to do in order to win this first in the South state? One thing is for sure, the Huckabee campaign is very enthused after what they consider two very good days on the trail. Only one full day left before election day, every move, and every political point counts exponentially.
The Nature Boy Flair and Chuck Norris? What does he think South Carolina is about? The Nature Boy Flair was nowhere in Iowa. Oh , he did have Chuck. I can not believe this guy is potentially representing our party. South Carolina the conservatives of the world are praying that you elect a real president, not a joke. Go Fred Go.
Huckabee: “Hmmmm. How can I get out more coded messages seeking the support of racists and religious bigots without getting caught at it? I know …”
I would suppose that the huckster is not seeking voted from the african americans.
That might hurt him, considering in his home state many africans americans voted for him(according to huck).
Go Huck! We love you! We’ll be celebrating with you when you win S.C. tomorrow night. And if the Upstate gets snow again…great too…..all the old folks supporting McCain and Fred can stay home and you can take all the votes!!!!!!!!
I’ve about had it with this hyphenated “African-American” thing! Pick a continent for crying out loud.
[...] dumb was this remark? ”South Carolina people know true conservatism when they see it.You don’t like people outside [...]
This just in, Huckleberry has no position on this issue either. SC Please do your homework before you vote for this putz. He is no conservative and apparently has never heard of the whole separation of church and state thingy. He is so unbelievably creepy and non-electable. If he gets the nomination, the Dems will surely win the Whitehouse, that is why the MSM loves the Huckster so.
FRED 08
Huckabee is RIGHT. Don’t tread on us! If you don’t want to be tread opon yourself.
GROW UP !!
More fodder for the dems, good job shmuck, your going to completely ruin the republican party…
I swear he’s a dem plant here to do just that, wake up conservatives….
Typical for someone with no real commitment. Why stop at saying he would tell where to put the pole? Spit it out, where would that be, and how you gonna do that?
Hollywood Fred is a lot more liberal than Huckabee ever thought about being. Get a clue!
The questions asked of the candidates on the campaign trail are getting might stale. Here’s a list of questions for each candidate that would spice up the rhetoric, no doubt: http://politiporn.com/2008/01/18/question-authority/
Feel free to use these questions as you report on or otherwise attend campaign events.
what would Fred say about the flag?? “zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.” wake up fred! find your notes, get your script! - the best thing to do is let SC decide on the flag. all people should agree with that!
The negative comments about Huckabee reveal the depth of ignorance and shear folly of the writer.
Huckabee is a true conservative:
1. Social - Pro life, pro family
2. Military - strongest in the world - fight terror
3. Fiscal - small government low taxes.
Believes in the10th ammendment and states rights
Those who oppose Huckabee do so because they prefer a different candidate, that’s fair. But when they intentionally distort the mans record to make him appear different than he is - that’s simply bad character.
Huckabee is a grass roots candidate funded with small donations of real people across this land. Romney is trying to buy the presidency (spent over 40 million of his own $ so far). That’s just big marketing dollars to push it from the top down.
Go Mike!
Comment by Tim
January 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
“Hollywood Fred is a lot more liberal than Huckabee ever thought about being. Get a clue! ”
Now Tim, I thought we told you to go do your homework and you can get back to us when you have some idea of what you are talking about.
The flag that is discussed is the Stars and Bars, the flag which flew over Richmond and not the Battle Flag.
Since it isn’t an issue for the President then why on earth did he even bring up it up? It’s controversial and will come back to bite him and the GOP if heaven forbid he gets the nomination. Because he’s an idiot that is why.
“We’d tell ‘em what to do with the pole”
VERY PRESIDENTIAL!! Mr. comedian!! Please, I would not vote for this clown if I had to choose between him and Hillary! (Thank heavens I won’t have to though, there’s NO WAY he’s going to get the nomination)!
Go back to being a Preaching/Guitar Playing/Comedian leave the presidential stuff to someone who is…..well…..presidential!
“The FairTax is regressive and shifts the tax burden onto lower and middle income people”
The truth: The FairTax actually eliminates and reimburses all federal taxes for those below the poverty line. This is accomplished through the universal prebate and by eliminating the highly regressive FICA payroll tax. Today, low and moderate income Americans pay far more in FICA taxes than income taxes. Those spending at twice the poverty level pay a FairTax of only 11.5 percent — a rate much lower than the income and payroll tax burden they bear today. Meanwhile, the wealthy pay the 23 percent retail sales tax on their retail purchases.
Under the federal income tax, slow economic growth and recessions have a disproportionately adverse impact on lower-income families. Breadwinners in these families are more likely to lose their jobs, are less likely to have the resources to weather bad economic times, and are more in need of the initial employment opportunities that a dynamic, growing economy provides. Retaining the present tax system makes economic progress needlessly slow and frustrates attempts at upward mobility through hard work and savings, thus harming low-income taxpayers the most.
In contrast, the FairTax dramatically improves economic growth and wage rates for all, but especially for lower-income families and individuals. In addition to receiving the monthly FairTax prebate, these taxpayers are freed from regressive payroll taxes, the federal income tax, and the compliance burdens associated with each. They pay no more business taxes hidden in the price of goods and services, and used goods are tax free.
How can the FairTax generate lower net tax rates for everyone and still pay for the same real government expenditures? The answer is two-fold. Firstly, the tax base is dramatically widened by including consumer spending from the underground economy (estimated at $1.5 trillion annually), and by including illegal immigrants, those who escape their fair share today through loopholes and gimmicks. In addition, 40 million foreign tourists a year will become American taxpayers as consumers here. Secondly, not everyone’s average net tax burden falls. For households whose major economic resource is accumulated wealth, the FairTax will deliver a net tax hike compared to the current system.
Consider, for example, your typical billionaire, of which America now has more than 400. These fortunate few are invested primarily in equities on which they pay taxes at a 15 percent rate, whether their income comes in the form of capital gains or dividends. In addition to having the income from their wealth taxed at a low rate, the principal of their wealth is completely untaxed either directly or indirectly. Assuming they and their heirs spend only the income earned on the wealth each year, the tax rate today is 15 percent. In contrast, under the FairTax, the effective tax rate is 23 percent. Hence, the very wealthy will pay more taxes when the FairTax is enacted. In a nutshell, those who spend more will pay more but low, moderate and middle income taxpayers will benefit from the greatest gains in reduced tax liabilities.
Shawn,
Isn’t the Fair Tax the equivelant of a National Sales Tax, ergo, a consumption tax?
Just asking. I don’t have a problem with the concept, just want it articulated in plain-speak.
Yes it is a consumption tax that levels the playing field.
Now the rich, drug dealers, illegals, pimps…EVERYONE pays the same tax. Also, everyone gets a prebate check every month to the poverty line so the poor get their basics tax free. The govt will not know how much you make because everyone gets the prebate. There is no need to tell the govt how much you make or have in the bank. The current tax system favors the rich because they have high powered accountants that know all the loop holes so they skip paying tax….which leaves the poor and middle class to pick up the slack. Under this plan you can choose to pay your living expenses like mortgage or lights instead of buying nice to have things AND YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR FULL PAYCHECK, That’s like getting a 30 - 35 percent raise!!!
What an adolescent attempt at trying to bond with the voters of SC. It’s about the issues, stupid!
to Shawn,
What happens to those of us who are above the poverty line?
My family gets most of the taxes we pay returned to us because of earned income credit.
If we had to start paying a huge sales tax on everything we buy, it would be a TAX INCREASE on us, and a big financial burden.
And to those of you who like Huckabee because he says he’s going to get rid of the IRS, THINK ABOUT IT!
What will he replace it with? Is he going to personally decide who qualifies for prebates? Is he going to personally send each check every month? Who’s going to be in charge of making sure there’s no fraud happening? Who’s going to collect the sales tax from every retailer in the country?
There will still be an IRS, it will just have a different name!
This is just more big government, and sending checks to the poor every month sounds like a national welfare system! THE TAX SYSTEM DOES NEED CHANGED AND IMPROVED, BUT THE “FAIR TAX” IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT!
Thanks, Shawn.
I don’t know what the delineation between poor, middle class, and rich is - don’t really care. I see it as divisive to categorize people in that way - class warfare, you know.
What I’m interested in, is the Feds out of my financial business. When one considers the multiple taxes paid: federal, state, local, municiple, sales taxes - the redundancy yields an effective tax rate of 50%.
A 20% national sales tax on goods and services exposes all consumers to the same rate.
Seems “fair” to me.
JH,
EVERYONE gets the prebate up to the line of poverty, there is no need to decide who is poor. Also, this is NOT welfare, it is a tax break so it to say that all of you basics are tax free….food, etc.
You made a good point, you get a PORTION of your money returned to you for earned income credit..IMAGINE if you got to keep ALL of your money to begin with. You already get taxed before you get your check AND THEN AGIN on everything you buy. This plan would let you keep your full paycheck and then ONLY pay tax once. Then you can tighten your budget when times get tough and reduce the amount of nice to have things you buy. So there is NO chance of fraud since everyone gets the prebate.
There will be an agenvy that collects the money, but they will not be robbing your paycheck before you get it.
Tell you what try this……
Go to http://www.fairtax.org. There is a calculator there. You enter in some info and it shows you the diff. you would pay in taxes in the current system and what it would be under the fairtax. Could you do this and let us know, not exact figures, but if you would be better off or not. Give the calculator a go and then report back what you find……it’ll be a fun experiment. Prove me wrong if the numbers are not in your favor.
Sorry here is the link to the fair tax calculator
http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=calculator
Who do you work for, Shawn?
Re: comment by Chris Spring “Romney is trying to buy the presidency …”
You’re “marketing” the rhetoric that Huckabee hoped you would - repeat something over and over again and it will become accepted as truth. Romney’s opposition (Huckabee, McCain, Thompson) concoted this SOUND BYTE to cast an “elitist” cloud on a man who, through long hours, problem-solving, and plain ol’ hard work, made his own fortune by getting the job done!
Everyone wants the American Dream. When Hollywood actors or sports figures make huge salaries, everyone is in awe and admiration. Then, when these same people give a little time or money to a charity - which most often includes lots of career-enhancing press coverage, they are lauded and applauded for their generosity. It’s interesting that when someone, such as Mitt Romney, makes his own fortune through years of sacrifice and hard work, he’s dismissed as some spoiled, rich guy. THEN, when he uses some of his own money to gain some name recognition in a presidential race in an effort to serve his country, he is portrayed by his opponents as a conniving schmuck.
Mitt Romney accomplished the IMPOSSIBLE by saving the Olympic games in Salt Lake City. Through the overwhelming, difficult challenges of cleaning up a huge mess that he did not create, he donated his $800,0000+ salary to charity and gave a million dollars of his OWN money to help get the games back on track!
Along with the grueling work of turning a debt-ridden, stagnant Massachusetts around, he DID NOT ACCEPT A SALARY while serving as Governor of that state.
It’s easy for Huckabee and you to throw the “trying to buy the presidency” gut punch. By touting derogatory labels and a catchy statement you hope to cloud the truth about an incredible man who would spend some of his OWN money to enable him to share his knowledge and experience to benefit the citizens of this country.
Anyone who has put his heart, sweat, and soul into solving the problems of America and done it for years and for FREE is a very generous, good man. The undisputable fact that Mitt Romney was successful in these endeavors is evidence that he has the skills, knowledge, wisdom, and temperament to be president of this country. Romney’s accomplishments, selflessness, and family life are the real proof of his character.
Our nation would be wise to vote for problem-solving Mitt Romney and put him at the helm of our troubled nation.
Huckabee is a gifted speaker and a likeable person.
Read interesting articles about him in: Plutarch’s Weblog and Judicial Watch Announces List.
Go Mike!
Race, sexism, homophobia is all the rage in politics this Primary Season! Huckabee should be right at home in the Arizona Primary.</b
Which Republican candidate likens himself to a racist former governor of Arizona? Which candidate was quoted in a YouTube ad suggesting a vote for Romney was as good as a vote for Hitler? Which candidate is actually running on the slogan “Don’t Trust Whitey!” Which candidate called Hillary a lesbian, on camera!!
Flip those national campaigns the proverbial finger and join the brave candidates of the Arizona Primary in their bold experiment in politics.
Project White House 08
It would be funnier, if it wasn’t for real!
Huckabee may want the federal government to stay out of the way of state’s rights in regards to a flag but he sure doesn’t mind saying that he supports the Fair Tax. The Fair Tax is not fair by any means. And it is set up on the assumption that the federal government will put a sales tax on everything a person buys…including groceries…and that tax will be collected by the states. This is unconstitutional under our US Constitution and would put an illegal burden on the states to do the bidding of the federal government. There are a lot more unfair things connected to this tax but I can’t get passed that one…and the tax on groceries…that would include the overhead of tax needed for everything else bought and sold and the lost taxes of everyone blended in together. A very unfair, socialistic idea.
Shawn, you got lost on the website. Fair Tax is a radical, liberal, socialistic idea. Huckabee is talking to the wrong base. He should be talking to the Democrats. This is Big government stepping into every house in this country. Putting all the low income people on the Dole to the government for a handout check. And the cost of that Big Government has to be paid for by someone…guess who…divided up among the little guy. Sure he doesn’t have to pay the fair tax all the little guy has to do is stop buying things…Now that’s a great solution. The rich pay their fair share because they have all the money and they are the ones that can afford to buy everything…That is a stupid solution. Huckabee is NOT presidential material.
Dreamer,
Some have offered solutions on this page.
What’s yours?
the fair tax is NOTHING liberal it is SMALL govt and a conservative plan. it will only HELP level the playing field. Its obvious you didn’t go to the site and read how EVERYONE of your myths are debunked.
Either way I am 100% for it and my vote will go to HUckabee the only one with the *alls to fight for it. There is no free hand out and everyone will pay the same in taxes. As it stands now the rich have loop holls and the poor and middle class get raked over the coals….please go read up on it so you can make educated arguments
Dreamer,
that’s the best part of the fairtax ….getting the govt OUT of our household. The govt will no longer need to know how much money you make or have in the bank…they will be REMOVED from your household. Are you telling me it is ethical for the IRS to steal 35 % of you paycheck, 50% of your bonus, 50% of what you have left when you die (death tax) AND THEN tax you on everything you buy?
The fair tax IS FAIR
skies 11…hmmm…I am not an economic wizard and surely not presidential material but there is a problem with the taxes. 1. I raised my children before Bush got into office and so I can’t talk advantage of the nice child credit that is available. 2. Same story…I have no children in college so no tax break there… 3. Also now there is available a very nice Earned Income Credit that I can not take advantage of because I have moved out of the low income bracket.
sooo….the problem I see is not the tax system per say that we have…the problem is the spending in Washington…Big Government costs…it costs us all. Right now in California there are millions of illegals. Granted I have met a lot of them and they are wonderful people…However, I cannot afford to continue to support them. Our welfare office has handouts in 8 different languages…because welfare people don’t most of them speak English. The illegals go down to welfare and collect and tell them they are illegal and collect for their legal born children…lots of money $700 a month cash aid for three children. $300 a month for food stamps. When my grandchildren go to the emergency room at the children’s hospital, they wait in line for 3-4 hours behind packed rooooms full of illegals. This is a major problem. This is billionsss of dollars of tax money. STEP ONE…WHY doesn’t someone send them back, they walk right into the welfare office….every day…and they don’t even have to hide who they are and they don’t have to do a work program because they say they don’t have a SS card…Only a lot of them do…they are stolen cards…and they apply for Earned INCOME CREDIT…and they get back $4,000 to $5,000 a year…every year…I guess I would start there…
skies11
You just like Huckabee obviously don’t know what to steer clear of the whole race/color thing. People have the right to identify with what ever “continent” they choose. The fact that you have a problem with it smells of racism. I prefer the term black
I do appreciate the discussions surrounding Huckabee’s stance on issues and solutions. Let’s keep the racist stuff out of it!
A “Black” Female
Shawn…Fair Tax not liberal?…not socialist?…not Big Government?…It will get the government out of your home??? when the low income person will be dependent on a monthly check every year of his life??…LOLOLOLOLO>>I used to be a battered wife and I used to listen to sweet talk and lies and I know manipulation of the truth…NICE TRY…but NOT HAPPENING
Dreamer,
Good job expounding on the problem once again. That’s the easy part.
The question put to you is, what is your solution?
dreamer,
Under the fairtax you would get to keep ALL of you paycheck.
You would not have look for loop holes that some get and others don’t. Also, illegal would have to pay the same tax instead of getting away with paying NONE under the current program.
And to your point that the poor could just stop buying things…is true. Lets think what would happen. If the poor got the full paycheck that would be like a 30% pay raise. Lets say they stop buying nice to have things. eventually they would have more money saved, and get out of dept. This would bring them up to middle class where they can start to afford the nice to haves. Then we improved their quality of life and now they are pay more in taxes because they have more buying power so they will buy more. IT BEUTIFULL!!
A “Black” Female…Here’s to your pride in who you are…but here’s to the day that no one notices anyones color and it doesn’t matter…and they are just their name.
dreamer,
sorry to hear about the battered wife part, so was my mother.
But the poor would eventually have more money, they get their full check and can get out of dept quicker, and would not be dependent on this check every month. This lifts them up to middle class..
dreamer,
could you back up these claims and tell me HOW the following is true?
Fair Tax not liberal…socialist…Big Government…It will get the government out of your home
skies11…I elect a president and a congressman and a governor and state assembly people that I have researched as to what they believe in and what they stand for and what they have accomplished in their lives and I pray…guess I pray when I am deciding also…and I trust in the outcome…because it is their job to do and not mine…that’s the system…I have my own talents and my own job to do…Me…I put my faith in the best guy out there…Mitt Romney.
A little original thought goes a long way, Dreamer. Try it. Sounds like you’ve abrogated your personal responsibility to the government. That’s not what made and continues to make this the nation people flock to - not escape from.
Shawn, You are a bigger dreamer than I. I meant that the fair tax is Big Government…is socialist…is a very liberal idea and would put the government right in every low paying home…
The Fair Tax proposal is Big Government because it would by the nature of the beast be a large undertaking to accomplish. The states cannnot and will not enforce it because of our US Constitution. It would have to be enforced on the Federal level. That organization does not at this time exist. The IRS is a temporary facility with temporary regional offices that are manned up only at tax time. To handle the processing of monthly checks would be a humongous and costly task.
To put anyone and so many people on the dependence of a check from the federal government is a very liberal, socialist idea. Something similiar to what Russia tried. It is a form of redistribution of wealth. We just made a big push not too many years ago to get all the welfare check people off monthly checks…free to have their own life and their own jobs and their own decisions. To be dependent on a government check is NOT freedom.
It is a dream to think that the poor people will have any more money under this plan. Someone has to pay the bill for it…it is a hidden bill…those silly calculators that are online do not take into account the price of doing this changeover or the upkeep of enforcing and paying all those checks. It was based on the false notion that the states would handle everything for a part of the take and that is where it all crumbles apart…from the beginning…so why hastle over any other minor detail…like putting a TAX on groceries…which of course Huckabee already did in Arkansas.
Shawn do you know that Huckabee raised the sales tax in ONE fell swoop in Arkansas a full cent…have you any idea the cost of that to his citizens. A One cent sales tax raise is unheard of. I may not be the best economist out here but I know my math better than that…that is HUGE!! and the rest of the voters in this country should be warned!! And he believes in taxing the food we eat.
skies11…LOLOLO…I apprecite thinkers…and I appreciate doers…From my point of view I have a few options. I cannot and do not want to run for office. I can put my opinion of change out here all day…and granted I enjoy thinking and reasoning and listening to ideas. That is what has made this country great. However, like I say, I have few options to insure that change really happens. To sit and be a phylosopher is fun but probably not too productive at this time. There are several people out there right now that have ideas on how to help change our country and they are all good people. But their ideas are different. Those are the only options we have right now…to pick one of those people and to back them. The Fair Tax is an idea that some would follow. I am not one of them. It is too flawed. To put another idea out there would be nice…but as I say not productive.
Unbelievable.
Dreamer -
We’re all looking for the day when color - doesnt’ matter. We are far from there… much closer then we were 50 years ago but we have not arrived. I am proud to be an “American” as we all should be.
I appreciate your comments on how you choose an official. I agree, we have to go with the person that has shown through their accomplishments that they can lead this country in a direction that we’re in favor of. It’s up to us to do the research. You can stand anywhere on an issue … you’ve got to look at what these folks have done.
I agree with you on the fair tax issue. It’s socialism. If we are going to go there - then give me the other benefits of a socialist society - pay for my health care, higher education, day-care, etc
dreamer,
we have to agree to disagree. To me, getting the govt out of my paycheck and know how much money I make is BIG govt.
The IRS already give returns, so how is this any different. THe prebate is just like a tax return, but you get it up front and you don’t have to go on a easter egg hunt to find the loop holes. ITS NOT a free hand out. This is the MOST conservative plan out there. this will alow the poor to save their money and move into the upper class. This will level the playing field so EVRYONE pays the same in taxes. Everyone pays the bill. You don’t honestly think someone can just stop buying anything but food do you?
the fair tax is fair, stands for small govt, goes againt socialism, and prevents people from getting a free ride, causes us to carry them.
Imagine getting to keep your entire paycheck, no death tax and the IRS never knows how much money you make or even needs to know how much you have.
Only liberals don’t like this plan, becuase it makes things fair
I am all for states rights, but using “code” and then refusing to take a stance on the flag means that Huckabee is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Either state your full position, or don’t bring it up at all. Regardless of what he thought about the flag, I’d appreciate his honesty on the issue much more than his duck and cover. Thanks for becoming #2 on my list of people who I will never vote for (after HRC).
And on this flag issue, I thought it might be interesting to share this quotation from Ken Burns, who said this in an interview after he finished his documentary on the Civil War:
“The confederate flag was adopted by many of the states as their flag, not before the Civil War, not during the Civil War, or not even in the immediate period afterwards, that much misunderstood period called Reconstruction. Those flags were instituted in the 1950’s and there’s only one thing that happened in the 1950’s that would have caused the southern states to add the confederate flag. They took one of the battle flags, and it wasn’t even the most popular confederate battle flag, and made it the symbol of segregation and resistance to civil rights and codified it in their flags. In that regard I find that the enthusiasm for the confederate flag today is both misplaced [and] misunderstood…”
I wonder if we would think the same thing about the flag if we were talking about Germans flying the swastika. I mean after all, even though a lot of people were killed during the holocaust, it was also a time when the German people felt a great sense of pride…huh?
BTW Skies11, the term “African American” is not hyphenated.
Thanks, sytgrl.
From a European American.
Here are the basics….check it out
The FairTax actually comes to us from market research conducted more than a decade ago by a handful of business leaders. Their goal was to determine what type of tax system would be most acceptable to the American public. The studies they paid for cost millions of dollars, included hard economic research by respected scholars, and were subjected to critical peer review. The result is a proposal, since introduced as legislation in Congress, now known as the FairTax.
What emerged from this research is that a national retail sales tax is a preferred method of taxation among most Americans surveyed. Another is that the tax would have significant benefits for the nation’s economy.
Why? Because it eliminates income taxes and payroll taxes (for Social Security and Medicare), which are costly to collect and end up as “embedded” in the price of everything we buy. Along with getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service and the complexities of the income tax code, the FairTax would eliminate the distorting effect that income and payroll taxes have on the economy.
Research on the price of consumer goods reveals that up to 20% of all prices today represent hidden income taxes and payroll taxes. Once these taxes are repealed and replaced with the FairTax, it is likely that market pressure would force retail prices to fall.
Eliminating embedded taxes will also do something else — it will remove significant price disadvantages suffered by American producers competing with tax-free imports. Eliminating corporate income taxes and capital gains taxes, which the FairTax would do, would likely make the American economy the most desirable place in the world to do business.
Another benefit of the FairTax is that, unlike other sales taxes, it would not hit the poorest Americans the hardest. The FairTax proposal calls for sending every American a “prebate” check to offset the cost of the national sales taxes paid by those living in poverty. This feature would effectively exempt those living below the poverty line from paying taxes to the federal government, and provide all taxpayers with a reimbursement of a portion of taxes paid.
The FairTax rate is 23% on retail sales when calculated “inclusively,” as are income tax rates. It will, in a fairer, more transparent and less-expensive way, raise the same amount of money the federal government now collects through the income and payroll taxes. Because it would be levied on consumption at the final point of sale, instead of on earnings, it would dramatically expand the tax base. The FairTax would collect revenue from the underground economy. Even illegal immigrants and the 40 million foreign tourists who visit the U.S. each year would pay it.
The distributional effects of the FairTax have been extensively studied, and although the proposal has distinct advantages for investors and wealth creation across the income spectrum, the greatest benefit of the FairTax is to low- and moderate-income Americans. The effect of eliminating regressive payroll taxes is commonly overlooked when analyzing the FairTax, but it would have a very significant impact, as these taxes represent the single largest tax burden on these income earners.
Significantly, the FairTax eliminates all loopholes, gimmicks, exemptions and deductions from the federal tax system. Under the FairTax, Congress would no longer be able to reward friends, punish enemies or manipulate behavior through the tax code. The FairTax would also eliminate the lucrative tax lobbying practices that represent more than 50% of all lobby dollars spent annually in Washington.
It’s no surprise, then, to see that vested interests have argued against the FairTax and in favor of keeping the mortgage interest deduction. But wouldn’t it be better for everyone to stop the IRS from withholding from paychecks; to see the price of new homes — and all other goods — drop by removing embedded costs; and to have interest rates fall as the savings rate increases? Is it really in everyone’s interests to keep the income-tax system so that one-third of taxpayers can go on deducting a portion of their mortgage interest from their federal taxes?
There have been many tax reform proposals over the years, but most of them simply call for reforming around the margins of the existing tax system. The President’s Advisory Panel on Tax Reform was assembled by the Bush administration and concluded its work a few years ago. Instead of seriously looking at the FairTax, the panel looked at a very different type of consumption tax, riddled with exemptions, and then declared that it would be too expensive and that the rate would have to be far higher than the FairTax rate.
Wow…as someone who has been totally Pro Huckabee and Pro Bush …I have too say I am disappointed he would even make mention of that issue. And I agree that as someone representing himself to be a Chrisian Leader that that kind of talk about where they can put the pole in unneccasary, inflammatory, and in really poor taste. I speak as a fundamentalist, evangelical…I am really disappointed in some of Governor Huckabee’s remarks as of late and think I may throw my support behind Ron Paul who seems to be a little more thoughtful and weighs his words before he speaks….That being said it pales in comparison to anything coming off the pen and out of the mouths of the Hollywood leftists and media types that are sure to condemn him for this… when you never stand for decency you can never be called a hypocrite …that is their answer which is also wrong…we are all hypocrites to some degree but that does not mean we should not try to weigh our words before we speak. I must say I like the way Ron Paul pauses a second with pursed lips before he speaks…it means he is thingking about the correct word choice. I still like either one of them as they are the anti-establishment candidates.
2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Open your bibles and compare each canidate then make your vote. Same sex marriage abortion teaching Evolution in school without choice for intelligent design . America will see wrath like never ever before if they dont vote for a canidate that puts God above all.
No way do I beleive this man will get the GOP nomination, but lets say he did. No way do I think he could win against anyone nationally, but lets say he did.
Enter President Huckabee and any other foreign leader, other than Isreal, and he does what? Tells them where to shove the POLE? Some people might like this approach. Those people are very stupid. Anyone who understand that the world is a SMALL place and we need to use careful diplomacy could not support this man.
Who cares what he thinks about this non-issue. Even on the little stuff, he screws it up. WOW. I am amazed that he can have a boneheaded moment ever single day while standing up for something he believes.
HUck has my vote 100%.
Finally a real human and not some rich curuppted salesman.
Huckleberry is exploiting Christ in his quest for power. Talk about using Gods name in vain. As a Christian, I find it appalling but it’s all he has. Do some research, the guy has proven to be very liberal on most Conservative issues. Now this “the Constitution is a living breathing document” What the ….. He’s going to have to answer to that statement. Every day he says something else out of line and over the top. Maybe he should just keep his foot firmly planted in his mouth to avoid saying what he really thinks. His handlers must be reeling. This doofus has got to be a plant by the liberals.
Vote for Fred!! He hardly says anything stupid.
I guess he’d have stood with Wallace to keep schools from being integrated. State rights and all.
Flags of treason should not fly over a state capitol.
“I would suppose that the huckster is not seeking voted from the african americans.
That might hurt him, considering in his home state many africans americans voted for him(according to huck).”
Whose being ignorant (to say nothing of just a wee bit bigoted) now? Huck did very well among black voters for a southern republican when running for Governor of Arkansas.
“Flags of treason should not fly over a state capitol.”
Hmmm. I thought that’s what the British said about our first flags!
“I guess he’d have stood with Wallace to keep schools from being integrated. State rights and all.”
Let me get this straight? George Wallace aside, are you somehow suggesting that ALL power be ceded to the Feds?
Have you never heard of “Federalism?”