Besides cleaning house (snicker) come November, I think the next thing that needs to be focused on is our tax system. Because, if you haven't noticed (and who hasn't?), it stinks. And if we want to have any hope of being able to pay for all this entitlement crap, we've got to find a way to generate the money. The way things stand now, we've got no chance in hell of being able to support any entitlement programs. And like Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, we'll probably never be able to repeal Obamacare. Even if it were possible, I like to be practical.
So, what's the answer? The Fairtax. Oh my goodness, I've never been so in love with an idea. It is brilliant in it's simplicity.
From their site:
- Enables workers to keep their entire paychecks
- Enables retirees to keep their entire pensions
- Refunds in advance the tax on purchases of basic necessities
- Allows American products to compete fairly
- Brings transparency and accountability to tax policy
- Ensures Social Security and Medicare funding
- Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
- Abolishes the IRS
The Republicans said they were listening, let's make them prove it!
This certainly sounds good; I have to work out which is better a fair or a flat tax. With all the illegals, the fair sounds better (fairer, heh), and the flat tax doesn't seem to replace sales and other taxes.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I'm not an economist or taxy-mathy person, but I know we need to do something and do it soon. If we take both houses this year and the WH in 2012, along with a few more seats in Congress from those not up for reelection this year, then we'd have the mandate to make some big changes. I think there's a chance the healthcare bill can be repealed and replaced but that has to happen before it goes into effect. Most of the things that republicans want to keep are already in effect, but the whole thing needs to be pulled. That may not happen. I don't think the mandate will stand, and without it the whole thing falls apart.
I'm ready to make those hard choices about Medicare, though. Ryan's plan is a good one, and while it might bite people like me (in their forties), it would be best for our country's and our children's future.