Senate hopeful pushes Fair Tax
By Warren Wise
The Post and Courier
Bob Conley
U.S. Senate hopeful Bob Conley endorsed the concept of a national sales tax to replace numerous federal income taxes before a small group of Fair Tax Act supporters Wednesday in North Charleston.
The North Myrtle Beach Democrat called the proposed legislation "the second American Revolution" because he believes it will eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and allow American workers to take home what they actually earn without payroll taxes being withdrawn.
The proposed national sales tax would be 23 percent.
"It's time for citizens and workers to take their wages and salaries and put them in their pockets," Conley said.
"This will bring back freedom and a level playing field."
Republican Rob Masten of Summerville said he is supporting Conley strictly for his Fair Tax endorsement.
"It will turn around the whole economy and change the entire revenue stream," Masten said. "It's a bigger issue than politics."
Jo Clark of Surfside Beach said she usually votes Republican as well, but she won't this year.
"He seems to have more of the things that I'm looking for and that I believe in," Clark said.
Conley's Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, has not endorsed the Fair Tax, but has said he is not averse to considering it.
"Graham is the co-sponsor of a bill to scrap the confusing and complicated mess of a tax code we currently have and looks forward to a healthy debate between proposals like the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, Value Added Tax or other systems that are simpler to use and make us competitive in the global economy," said Scott Farmer, Graham's campaign manager.
Considered a longshot against Graham, Conley had $983 in campaign funding on hand as of June 30, according to federal campaign finance records. Graham had $3.6 million.
Conley is counting on grassroots supporters and Republicans unhappy with Graham to help finance his uphill battle, and he pleaded with Fair Tax supporters to give whatever they could.
"We certainly have a little mountain ahead of us," Conley said. "We don't have to raise parity with him, but if we could get 50 percent, we would wax his butt."
Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.
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zoomru (anonymous) says...
Its great to talk............
DO IT !!
FAIR TAX....NOW !!!
August 7, 2008 at 2:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Hey BOB ..... DID YOU KNOW LINDSEY WAS IN TOWN !!
YESTERDAY !!!
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local/...
The reporting by this NEWSPAPER...borders TREASON against the STATE !!
How are we expected to let Lindsey know face to face what our NEEDS ARE if this NEWSPAPER doesn't let US KNOW !!!!
Senatoro Lindse' Suave' Graham-nista...STOP HIDING !!
The PARTY ELITE and OUR state's newspaper EDITORS can't protect YOU forever !! Do you even KNOW that WE have wind here along OUR COAST ?? YOU DO KNOW !!!!
GET BUSY ...LINDSEY !! DO SOMETHING !!!???
August 7, 2008 at 3:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thenightfly (anonymous) says...
I've been brainstorming the Fair tax for years. I've read the books, I've picked it apart and I've discussed countless hypotheticals with dozens of other people who've done the same. In my opinion, it's the best thing for America. One thing I know for a fact though is that Congress was never meant to have the people by the balls. But that's exactly what our income tax system has done. It's because of income taxes that Congress is always so full of money and crooks. Very few elected representatives actually listen to their constituents anymore and very little legislation reflects any respect for our rights or considerations of our best interests. The paturn will never change until income taxes are eliminated and that's what the Fair tax will do. That's why, whenever a politician is asked whether they support the Fair tax or not, anything other than an exclamatory "YES!" only proves to me that they are nothing but crooked and represent the greatest threat to the freedom and prosperity of the America people.
August 7, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willie08 (anonymous) says...
FAIR TAX WILL SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS AND WILL END CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 7, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jimmy1370 (anonymous) says...
ColdBeer, have you read the Fair Tax Book and The Fair Tax, Answering the Critics? I recommend them to you. They will answer your questions.
August 7, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Flat tax still gives too much "power" over individuals to the taxing agencies.
The power allowed to the state & federal revenue agencies has been like a run away train.
Ask most CPA's & tax attorneys & they will tell you that these entities VERY OFTEN do not follow their own policies or even the law & they get away with it because they can...
& because they can all but destroy someone...often without much provocation. Once they are 'finished' with a person they have gone after, that person has little left with which to fight back & he/she is too busy trying to put the pieces of his/her life back together.
Go read just some of the horror stories given to Congress before the IRS Restructuring Act of 1998. They behaved themselves for a short while but 10 yrs out they are more KGB like than ever.
The only entities that can hold them accountable are the state legislatures & Congress... & that is like asking the fox to guard the hen house.
August 7, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
abitskeptical:
Flat tax does not give any power to anyone other than the people. If you are getting your answers from CPA's and tax attorneys, that's where you have gone wrong. Those people will not have much of a job if fair tax is instated. The common, sometimes ignorant man/woman would then be able to figure taxes out for themselves and everything will be equal and fair.
Even if there is a bit of corruption involved in it (there always will be with government), it will be fairly easy to spot.
Fair Tax Now!
August 7, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Oh, and by the way, this is a subject that both Republican and Democratic citizens can agree on, without a doubt.
The government doesn't like it because it takes away their ability to easily give themselves raises with each new tax created for the public to pay...Local, State, and Federal.
August 7, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
I have talked at length about the Fair Tax with my brother who is a CPA in Atlanta. His belief is that with the Fair Tax he would have much more time to work with his clients on doing true accounting work rather than bookkeeping to keep his clients out of trouble with the IRS. Also, under the Fair Tax, there is a greater incentive to invest and create businesses which creates a tremendous amount of new (and interesting) work for accounting professionals.
August 7, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jimmy1370 (anonymous) says...
justjerry, it would also create a tax haven for businesses around the world. Everyone would want to have their business in the U.S. Guess what that would mean?? Yup...more jobs. The economy would be overflowing.
August 7, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
DoaMM..I am FOR THE FAIR TAX. I think you misread my post.
My post concerned the "across the board FLAT tax" which still is a tax on INCOME. Flat tax & Fair tax are not the same thing.
The Flat tax still would be "enforced" on the individual private citizens by the revenue agencies. The Fair tax removes that infringement on the privacy of individual citizens.
I know what you are saying about those whose livelihoods depend in large part on the IRC(Internal Revenue Code) & how it is enforced, but these folks would have plenty of business in other accounting areas as people have more of their own hard earned money to invest.
August 7, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
Though I favor a flat tax it would never fly as it puts a share of the burden on poor people and everyone knows you can't tax poor people. The fair tax takes that arguement right out of the equation, thus stands a better chance to pass. The only problem is how are you going to get Lindsey and John to give up the lobbyists and tax favors they love to bestowe on their supporters? You aren't!
August 7, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
And I see that justjerry just addressed what I said in that last part of my latest post as I was writing it...
August 7, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
I've got the Fair Tax book at home and have read most of it. I like the idea and I believe that it could work, but they have to get Federal spending under control first. I'm still mixed between having the Fair Tax vs having a Flat Tax.
One of the main advantages of switching to a consumption-based form of taxation is that the people making money under the table would not be able to avoid paying taxes. A drug dealer or pimp obviously isn't reporting all of their income, but they are likely spending a great deal on luxury items.
August 7, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
Ahh...got it. Thanks...
August 7, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
Conley has two things going for him - he supports the Fair Tax and he's NOT LINDSEY GRAHAM!!! He'll get my vote.
August 7, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
iceman..keep reading & I believe your mixed feelings over which is the most just & lucrative method of revenue collection will disappear.
August 7, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Carolina_Politics (anonymous) says...
The great thing about the Fair Tax is that it would eliminate a lot of corrupt and political pandering by Federal politicians who would no longer be able to use the tax code to muscle through their agenda. It would create an economic boom this nation has never seen. Furthermore, it also destroys American oppression by the IRS as they would no longer be involved in our personal lives. This would be a huge boost forward for liberty in this country if it were to ever pass, which I am skeptical it ever will, but you have to keep chipping away at the block.
http://www.carolinapoliticsonline.com
August 7, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
Now lets see - a Federal Sales tax based on what you purchased, and set by Congress at 7% - Okay, that works.
3 years later - OOps, I meant to say...."by an Act of Congress set at 10%."
4 years further down the road - Well you see..... "we have studied the needs of maintaining government and will have to adjust the Federal Sales Tax up, but only 4%, its for the children."
_____________________________________________________
Your Congress at work!
A number of years back, the U.K. government installed the V.A.T., a national sales tax. The rate was set at 7%. Today it has climbed to 17%.
August 7, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
The Fair Tax will have more transparency in government, eliminate alot of lobbyists, and vote buying by politicians. No more worrying about April 15th.
Dems and Republicans need to get together on this! It is about the people of the country, not a particular party.
Last time I checked 75 supporters in the house and Senate and only 5 were dems. Why?
For those of you who have questions, go to www.Fairtax.org and there is a section that answers question you might have
about the Fairtax.
The PNC needs to do a big story on the Fairtax and its advantages for everyone!
August 7, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
a_set_love..this is already done on the $ that the average citizen works hard to earn, i.e the "personal income tax".
With the Fair tax, the entire system would be simplified, & as others have pointed out, much more transparent to the general citizen.
The IRC is now so complicated even so called 'authorities' often do not agree on what it says
How can we, the average citizens, hold the IRS accountable, for remember--they ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS, if the rules they are enforcing are unintelligible to even those with above average education & IQ???
I think many have become so accustomed to NEVER even seeing, or being able to even handle, a portion of what they earned(withholding)-they are so accustomed to not even having access to the total of all the $ they actually earned, that they have readjusted their thinking on spending, investment etc. ..& the main thing that seems to worry them is what number will come up on the cash register when they make a purchase..they can't see the forest for the trees.
What has happened with the system of taxation in this country is unconscionable.
Think about this:
In order to be able to "legitimately" keep one's own money-i.e.- more of what one has worked hard for, one must engage in a time consuming record keeping of all things connected to the earning. I could go on & on about this aspect alone
One must accurately predict how much one will earn(do not dare under predict) & pay a tax on it AHEAD OF TIME...before it is even earned!!!...My Lord people..wake up!
Someone can be thrown in jail for daring to keep all of his/her money that he/she went out & honestly earned.
These are just a few examples of how the water slowly heated up & most of us poor frogs didn't notice(or do anything about it)until it was too late.
This system is just plain wrong.
August 7, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
We should abolish the State income tax and the car tax. I'd rather add 2% to the sales taxes instead of pay taxes to the State on my income.
August 7, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Archdude, They sure can polish that turd up real nice.......
RW, Conley is the guy that was a registered Republican, renounced his affiliation, and then registered as a Democrat one week before the filing deadline for his candidacy.
August 7, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
archdude, Not necessarily. Florida has no income tax and their state sales tax is under 9% in most areas. Personally I would prefer a flat income tax and a higher state sales tax in order to get rid of state income/car taxes.
August 7, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
People with questions as to how the Fair tax could & would work need to read the Fair tax book (it is not very long & shouldn't take too much time) & go to the website..
Most here cannot answer all of the questions or do justice to most of them in this forum.
The most we can hope for is that people will educate themselves & start re-thinking the system we have.
August 7, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outrage (anonymous) says...
archdude - "I have thoroughly looked over the plan and the questions posed above are real."
You have not looked at it thoroughly, or you would not be making such a statement.
Buy the books and read them! Then read them again if you don't understand it all, or have unanswered questions. If you don't change your mind about the Fairtax!!! Let me know and I will buy the books from you! Fair enough?
August 7, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jefferymaier (anonymous) says...
They only way to reduce taxes is to reduce spending. Politicians are always trying to distract you from this simple fact of life. You are being duped by the Fair Tax Fools.
August 7, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
This is not merely about "reducing" taxes.
Further, the politicians are not going to just "reduce spending". They expect all the rest of us to do that so we can send them more for their pet projects.
So Jefferymaier, can you share some specific ways to accomplish your solution to the problem?
August 7, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Archdude,
First of all, the Fair Tax is inclusive in that you already pay those dollars in federal taxes now. You claim to have read the reference mat'ls, but you obviously don't understand what you read. Do you know that you pay nearly 23% on everything you buy already? There are taxes embedded in the price of goods and services now due to the tax liabilities of the producers of these goods and services.
Go back and read it again, dude.
August 8, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
ditto to rollo
August 8, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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