S O U N D O F F
November 17, 2008
The Greeley Tribune
Friday, November 14, 2008
To Betsy Markey winner of the 4th Congressional seat in Colorado, we have a challenge for you.
Being editor of www.GoodNeighborLaw.com for the past two years has given me a real opportunity to hear uncensored heartfelt concerns from individuals who are Democrat, Republican, Independent, liberal, conservative and Libertarian, and cross over all social economic levels, professions, religions, ethnicity and gender.
What have I learned? We share a common and deep anger over the way we're taxed; i.e. federal income tax.
Recognizing the necessity for national security, international trade policies, skyways and byways, none begrudge paying taxes, but abhor facts including: Takes the federal government 70 cents to process one dollar of one's income; breeds corruption in both the prospective receivers and distributors of the remaining 30 cents; banishes incentive to develop a product and subsequent business; enables IRS agents to use mobster collection tactics; opens doors for non-profits like The Nature Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife to lobby with profits gained via government grants and private contributions; unnecessarily creates and maintains a class warfare that strengthens the socialistic march on America.
Here's our challenge:
Go to Congress and fiercely push to transition out income tax, and replace with a fair form of sales tax.
The mathematics of, for example, a 17 percent sales tax, would bear out the best form of wealth redistribution.
How?
When the wealthy guy or gal buys a Lear Jet at a cost of $50 million, he or she would pay a 17 percent sales tax, or approximately 8.5 million, which would most likely exceed the amount they'd pay at a 60-percent rate of their annual income.
Comparatively, when Joe the Plumber buys a $100 wrench, he'll pay $17 sales tax bringing his one time cost to $117. Using his new $117 wrench he could make $240 in one day, leaving him wholly keepable net income of $123.
His income would grow to such an extent he'd naturally buy more goods and maybe hire employees.
You can clearly see the phenomenally positive ripple affect this would have on America's economy.
Food and medical should be exempt from sales tax. What can be more equitable and compassionate than that?
An agreement between states and the federal government would establish states receiving a certain percentage out of this federal sales tax. No carrots dangled, just a straightforward agreement that would honor states rights to take care of its own unique needs.
After all, history has born out how economically imprudent and cantankerously unreasonable it can be for a senator from New York to tell Wyoming how to run cattle, or a Senator from Wyoming to dictate to New York how it should run Broadway musicals.
Eliminating income tax and replacing it with a sales tax, would grow a larger willing base of contributors to needy than any government mandate.
I believe the human spirit is innately loving and giving. Contrarily, the federal government is not.
Markey, please heed these words that come from the diverse hearts and minds of many throughout Colorado.
We will keep pushing and encouraging you to follow through on our fair sales tax request.
Failing our request leaves us with another choice, and that is to have me run for your seat in 2010.
Roni Sylvester lives with her husband, Chuck, on his century farm on the South Platte River in La Salle.</i>