The Fair Tax Book
Regan Books (HarperCollins)
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Non-Fiction
Hardcover: 208 pages
Authors: Neal Boortz & John Linder
Release Date: (August 2, 2005)
Britt Gillette's review of The Fair Tax Book
Few people would expect a book about taxes to take The New York Times bestseller list by storm, but that's exactly what The Fair Tax Book is certain to do. For decades, Americans from every point on the political spectrum have moaned about April 15th and the maze of ridiculous instructions and high confiscatory taxation that accompanies that day. The current tax code is a labyrinth of over nine million pages of indecipherable jargon only a federal bureaucrat could fully appreciate. So can't we do something about it?
You bet. The Fair Tax Book lays out a perfect case for why the current tax code should and can be replaced by a simple and easy to understand tax system that slashes the current nine million pages of red tape in favor of a 133-page gateway to prosperity.
The concept is simple. All current federal taxes - income taxes, medicare taxes, social security taxes, gasoline taxes, capital gains taxes, etc. - will be eliminated overnight. In their place, the federal government will levy a single 23% sales tax on all retail goods. Workers will finally get to take home 100% of their paychecks. Investors will finally be able to invest without having worry about the tax consequences. And April 15th will become just another ordinary day. Sounds simple right? Well, you'll probably have more than a few questions and concerns. But The Fair Tax Book performs a stellar job in addressing the most commonly asked questions.
If we do this, won't prices go up 23%? No. The elimination of all current federal taxes will also eliminate the embedded tax costs inherent in all products currently sold. Since the Fair Tax will only be applied to final retail products, and not the inputs used in the manufacture of those products, prices will drop an average of 22% across the economy. So prices will remain the same (but don't forget, you're now taking home 100% of your paycheck)!
What about the poor, won't they get hammered by the Fair Tax? Absolutely not. In fact, the Fair Tax is the only tax reform bill before Congress that totally eliminates the tax burden of the poor. Under the Fair Tax, every American (from the richest among us to the poorest among us) will receive a monthly rebate check from the federal government that covers the cost of the 23% sales tax up the poverty level. So a check for approximately $450 will be deposited in everyone's bank account to cover the 23% tax on the basic necessities of life (such as food, gasoline, clothing, etc.)
You'll probably have more questions than can possibly be addressed in this short review, but I have no doubt they'll all be answered if you simply take the time to read The Fair Tax Book. Authors Neal Boortz and John Linder brilliantly lay out their case for tax reform in an easy to read format that's also quite entertaining. And with powerful and influential Americans such as Tom Delay, Alan Greenspan, and Sean Hannity all trumpeting their support for the Fair Tax, it seems certain dominate the realm of political discourse for years to come.
Once you read it, you'll probably agree that The FairTax Book is probably the most important book to hit the American political landscape since Uncle Tom's Cabin. The FairTax is simple and easy to understand. More importantly, it returns America to the original intent of the Founding Fathers by creating a system of voluntary taxation that unleashes the true potential of free individuals. The explosion in wealth creation certain to follow will fuel America's position as the world's leading superpower for decades to come and solidify our nation's future for our children and grandchildren.
As a result, The Fair Tax Book will probably launch a political revolution. And I only have one thing to say to those who are grappling with the decision of whether or not to spend their hard-earned money on this book… Do yourself a favor and buy it now.
In fact, buy ten so you can give the rest to your friends and neighbors!
Britt Gillette
Author of The
Dittohead's Guide To Adult Beverages
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
If you support the idea of the Fair Tax and want to know what you can
do to make it a reality, I suggest doing the following:
1. Write your representative and both your Senators once a week to express your support for HR 25
2. Actively support (with time and money) congressional candidates who vow to support the FairTax and actively work to defeat those who don't
3. Donate your time and money to FairTax.Org
4. Buy a copy (or multiple copies) of The Fair Tax Book and donate them to your local library so the Fair Tax message can reach a broader audience (doing so is tax deductible, so you'd be using the current tax code in order to eliminate it!)
5. Educate everyone you encounter about the merits of the FairTax
If everyone supporting the FairTax carries out these actions, the FairTax
will dominate the political discourse of America. If we let America's
politicians know that their very jobs in Washington on dependent on passage
of the Fair Tax, it's certain to become reality. Don't leave this fight
to others! The American political system is set up so that we the people
can decide exactly how we're to be governed, let's prove it by passing
the Fair Tax!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Posted on 4 August 2005