Mike Gravel Interview Part 2

goofy? he wants to abolish the IRS and the Federal Income tax.

if you choose you cannot pay taxes. Even if your not a citizen you pay taxes. Its easy just buy something to pay taxes. By design the rich pay more because they have more to spend and the poor keep more because they get their money back for necessities.

How in the hell is that goofy?

Personal - I know the theory. I know the myth. I know it sounds good. But you dont know crap about the effects it would have. What effect would a high sales tax have on nursing home patients? I bet you dont know. Do renters know they will have to pay 23% extra for their rent? I bet they dont. Can the military pay 200 billion a year in sales tax? I bet it cant. Will cancer patients be able to pay 23% tax on surgery and chemo? I bet they cant.

they get reimbursed with Health Insurance vouchers. You don't know crap. Because if you knew anything about gravel he wouldn't screw anyone.

Reimbursed health care VOUCHERS? Are you mental? Yes, I konw Gravel well enough to know he is a great guy. I admire him. I know he really has a good heart. But on this, his misses fundamental reality of the FT -- it wont work.

well all the stuff you mention is reibursed so how is that a policy failure? he's covered that ground.

Reimbursed for everything? Nonsense, unless MIke has a far different version than Fairtax org, and Boortz book. But regarldless, you cant send VOUCHERS for all that - thats like giving exemptions. If you exempt health care from the taxable spending, your 23% isnt near enough. The math wont work, unless health care is in there.

You are reinbursed for those expendetures. The revenue would be enormous since tourists and Illegal standing residents would have to pay it also.

Personal, you dont know what you are talking about. If you reimburse all these tax payments -- may as well not charge them. It would be stupid to charge the taxes, then send everyone a voucher for it. Yes, tourist and illegals wouldnt get the vouchers. But their spending would be about 1 /100000 of what you need. Their tax rate would have to 600000 %. I sorta think you wouldnt get a lot of tourist.

the rich would naturally pay more evening it out.

No - those hit hardest would be the young, the sick, the old. Those in nursing homes, those fighting cancer to stay alive, those who dont have houses, cars, assets.
Dont worry , this plan is absurd. Even Washington isnt dumb enough to walk into this trap and take the blame.