The FairTax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS Reviews

• Beware of false reviews

  
  By A2WMLSSQJSQ1BE on 2005-08-02
  It is obvious that Wealthy American and Rational Georgian did not actually read this book before the entered their review.
  
  After reading this book, I am amazed at how simple the idea really is. Do away with payroll taxes and the price of the item you are buying will drop. The idea of embedded taxes that we are paying under the current system never even came to mind before. I, as the end user, have to pay the payroll tax cost of every vender that touches that item. That cost is a pretty significant part of the total cost of the product. Harvard studies are showing 21% and higher depending on the item.
  
  On top of getting rid of the embedded tax, I end up getting more in my paycheck and I get a pre-bate for the cost of living. Where is the negative? I started to some research on line to find out and have yet to find any real negative. I found plenty of false propaganda from those that have not fully reviewed the plan, but no substantiated negative.
  
  The book itself is well written and easy to understand. My hats off to both John Linder and Neal Boortz to taking a pretty complex subject and making it so easy to understand.
  
  I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the tax code and ideas on how we can change it.
  
  
  
  
  

• Rebuttal of reviewers that obviously have not read the book

  
  By A2SEZ67IFEB0XY on 2005-08-03
  Neal(no I, Mr. Kepner)responds to a review here from "georgialib", but it appears that "georgialib" is now all of a sudden called "RationalGeorgian". Hiding from your lies, sir?
  
  So ... here we go with Hayden Kepner's critique of The FairTax Book:
  
  The so-called FairTax is such a simplistic, nonsensical idea that it's hard to know where to start in criticizing it, but here goes:
  
  1. The 23% Rate is a Lie. The book claims that the FairTax rate would be as low as 23% (on all goods a services, including new homes, cars medical treatments, insurance, rent, food, basically everything you spend money on to survive). But look at Boortz's own examples. An item that costs $100 pre-tax would cost $130 with the tax. That's a 30% tax rate any way you slice it (in addition to state sales taxes, which would boost the rate even higher). When they lie about the rate, how can you trust them with anything else? Also, the true tax rate would have to be to around 50%-60% in order to collect as much tax revenue as our current system does. Don't take my word for it, though, look at an objective source on this subject, such as the Brookings Institution webite.
  
  Well, I co-authored the book, and for the life of me I can't find anywhere in the book where we say that an item that costs $100 before the tax would cost $130 after the tax. It's simply not there .. not anywhere. In fact, due to price reductions brought about by the elimination of embedded taxes in all consumer goods, the price after the FairTax would be pretty much the same as the price under the current tax system. What's the problem here? Why did Mr. Kepner find it necessary to lie about what is written in the book in order to critique it? He says "look at Boortz's own examples:" Well, go ahead and look You won't find that example in the book! Amazing, isn't it? Kepner says "When they lie about the rate, how can you trust them with anything else?" My question is when Kepner lies about what's in the book, how can you trust him with anything else?
  
  Kepner also refers to a Brookings Institution article which says that the tax would have to be 50 to 60%. Sorry, but that's not the FairTax plan. Brookings is talking about making many consumer items exempt from the tax ... food, clothing, medicines. Brookings changes the provisions of the FairTax in other ways to arrive at that higher tax figure. That's what the prebate is for. Again, Mr. Kepner tries to mislead. Did he do so out of ignorance, or malice? Wonder why?
  
  2. Tax avoidance would skyrocket. Boortz claims the FairTax would eliminate tax avoidance. Wrong! Here's a simple example. Let's say I'm Neil Boortz and I want to buy a $200,000 yacht. Under the FairTax plan, I'd need to pay at least $60,000 in taxes to buy that yacht if I purchase it in the US. But if I go to the Bahamas and buy it, I don't pay any tax. Let's see, do I be a good citizen and pay the $60,000, or do I vacation to the Bahamas, buy the yacht there and pocket the $60,000? Gee, tough decision, but I know what ol' Neil would do. Same thing with expensive jewelery, vacations (why ski in Colorado and pay taxes on lift tickets, hotel and restaurants when you can ski tax free in Canada), you name it.
  
  Once again ... either an intentional lie or honest misrepresentation. Nowhere in The FairTax Book do we say that "the FairTax would eliminate tax avoidance." In fact, we say just the opposite. We note that some degree of avoidance is a certainty ... just as it is under out present system. What was it that Kepner said? Oh ... I think it was something like "When they lie about the rate, how can you trust them with anything else?" Well .. here's another Kepner lie. What does that say about the rest of his critique? Now ... about that $200,000 yacht. First problem. $200,000 doesn't buy much more than a mid-sized Boston Whaler fishing boat. Pricing aside, If I were to go to the Bahamas and buy that yacht, as soon as I bring it into this country I pay the tax. Ditto for trying to buy an airplane in Switzerland, a car in Germany, Diamonds in South Africa ... whatever. I guess Mr. Kepner hasn't heard of the U.S. Customs Service. Not surprised. Also .. since when is Canada tax free?
  
  3. It would destroy our economy. Remember, under Boortz's plan, virtually all purchases of new items by individuals would be subject to the FairTax. So when you go to buy a brand new house for $300,000, you now need to pay at least $90,000 in taxes. Are you going to buy a new house and fork over $90,000 in taxes, or are you going to buy a used home and not pay any taxes? Easy choice. Good-bye, construction jobs. Same with new cars and consumer goods. Nobody will buy new. Good-bye, Detroit. Good-bye, Wal-Mart (which might be a good thing).
  
  OK ... now we know that Kepner hasn't read the book and hasn't read H.R. 25, the FairTax Act. The FairTax is inclusive in the price of a consumer item. When you buy a $300,000 home ... the price is $300,000. No tax is added. The tax is inclusive in the price. Further, a $300,000 home before the FairTax will cost approximately the same after the FairTax. Why? Because the embedded taxes incurred in the construction of that home ... taxes that will be removed from the pricing ... will be gone. Poor Heyden Kepner. That's strike three.
  
  4. More tax avoidance. Remember, businesses aren't subject to the FairTax for their "investments". So I set up an LLC, buy a vacation home, and rent it out a couple nights a year. Bingo! It's now an "investment". No tax. Hey, why don't I do the same thing with my primary residence? After all, there won't be any IRS looking over my shoulder, will there Neil? In fact, maybe everything I buy from now on (clothes, restaurant meals, cars) will be for my LLC. Hey, good thing there won't be any IRS around to make sure these aren't for personal use.
  
  That's called tax avoidance, Hayden. It's illegal now .. it will be illegal then. That same tax avoidance scheme is available to you right now. Why don't you get out there and try it? Let us know how it works out. It seems that Hayden Kepner's critique gets weaker as we go along.
  
  5. Even more tax avoidance. Is a drug dealer going to pay taxes on the drugs he sells? What about deli's or retaurants that operate a cash business. Are they suddenly going to report all of their sales and pay taxes on them? Uh, let me guess.
  
  These delis (there's no apostrophe, Hayden) and restaurants (that's the proper spelling) can do that now. Do they? Yes ... some do. Most don't Again, there will be enforcement of the rules and regulations of the FairTax. Running out of steam, aren't you Mr. Kepner?
  
  6. Fairness. I got news for you, Boortz. Poor and middle class people spend a much higher percentage of their income than do the rich. They need to, just to get by. The rich, on the other hand, have plenty of money left over to save and invest. So, by definition, the FairTax would fall disproportionaly harder on the poor and middle class. Maybe Marie Antoinette would think that's fair, but most American's don't. 'Nuff said about that.
  
  The president's tax reform commission scored all of the proposals for tax reform, including the FairTax. The commission reported that the FairTax was the only tax reform proposal out there that completely relieves the poor of the burden of paying federal taxes. The only one. How many strikes does that make it now for Kepner? Not a very good at bat.
  
  7. One good thing: No corporate tax. The only redeeming value of the FairTax system would be the elimination of corporate income tax. That in itself would make our corporations more competitive by eliminating the incredible expenses they incur in accounting costs as well as in paying the corporate income tax itself (the dreaded "imbedded taxes" as the book calls them). But we could accomplish the same thing under our current system by simply abolishing the corporate income tax today and taxing dividends and capital gains at the same rate we tax ordinary income (i.e., wages). After all, if the corporate income tax is eliminated, corporations' share prices will go up and/or they will pay out more in dividends. So what do we need a corporate income tax for? But we don't need to throw out the personal income tax just to eliminate the corporate tax.
  
  Mr. Kepner doesn't recognize that all corporate taxes are paid by individuals anyway ... consumers, employees or shareholders. But then by now we understand that he hasn't read the book; so, no surprise here either.
  
  Come on, Congress! Give us a simple, mildly progressive income tax that applies to all forms of income, without all the complicated deductions and exemptions, then all of our tax rates would be lower and ridiculous ideas such as the FairTax wouldn't have any appeal whatsoever. But with the current group of folks running Congress, I won't hold my breath waiting for anything rational to make its way into law anytime soon.
  
  OK. Enough for one post. But you get the idea. THIS IS A STUPID PROPOSAL AND ANYONE WITH AN OUNCE OF SENSE KNOWS IT.
  
  We'll let the readers decide, Mr. Kepner ... and that's a group that doesn't include yourself.
  
  Signed,
  
  A Boortz Show listener and Nealz Nuze reader
  
  

• Get Ready for Tax Reform Debate Season!

  
  By A3R7GGVO6V78BQ on 2005-08-03
  As you undoubtedly know, the current federal tax system is broken. It:
  - is unfair, costly, confusing, inefficient, and time consuming
  - punishes hard work and thrift
  - is harmful to the economy by raising the price of consumer goods 20% to 30%
  - allows many to avoid paying their fair share
  - violates the 4th Amendment protecting the security of our "houses, papers, and effects"
  
  The FairTax (HR-25/SB-25) ia a great solution to these problems and this book explains why better than anything else to date. Please get a copy so you will be informed as the dabate about tax reform heats up in the months ahead.
  
  It will explain how we can:
  - repeal all federal income taxes, corporate income taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes, and death taxes
  - keep 100% of our paychecks and repeal all payroll withholding taxes
  - abolish the intrusive and coercive IRS as we know it and save $250 Billion nationally in bureaucracy costs
  - tax everyone fairly and simply
  - give an immediate pay raise to everyone who is below the poverty level
  - reduce the cost of goods and services by 20% to 30% causing little or no net gain in the price of goods when the tax is added
  - lower overall tax rates for lower and middle income Americans
  - effectively tax the underground, cash economy
  - eliminate all IRS tax forms and the professional fees needed to prepare them
  - stop billions of dollars spent by influencer peddlers and deal makers lobbying congress for special tax credits
  - rescue Social Security from its developing funding shortfall
  - create many new jobs by boosting our GDP by approximately 10.5% (according to a Harvard economist)
  - improve our foreign trade deficit by making us more competitive and attracting new business to America
  - allow individuals to control the level of tax they pay
  - prove that THIS form of National Retail Sales Tax (NRST) is better than a Flat Tax
  
  Get on board an economic revolution in the making!
  
  
  

• A closed mind can't grasp the concepts, is yours open?

  
  By A2W4RETIT50PEU on 2005-08-03
  I am amazed at the ignorance of some reviewers. Some intentionally lie (or misstate the truth through ignorance), and some ask questions that are easily answered by anyone who has READ the book.
  
  Therefore, I believe that most of the negative responses come from knee-jerk persons who are merely being negative out of their partisan love of taxation. I am not calling them "Liberals", since that isn't quite encompassing enough for all of their philosophies. After all, you can be "liberal" and not favor "progressive taxation". Taxation has been taught and promoted as a necessity for so long, that I believe some people mistakingly believe it has always been a part of this country. Few know that it was a temporary measure, and started at just 1%. The need for it in today's world is muddy at best - the "need" gets created every year, but somehow whatever is received is never enough.
  
  What would the government do without the IRS? Suppose the Supreme Court found some new argument to eliminate the IRS. What would the Federal Government do for income? I bet they'd implement something like the Fair Tax Plan. After all, they will still want to spend as much money as possible, to buy as many votes as possible.
  
  I know of many people of sound mind who believe that the IRS "is just too big" to ever be controlled or eliminated. This is logic that I just can't grasp. If it can be created, it can be destroyed. If this country is to survive, it needs to grow. The IRS isn't a "growing" strategy. It isn't helping people grow, it's punishing people. It is the cloud that blocks the sun, not the water that nourishes the plant.
  
  I know that supporters of high taxation (though many of its supporters pay very little or no taxes personally) don't want to see their support system modified, but they're looking at the short picture. If prices don't change, they won't be affected, but the benefits to them from increased economic productivity will have long-lasting effects. They are looking at the cost of their rent this month, and not their ability to buy a home next year. This short-sighted, partisan idiocy, is exactly what the politicians count on. Your ignorance allows them to fleece you each year out of your future. The check you get each year is nothing compared the economic gains you could receive in a free-market economy not hampered by high taxation. The job you have today could be an amazing career down the road.
  
  But if you can't open your mind, you will never see the bigger picture, or what is possible in an alternative future.
  
  This book is about what we can do if we stop punishing success, and start rewarding it. If you slam this book, then you don't expect success in your own life. Or, you're too lazy to work on it.
  
  I used to be the lazy type, always eager to excuse my failures. I understand the way the people think who slam this book - I used to be one of you. But then I realized that what I was doing wasn't working. Success doesn't come from envy of the rich - it comes from the success of hard work.
  
  The Fair Tax Plan isn't easy - and nothing good ever is. It will be tough to grasp for many, but that doesn't mean it isn't important. Physics is tough to grasp, but I wouldn't want Gravity to stop working, just because so few people understand it.
  
  If you really want to understand this plan, then read the book. Don't lie about it, don't create your impression before you read it. Just read it. And think to yourself what could happen if you started making 40% more each paycheck. Heck, even 20% more!
  
  What would you do with more money? Give it to the government, or save it for your family? Or, even get a family! :-)
  
  

• Book is everything it should be

  
  By A2IP55IO9XBLMP on 2005-08-02
  Boortz and Linder do an excellent job of explaining this concept. I have spent a great deal of time listening to Boortz talk about the concept and researched it myself. This is a truly exciting idea and would fix a great deal of the problems we have in this country. Please don't let Baron confuse the issue. His review contains some misinformation. The proposed 23% sales tax is a FEDERAL tax. Apparently, the state/local sales tax where Baron lives is 6.75%. The 23% will be in addition to the current 6.75% state/local sales tax, it is not part of the 23%. You will still have your state/local sales tax, however much it is, plus 23% for the fairtax. I also have no idea where Baron gets the idea that the retailer will get 6.75% of the tax collected. This is a complete falsehood. The retailer will get a small percentage, somewhere around 0.25%. Anyway, the book is outstanding and the fairtax is even better. Boortz and Linder do make a somewhat dry subject entertaining.
  
  
• It's time for a change
  By AMREDK2XFSA5T on 2005-08-03
  The book is right. As a business owner, I will admit that I pad all my pricing to make sure that I get a certain amount of money after taxes. I hate doing it, but that's the way it is. Under the Fairtax, I could drop my prices anywhere from 20%-30%, and still make the same amount of money.
  
  My clients would pay less, get the same service, and we would all have more money.
  
  Finally a tax plan that was built to run the government like a business, not a pork barrel.
  
  
• Response to previously listed objections
  By A2L6MZ1A2MBSNL on 2005-08-04
  The eight objections listed in a review by Edgar C Sparks can be easily shot down, one at a time, and with very little difficulty (logical thinking and comprehension of sarcasm is required to understand any of the following:)
  
  1. Opens us up to electronic money and total tracking of our monetary positions.
  
  What exactly is "electronic money"? Is "electronic money" worth the same as paper money? If it is, than I don't really give a damn. Oh, and you don't what the government tracking monetary positions (nor do I). So I guess you'd rather just keep on filling out those income tax returns, thereby helping the government do just that. Under the fair tax there is no reporting of income, accumulated wealth or assets, so what exactly are you talking about?
  
  2. Puts us all, everyone, on the Welfare roles.
  
  Ok, I assume you are speaking of the refund on taxes paid for the basic necessities of life. Do you express feelings of dissatification and complain bitterly everytime you receive an income tax refund? I guess now it is "welfare" for the government you give us back some of our own money. This is, by the way, a much simpler way of relieving the tax burden on basic necessities, for those who can afford it or not (thereby making it fair), than exempting specific items making way for corruption of the tax code by special interest groups (which is what we have now). So the next time the federal government sends you a "welfare check" after you pay too much income tax, go ahead and send it back.
  
  3. Quotes the wrong tax rate. It is 30%, not 23% of purchases.
  
  Do you quote your income taxes using the same formula? If so then someone in a 15% tax braket is actually paying 20%. I know you people like to quote certain taxes inclusively and others exclusively to suit your own purposes, but in the interests of fairness we should use the same formula. The inclusive rate is always less than if quoted exclusively. And how conveniently you forget about the imbedded taxes you are already paying. Man, I just realized I'm paying 8.2% FICA tax. Blast!
  
  4. Opens us up to a Sales Tax ID so that the rich can be taxed more than the poor.
  
  This goes against the entire plan. It would require a change in the law to mandate the retailer to charge certain people more or less tax at the checkout based on this "Sales Tax ID". And as we all know the rich are not taxed at any higher of a rate under our current system, right? So we replace FINs with SIDs (whoops, already taken), may we throw our representatives to the fire if THAT ever comes to pass (nevertheless it would be no worse than what we have now.)
  
  5. The tax rate can be easily raised at any time by the Congress.
  
  And the income tax can't be? Oh, it can, but it's just hidden amoungst tens of thousands of pages of tax code, and certain provisions only affect certain people, and since tax laws change every year no one notices anyway. But if the whole rate for everyone in the nation moves, people will notice, and there had better be a damn good reason for it.
  
  6. There is no way to limit the maximum tax rate. The tax rate can be increased to 100% and the Welfare rate increased so that all people receive the same income.
  
  And if the rate is 100% how can this lead to an redistributed equal income? Yes this could happen if the INCOME tax rate was 100%, but so the hell what if the SALES tax is 100%. Money not spent at the retail level would not be taxed. Such a tax would destroy retail sales, and create an immense underground black market. An politicians would be extremely hard pressed to give everyone an equal income when revenue plummets. (By the way, who would work if you received the same income no matter what you did?) You do understand the difference between an INCOME TAX and a SALES TAX, don't you? It appears not.
  
  
  7. It is nothing more than a way-stop on the way to a totally Communistic society.
  
  No, actually the exact opposite. Not adopting this and keeping the income tax is what is doing exactly what you fear. If fact your concerns from objection #6 are valid but completely misplaced. If you are truly concerned about objections #6 & 7, then you should be demanding the Congress institute this tax reform. This is a voluntary tax, as opposed to the money just being seized without a conscious choice by you. That is far from Communist.
  
  8. It will lead to wage confiscation.
  
  Did you even READ the book? What a truly asinine statement. The fair tax has nothing whatsoever to do with wages & income. It replaces all income, estate, Social Security and Medicare taxes. You keep 100% of your paycheck (aside from any State taxes), and this is "wage confiscation". What in the blue f#$% have you been smoking? Wage confiscation is what we have right now, sir. Wake up! You've listed three objection to the fair tax, that are far more applicable to the income tax.
  
  As put by many here, "If you don't like it you clearly don't understand it". But more accurately, if you don't like it, you are either willfully ignorant, or incredibly stupid.
  
  
• Step 1: Read Book. Step 2: Review Book
  By AX4930XZEI18Z on 2005-08-04
  It is truly amazing how people critize this book without having any knowledge of the subject. They see the words "Neal Boortz", "Fair Tax" and immediately assume that this is some soak-the-poor, evil rich manipulation scheme.
  
  READ THE BOOK FIRST! Every argument raised by critics on this site has been addressed, some from many different angles. One concept which MUST be understood and is clearly explained in the book: embedded taxes. For the critic "BushHater" (what a surprise), the concept if embedded taxes and how it affects the price of products is completely lost.
  
  Maybe this example will help you, BushHater...let's say you grow peaches. A new President is elected who hates peaches and convinces congress to pass a 20% tax on all income derived from the production and sale of peaches. What do you think you would do, BH? Would you just say, "Thanks, government! Please take more of my money!" No...you would RAISE THE PRICE OF PEACHES to help cover the new tax burden with which you were saddled. You would also pay a tax advisor to find a way around paying that 20% increase in taxes -- more money out of your pocket. Do you get it yet? That is happening RIGHT NOW -- to the tune of 22% of what you purchase. Take away the income tax and that 22% is NOT NEEDED. And if you think the evil corporations will just pocket that extra money you know nothing about capitalism and competitive markets. Add back in the 23% sales tax and it is a wash. Oh, except that YOU get to keep ALL of your check, you get a monthly prebate check to cover the sales tax on essential products, you are not taxed on what you save, you do not pay SS or medicare taxes, etc.
  
  It is a perfect system? No, there is no perfect tax system. But it is the best out there, it is VERY fair, and is sure beats the current system. Read the book. Understand the concept. See how concerns are addressed. Then, and only then, can you honestly review the topic.
  
  
  
• A Tax Fable
  By A2TFRW4UZYO7ZA on 2005-08-04
  A Tax Fable
  
  Suppose that everyday 10 men go to PJ's for lunch. The bill for all ten comes to $100. If it were paid the way we pay our taxes, the first four men would pay nothing; the fifth would pay $1; the sixth would pay $3; the seventh $7; the eighth $12; the ninth $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59. The 10 men ate lunch in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement until the owner threw them a curve.
  
  "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20." Now lunch for the 10 would costs only $80. The first four are unaffected. They still eat for free. Can you figure out how to divvy up the $20 savings between the remaining six so that everyone gets his fair share?
  
  The men realize that $20 divided by 6 is $3.33, but if they subtract that from everybody's share, then the fifth and the sixth man would end up being paid to eat their meal. The restaurant owner suggested that it would be only fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount that each paid and he started to work out the amounts each should pay.
  
  And so the fifth man paid nothing, the sixth pitched in $2, the seventh paid $5, the eighth paid $9, the ninth paid $12, leaving the tenth man with a bill of $52 instead of $59. Outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
  
  "I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man pointing to the tenth, "and he got $7!"
  
  "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got seven times more than me!"
  
  "That's true," shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $7 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks."
  
  "Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor."
  
  The nine men surrounded the tenth man and beat him up. The next day he didn't show up for lunch, so the nine sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They were $52 short!
  
  And that, boys and girls and college instructors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up at the table anymore. There are lots of good restaurants in Switzerland and the Caribbean.
  
  
• To all of the nay sayers
  By AU766DSU65UJ7 on 2005-08-04
  Having actually READ this book I'd like to say this to all of the people that gave it bad reviews.
  
  You either:
  A) Did not read the book,
  B) Can't comprehend what is in the book,
  C) Are a socialist, or
  D) All of the above
  
  I've read all of these bad reviews and can only wonder where did they find the information that they claim was in the book? When you eliminate the embedded taxes that are in every item(adds up to around 22%) and then add a 23% sales tax to the same items they basically even out. Everyone receives a check at the beginning of each month for the amount of sales tax that they would be expected to pay for their basic needs. As far as the comment about drug dealers not paying any taxes, are they paying an income tax now? No. But under this plan when they go to purchase goods and services they will pay taxes.
  
  People that have no concept of what they are talking about should really refrain from commenting on this. This means you people that wrote these highly inaccurate bad reviews. By the way, judging from some of these post you have to wonder if they can read at all, their English and spelling skills are pathetic at best.
  
  
• Brilliant Idea
  By A1A2WFTRU14FC3 on 2005-08-03
  Ignore the bad reviews, they come from people who do not understand the details of the FairTax. Sadly, these are the very people that need to read this book, yet they are caught up in what they THINK the FairTax is, based on their idealogy. Or they are tax accountants. Hard to tell. ;-)
  
  Point blank: The FairTax system is fairer than the current system. Neither our current system nor FairTax is perfect, but the point is, the FairTax has more going for it, and is less open to perversion by lobbyists and congressman trying to buy votes by pandering. With a national sales tax, it becomes much harder to create loopholes (as long as you implement the FairTax as-written).
  
  If you don't understand how on Earth people can pay less in taxes while leaving the government with the same amount of money, then you should read this book. (Simplified Hint: you do it by removing waste in the tax system, and taxing the black market, tourists, and increasing our economy through incentives for investment.)
  
  
• Why would anyone oppose consideration of the book's ideas?
  By A1548KD22AAWEJ on 2005-08-02
  The national debate is just really beginning, and this book's ideas should be on the table for discussion along with any other person's rational ideas. It seems to be an excellent initial discussion. I was taken aback by GA LIB's negative comments. He can't even get the author's first name correct! As he said, nuff said about that!
  
  
• if you are not for this idea, you are insane.
  By A22QY5S9H59M18 on 2005-08-02
  this is an excellent book, real simple to understand, which is good for low income people who are afraid they will be paying more for "things" and loose whatever goverment handouts they are receiving.
  even they will come ahead with this plan with more money in their pockets at the beginning of each month.
  on top of everything another bonus will be that EVERYONE will be paying to run the goverment, from drug dealers to illegal inmigrants.
  if you have any misgivings about the plan all you have to do is READ the book before you trash the plan.
  but remember this plan will never pass unless WE write our elected representatives to pass it so we better get this ball rolling.
  
  
• Fair Tax book should be manditory highschool and taxpayer reading
  By A3KCQVXVZ2JFRL on 2005-08-02
  The Fair Tax book should be manditory highschool and taxpayer reading. As it points out, we are being thoroughly molested by our taxation system.
  
  The libs/communists dislike this book because it exposes their desire to follow Karl Marx's ideology, from the communist manifesto:
  The need for a progressive income tax
  The taxation of ones estate
  
  
  Both of these things are currently in our current taxation system.
  The main benefit of this book is that it educates one about the disadvantage the current taxation system for us as a country in the international market.
  this book is a MUST READ.
  
  
• Absolutely Brilliant!!
  By A1ZO9GAJB0LBZJ on 2005-08-03
  This book is a must read! The Fair Tax is absolutely phenomenal. This is the single most common sense and economically sound tax reform proposal in American history. Once you read this book, you will be fighting tooth and nail to get the Fair Tax passed. What could be better than keeping 100% of your paycheck? Instead of taxes being forcibly taken from you, taxes are only paid on goods bought. There is not one single problem with this proposal. It is brilliant and completely foolproof, fair to both rich and poor. Those few negative reviews have this in common; they do not have even a sophomoric grasp of the Fair Tax concept and they are failing to see the obvious while pointing out alleged "problems" that they would find answered if they actually read the book. Excellent job Mr. Boortz and Rep. Linder. Here, here!!
  
  
• Read the Book!
  By A3JDNSBMXXLXDL on 2005-08-20
  I am amazed by the reviews by people who hate America and even the authors so much that they are unwilling to improve their position in life, and the future of their children all in the name of being "progressive." Most of the negative reviews come from people who obviously don't understand basic economy principles and don't understand the FairTax.
  
  I am tired of the 23% v. 30% debate...it is the same amount of money out of your dollar.
  
  77c + 23c = $1.00 or 23% inclusive (income tax quoted this way)
  77c * 30% = 23c & 77c + 23c = $1.00 exclusive
  GET OVER IT! 23c out of $1.00 is going to the government in both cases! If this is your main argument - it just doesn't hold water
  
  Secondly, I don't care how much you hate/distrust/abhor Neal Boortz (or John Linder) take comfort that it is ok to like this plan since it isn't his idea! He doesn't take credit for it - he is just putting it out their for our benefit. If you have the outlet to inform millions of people about a good idea that politicians aren't going to tell you about, you have an obligation to get it out there - and that is what he was doing. I don't care what party affiliation you have, this is deeper than politics - it goes straight to your wallet. George Bush isn't behind this, there is no conspiracy here...this movement has been around for a few years now headed by a grassroots organization and researched with donated dollars by bipartisan economists with no party ties. No political party gains here and that is the point. Politicians only have control of your taxes if you let them. Politicians would no longer be able to buy votes with promises to reform tax codes that can't be deciphered anymore anyway. Read the book!
  
  I am a small business owner who provides services. Basic competition tells me that when the FairTax is implemented, to keep business, I will have to lower my prices to incorporate the FairTax, and I will gladly do so and more because I will no longer be paying payroll taxes, personal income taxes, self employement taxes, and as a business my materials and services from suppliers and subcontractors will not be subject to tax, and I will now be able to do as much business as possible without having to worry about how much I'll have to pay in taxes! So I will gladly offer my services to anyone for the same price and probably less after the implementation of the FairTax WHICH MEANS STILL MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. Read the Book!
  
  Finally, EVERYONE GETS THE PREBATE! AT AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE POVERTY LEVEL ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF YOUR FAMILY, AND ONLY LEGAL HOUSEHOLDS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS GET IT. My family of 5 will get $570 per month no matter how much money I make to cover the sales tax expenses on necessities. Read the book!
  
  There are obvious benefits for all Americans, and the so called "flaws" of the plan just aren't justifiable. New goods will cost the same as they do now due to competition and fewer manufacturing costs, but you'll have more money to spend, and when you want to sell your current house or car to buy a new one, more people than ever before will be willing to pay what you ask for it. Making your climb up the ladder seem more like an elevator ride. And even if you still can't be convinced, I think most people would agree that most any plan is favorable over our completely flawed system now that penalizes me for being productive, discourages new enterprise, and makes American companies run for the tax comfort of foreign shores. Not to mention illegal aliens who are paying nothing under our current system.
  
  Enjoy the book - hopefully more of these incorrect assumptions can be laid to rest and people who are so energetically opposed could use that energy to help pass the FairTax.
  
  
• Our economy and your wallets would explode
  By A8AWV72MF2B6F on 2005-08-17
  This book is dead on and solves the problem of taxation in this country. Foreign vacationers, illegal immigrants, underground, prostitution - no matter who you are - you WILL be paying taxes with the fair consumption tax. This book also shows how the POOR will never pay any taxes and actually receive a check from the government to offset the necessities of life. Amazing! I highly recommend that this book gets to every congressman's office and especially into the hands of our President. He wanted to reform the tax code. I say REPLACE IT with this plan.
  
  
• Required reading for every American.
  By A1Y9T5RZTS5Z4V on 2005-08-03
  Amazing book which reveals how we can abolish the much hated IRS and finally tax all Americans fairly.
  Read this book, you'll be highly enlightened and motivated to throw your support behind this bill which is now before congress (The FairTax Bill, HR 25 and S 25).
  
  One last thing, before you post a review, please read and understand the book. D. Price posted an erroneous review where he states that "the Federal sales tax rate would be closer to 30% but wait, that's not all...include State, County, City sales taxes and now we are up to 40%!" Read the book again Price. The proposed Fairtax rate would be 23%+ your local state/local sales tax which would be around 30% for most states, not 40%.
  
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• A great explanation of a great plan
  By AK1RXIS3YUS9G on 2005-08-03
  This book puts a simple plan to revolutionize taxes into mostly plain English. I found some of the subject matter very dry, but how can you really spice up basic economic and accounting to make it enjoyable?
  
  Neal's cutting wit makes it happen. Both he and John Linder lay a good background to the history of Income Tax and the withholding. The point of asking people "how much did you pay in taxes last year," and standing back and hearing "I didn't pay any taxes, I got a refund." This answer will prove a point that we as tax payer do not realize that we are paying between the 30-35% in deductions, and also 20 - 30% in imbedded taxes.
  
  I have been following the Fair Tax for several years and have volunteered at events. This book made me even more of a devoted follower. I hope it will make you a devoted convert if you are not one already.
  
  
• You will LOVE this book no matter what you're political persuasion
  By A33U9WH2CT3523 on 2005-08-03
  I was pretty knowledgeable regarding the FairTax and also the pitfalls of our current system before reading this book. But the way that Boortz/Linder present the information is just amazing! It's hard to believe that a Republican Congressman and an opinionated radio talk show host could write this book in such a non-partisan manner. In fact you will see how it's never been the democrats or republicans or anything in between who's been at fault, but just greed from politicians and the indifference of Americans.
  
  The US tax system influences just about every single aspect of economics and much of politics. This book shows you how EVERYTHING will change for the better once the FairTax is impemented.
  
  I used to also be one of these "partisans" that had a single side but when I started to learn about the FairTax that quickly changed. If you ever heard about the FairTax from one of these hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters, and heard about some of the basic aspects of this and liked or disliked, this book is for you. It's a very quick and easy read and will pretty much give you EVERYTHING you need to know about the FairTax.
  
  My guess is that the 1 star ratings came from those few groups of people who would be effected negatively under the FairTax such as the tax lobbyists, and members of the $1 Trillion underground economy that go completely untaxed! The FairTax eliminates the lobbyists, and the underground economy is taxed when they make legitimate purchases. Those are really the only 2 groups that this system effects negatively, oh and also the politicians who receive the payouts from the lobbyists.
  
  Great job Boortz/Linder, everyone buy the book!
  
  
• Brilliant book demonstrates the high cost of our current complex tax system and offers an effective solution
  By A2IB2LJ6NUA8HL on 2005-08-03
  There is a fundamental rule from project management that can describe the state of our current complicated tax system: there is an exponential relationship between complexity of the project, system, or solution and the cost to create and maintain the system over time (i.e., think NASA engineering projects, large software development projects, and the current tax code/system). To prevent extreme costs, the system's complexity should be reduced and simplified as much as possible, and this is the crux of this brilliant book, which offers a drastically simpler yet effective and mathematically demonstrable system (FairTax) of collecting taxes in a manner that will boost America's global competitiveness and stimulate job and wealth creation.
  
  Many examples are given in the book that demonstrates the excessive cost of our tax system due to its complexity, here are a few examples:
  
  * 5.8 billion man hours of effort are spent annually in the US to ensure compliance with the complicated tax code, which is equivalent to a full-time workforce of 2.77 million people! (p.43).
  
  * Tax decisions made by businesses due to the current complicated tax system costs our economy 18% of GDP! (p.49)
  
  * Approximately $500 billion a year is spent to comply with the code, all of it spent just to collect no more than three times that amount in tax revenue! (p.49)
  
  This book also gives great insights into the reasons why businesses are offshoring due to our current tax system and the accompanying job losses caused by this and how the FairTax system can drastically increase the global competitiveness of America, creating many new jobs and implicitly bringing down our trade deficits (chapter 6). Another great insight is why corporate taxation adds unnecessarily complexity to our current tax system -- in the end, it's individuals who pick up the corporate tax costs, i.e., shareholders, employees, and customers (chapter 3).
  
  I highly recommend this insightful well-written book, and with enough publicity and effort (i.e., please read the book and recommend it to family and friends) it will lead to a grass-roots effort to simplify our very complex tax system and lead America into more prosperity. Thankfully, the timing of this book couldn't have been better - President Bush and many members of Congress have been discussing ways of simplifying the tax system - it's time now to shout the need for change into their political ears. Neal Boortz and John Linder, thank you for writing this book and proposing the FairTax system!
  
  
  
• Great concept!
  By A44C6IG8N8NMB on 2005-08-02
  Read this book!! The concept is great, unique, and moves us away from a progressive and burdensome tax. Consider the idea and take an open minded approach. It is possible to replace the current system to a fair one where we return to a fundamentally accountable society, where if you want to own lavish and expensive items, you have to pay for that luxury.
  
  
• Excellent Book, but don't hold your breath while waitng to see this enacted
  By A3N6VQ4VA18F5W on 2005-08-03
  This book is excellently researched and covers both the history of income taxation, its detrimental effects on economic growth, and the benefits of a "Fair" sales tax alternative. So far so good. The big rub is thanks to the current progressive tax rates, a HUGE amount of people at the lower part of the economic pyramid pay little if any tax. To these mind numbed masses, tax cuts/reforms are ho-hum issues. Therefore, they are also ripe for the demagogues such as Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer and their socialist cronies. Expect them to predictably portray an abolishment of the income tax/IRS as a ploy to further enrich the wealthy. Lastly, there are entire industries that have been created to support the income tax system. I suspect the H&R Blocks, tax accountants/attornies and others will be spending billions to keep this bloodsucking system in place. This is not going to stop me from supporting this concept, only to draw some perspective.
  
  
• Non-interested interested, now.
  By AOVUWNJJ46PTM on 2005-08-03
  The only reason I read this book was because my school paper's editor needed a book review to fill up space, and since it just came out, I decided it'd be as good as anything.
  
  This book pushed me from a non-interested book reviewer to an American who wants to fight the good fight and get this implimented. It is a very sound idea, and everyone benefits.
  
  Read this book if you're tired of the IRS taking your money, and want to do something about it. It'll give you all the information you need, and details how you can contact the lawmakers and push them to consider it too.
  
  
• Overtaxed Badger
  By A3Q12SGSRCV9MJ on 2005-08-03
  The fair tax is a perfectly thought-out and well designed tax plan, and this book is a perfectly written explaination of it. It's all there - including the truth about the issues that have been mentioned in these reviews (hey, read the book before you post reviews please). Very easy to read. Such a great, simple plan. I'll be letting all of my representatives in Washington that my vote in comming elections will go to any candidate who will put there name behind this legislation. Gotta go contact Senators Kohl and Feingold!
  
  
• Make Sure You Read It Before You Review It
  By ANMNAS9TGMSKN on 2005-08-03
  For those are you who are either unable to, incapable of, or too unintelligent to read the book before writing a review: STOP. This book is going to start a revolution of montrous proportions. I congratulate Neal Boortz and John Linder on such a wonderful book.
  
  
• Tax spending, not income. I love it!!!
  By A13S0PF39ZCD6S on 2006-01-05
  It appears the reviews on this book are as partisan as everything else in this country these days. Sometimes it seems as if people aren't reading the same book. In some cases I question whether the book was read at all.
  
  My husband and I have been strong supporters of the FairTax almost since its inception. We looked forward with anxious anticipation to "The FairTax Book".
  
  Having a small business, we realized early on that the current system of collecting federal revenue does not work for most Americans, and especially small business owners. The self-employment tax alone can kill a business in its early stages. We've never understood why our government would want to do that, since small businesses have been the backbone of this nation since it was founded.
  
  Supporters of the FairTax - including business owners, economists, CPA's, proponents of small government, many in Congress, etc., understand how the FairTax would benefit the U.S. economy as a whole.
  
  Those opposed to the idea - the rich who can afford to manipulate the current system, proponents of big government and the control it engenders, those who make their living solely from the confusion, anger and frustration of the current system (of which there are far too many), along with those involved in the underground economy in this country, for obvious reasons fear a tax system contrary to their agendas.
  
  We people in America are stretched to our limits with taxation on all levels. We once again have taxation without representation. We are being forced to ante up with no concern for our own financial needs. Under the FairTax, we would actually get something back in return for our paying taxes (a product and a prebate) rather than paying taxes and hoping we have enough left for necessities. In addition, if the FairTax were implemented on all levels - federal, state and local - governments would amass enough money to satisfy their needs if they, like us, were expected to practice budgetary constraints. But then that's a whole other subject.
  
  The book is wonderful, the concept is wonderful, and, when it becomes law, this Country will be a happier place. April 15 would be looked forward to with joy rather than Tums.
  
  
• Most Exciting Concept I Have Seen
  By A23XJ47BMZMS1L on 2005-08-03
  The most simple explanation of the history and current status of our tax system I have ever seen. I may not be the most intelligent person in this country but, I get it. I'm in. The FairTax makes perfect sense.
  
  
• Fantastic Book - keeping fingers crossed
  By A3T4WFDS5G1P9H on 2005-08-04
  This is a tremendously insightful, informative and, most of all, ENTERTAINING book about one of the dullest subjects out there. I thought reading this would be about as interesting as taking a job as a toll-booth worker, but I was dead wrong (no offense to toll-booth workers, well I take that back - your job is boring). I had a brief understanding about the fair tax but this book sold me on how its implementation would not only help this country grow (making us all more money), but it would stop this insanity of penalizing the hardest workers. There's also something nice about hookers, drug dealers, and illegal workers all contributing to our system instead of law abiding working citizens fronting it all. And who could argue against bringing American businesses back home? Have you been to Detroit recently? (No offense to people in Detroit, wait I take that back too - Detroit IS pretty miserable) Sounds like a no brainer to me but I hope this concept doesn't get shot down for purely political reasons. I strongly encourage Boortz and Linder to work harder at talking with Libs about how this could benefit THEM as to avoid a knee-jerk reaction to opposing "Republican" bills. In a nutshell: Get this book, give it to your liberal friend - they need to understand more than anyone....
  
  
• Big Lib-ertarian
  By A384SJ2YOUVYHK on 2005-08-03
  The Fair Tax would benefit the "working poor" more than anyone. I humbly suggest that a person should actually read the the book before making an ill informed, ignorant comment. Excellant read.
  
  

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