In response to a recent article published that featured Mike Huckabee’s visit to Carroll and his explanation of the Fair Tax, retired tax attorney, Stephen Eldridge has drafted a response with his views on the Fair Tax, which includes associated links. You can follow this link to read Huckabee’s position on the Fair Tax.
Two other listeners have drafted rebuttals to what Stephen Eldridge has presented. Their viewpoints are posted below, followed by the original message from Mr. Eldridge:
Carroll Broadcasting Company reserves the right to remove language or refuse to publish any response that is derogatory or slanderous to another individual.
Response to Stephen Eldridge’s comments made by David Boone.
Not sure what Eldridge’s game is. I do know that he uses a cut and paste rant against the FAIRtax whenever the word comes up in print. I also know that his views are mistaken to put it generously. Don’t take his word for any of it, in fact don’t take my word. Do your own research at FAIRtax.org. If you have questions, post them at https://www.facebook.com/FairTax/
Response to Stephen Eldridge’s comments made by James Bennett:
Mr. Eldridge advances his own version of a flat income tax that has no research or grassroots support behind it. As a flat tax, the proposal will fail for several reasons. Mr. Eldridge’s tax will make it more likely that we end up with both a consumption tax and an income tax. Mr. Eldridge’s tax necessarily keeps the institution of the IRS and will morph back into today’s 76,000 pages of statutes, revenue rulings and regulations. His tax fails to tap the underground and shadow economies. The base remains unstable and is subject to fluctuate during times of economic expansion and recession. The tax does nothing to stabilize Social Security and Medicare. The tax continues to tax exports and reinvested earnings. Finally, Mr. Eldridge’s tax will be a difficult political sell. For a viable alternative choice, consider the FAIRtax(SM), www.fairtax.org.
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Stephen Eldridge Rebuttal to Huckabee Fair Tax Plan Proposal:
FAIRtaxsm (“FT”) is a FRAUD – we need a 10% “Tithe”!
I’me a RETIRED tax lawyer/CPA, with no financial interest in ANY tax system. For supporting details, see http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge & https://youtu.be/wiVLf1vrQX8
FT ADVERTISES that it’s MORE Progressive http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!fairtaxs-progressive-socialist-heart/c1hzm. The Prebate is claimed to merely “protect” the poor, but would actually pay them far MORE than any FT they might pay (the poor pay ZERO tax and RECEIVE a large tax welfare check) – also, the working poor get FREE SS/Medicare. http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!ft-increases-tax-welfare/copu
FT is really a 70-80% tax! First, FT produces a 35-45% combined fed+S/L in-your-face retail sales tax that would spark a taxpayer rebellion that would destroy our retail-sales-sensitive economy.
Second, FT contains another 20% in HIDDEN TAXES. FT’s 30% rate is really 42+%; the 12+% is hidden by having govts pay FT – they must get that money from you. FT’s economists admit that the initial 30% rate is 5% short. FT causes the fed budget for SS to rise by, 1) SS & all federal pension COLA’s of almost 30% and by, 2) “invited” fraudulent new SS benefits. http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!fts-hidden-taxes/c105c
Third, incredibly, FT “assumes” that there would be no evasion/avoidance. In the real world, the expected 20-30% shortfall cannot be made up by increasing FT’s 30% rate to 50-60%, and would result instead in a NEW Income Tax. Congress would surely repeal FT’s laughable Sunset Clause and the 16th Amendment will not be repealed any time soon. http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!the-myth-that-the-irs-is-abolished-/c1tu0 & https://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/a-primer-on-the-flat-tax-and-fundamental-tax-reform/
FT’s own NEW IRS (STAA) could be more invasive, than today’s IRS if it decides to audit consumers -§101(d) – and, we may have to file an “Annual FT Summary”. STAA would likely be combined with the old IRS.
Seniors are particularly harmed by FT http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!seniors/hxv1u
New homes would be unaffordable. The 35-45% sales taxes will have to be paid up front so that “down payments” will be nearly 50% of prices that are 35-45% HIGHER to begin with –http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!ft-will-increase-prices-by-nearly-30/czaa
We need a Flat Income Tax; No Deductions, No Exemptions, No Credits, 10% rate. Call your representatives in Congress and let them know that this is what you want. http://sceldridge.wix.com/sceldridge#!page-2/cjg9
