Quote Originally Posted by billyjeff2 View Post
Although I could do it, it would take me so long to reply to all the points made in the above-post I won't even bother.....
Well, since you made considerably fewer points, I will happily address them all.

1. Stating that something is presently unconstitutional is quite irrelevant. At one point in American history, the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol was unconstitutional, as was letting women and blacks vote. Of course, the original constitution had no objection to the ownership of slaves either.

The constitution was designed as a living document that could change as the needs of the country changed. (we're up to 27 amendments now aren't we?) If as a people, we were to finally figure out that people who live off the governmetn shouldn't be directing the government, there is nothing to stop the constitution being changed again.

2. A 12% tax rate would probably NOT be a tax cut for the super rich. The super rich in this country rarely pay more than 1 or 2% in taxes. Many multi-billion dollar corporations pay virtually nothing in taxes at all because of our insane tax write-offs.

Even if it was an enourmos loss of revenue, following my other ideas about reducing government overhead could easily make up the cost. Our government is uselessly bloated and needs to go on a diet like a fat guy headed to his high school reunion.

If it turned out that 12% was too low, then make it 20% With a standard deduction of $60k, a person making 100k would pay a total of 8% of his income in taxes. The progressive scale is built right in. The tax wouldn't flatten out until you looked at people which such high incomes that a $60k standard deduction was irrelevant. In many respects this would be far MORE progressive than our current structure.

3. As for your assertion that treating financial lobbying (please note that I have now twice specified financial lobbying) as form of treason is "nonsense," we must simply agree to disagree. I think history has shown us that financial lobbying is the bane of democracy.

We live in a country where congressional votes are bought and sold by special interest groups, who promis to help with the next election. To attempt to buy a person's vote (private or congressional) or to sell your own vote (private or congressional) is an affront to all that this country once stood for. It is an insult to our constitution, to our founding fathers, and to the men and women who have fought and died to ensure we continue to have that freedom.