Reader comments
Jay Evensen: Sales tax idea in Congress would drown us in taxes

liberal larry | 6:32 a.m. June 7, 2009

This is one of the worst editorials I've ever seen in any paper. The author seems to have done zero research to back up his snide anti government remarks. He even references a wild, unsubstantiated rumor that congress is planning a 25% national sales tax. Come on Dnews you can do much better than this!

How about it Obama? | 7:00 a.m. June 7, 2009

Sales tax? Does this mean Obama is backing away from his promice that those undre $250,000 would not see their taxes raised?

Ultra Bob ` | 7:22 a.m. June 7, 2009

THE FAIR TAX ISNT A FAIR TAX. It is the final step in the transfer of all wealth and money from the people to the FAT CATS of the very rich.

The Fair Tax would tax every penny of ordinary peoples wealth because they must spend it on consumables. The very wealthy people would spend a tiny fractional amount of their wealth on consumables. One of the Kenned family said it best, When you are very rich, you dont have to own anything.

The main problem is that investments, and other gambling would not be taxed.

Comments continue below

Voin Campbell | 8:02 a.m. June 7, 2009

"Fair Tax" is a lgical contradiction. There are only more or less fair taxes.

Dave | 9:29 a.m. June 7, 2009

Under the Fair Tax, the poor would pay no Fed taxes, they currently pay FICA taxes on every penny earned. To think the wealthy would stop spending is absurd. The tax on Al Gores jet fuel alone would quickly pay the national debt.

Big Fella | 12:43 p.m. June 7, 2009

Please put hefty "sin" taxes on products containing sugar, corn syrup, high fat, and other unhealthy junk.

vanno | 4:37 p.m. June 7, 2009

The federal income tax is not enough revenue anyway. ADDING a vat is like ciphening off the remaining blood from a severe anemic.
REPLACE the inadequate corp./personal income tax with a vat or fairtax.

An Observer | 6:03 p.m. June 7, 2009

LIberals make no sense in these posts.

Are you for or against a national sales tax?

Obama is clealrly for it,

which WILL raise taxes for EVERYONE, no exceptions.

Obama LIED he IS raising taxes on everyone.

Marianne | 9:22 p.m. June 7, 2009

There is one error and several significant omissions in this article. Education is the one thing that does not get taxed under the FairTax. To be sure theres no confusion, the FairTax is only charged on the final product, so unlike the current corporate tax, it does not compound on its way to the final point of sale. Theres no mention of the fact that the elimination of corporate taxed would reduce the price of goods before the tax is added, or the prebate which pre-imburses every household for taxes that will be paid on the cost of living up to the poverty level. The tax may be high, but it is revenue-neutral, which means it merely reflects the taxes were already paying. The difference is that its more transparent, and shifts power from the government back to the people where it belongs.

Correction | 7:59 a.m. June 8, 2009

We are already drowning in taxes. Obama is, metaphorically, actually pouring water on a drowning man.

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