What a thrilling time it is as our idea for a better nation finally starts getting traction everywhere.

While those threatened with extinction—federal tax lobbyists and tax policy experts—have begun throwing the kitchen sink at the FairTax, the public is also getting a lot smarter about how the income tax system hurts America.

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword (or the smear)

FairTax supporters have taken up their pens and are commenting online, sending letters to the editor and raising the FairTax flag wherever they can. A few writers have been making a huge difference and every supporter is invited to take up the pen—or the keyboard—and fight for the FairTax.

Every day sees a new letter to the editor or web posting defining the 67,500 pages of income tax regulations, the effects of the current tax system on the “Made in America” label and the benefits of a fair, simple and transparent national tax system.

Tax policy was once the exclusive domain of Washington, DC experts who have jealously guarded their elevated status, spun the truth of how the arcane details of the tax code work, helped Congress hide the real effects and size of federal taxes and stoked the political fires to pit citizen against citizen.

That day is coming to an end because of the FairTax.

They don't like the idea of a simple tax system, of course, and they don’t much care for citizens learning the "secrets" of the dysfunctional income system. The more educated the public becomes; the harder it is for politicians and their handlers to manipulate the truth--and the more popular the FairTax becomes.

Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan and onward to the nation!

In Iowa, the FairTax took root and catapulted our issue to the center of Presidential politics. It was the spark that has lit a grassroots fire across the nation and caused voters to sit up and take notice that there might be a real solution to the income tax mess that bedevils taxpayers and damages the economy.

In South Carolina and Florida, FairTax groups have hosted rallies that saw thousands attend as well as Presidential candidates.

In Michigan, FairTax organizers pushed even harder to extend the FairTax virtues to the state tax system.

In one Florida Presidential debate John McCain told Mike Huckabee that the FairTax is resonating across the country and chuckled as he noted that everywhere he turns he sees someone in a FairTax shirt.





The FairTax bus is still crisscrossing the nation to the delight and surprise of people everywhere.

This is the beginning of the transformation from a national campaign to a national movement with individuals at the local level dreaming up new and even better ways to spread the word.

One fellow from Georgia has asked for help in promoting a FairTax rally next Saturday, February 2 in the online virtual world, Second Life. "I own property next to the FairTax Support Center," he said. "That's where I would like to hold a rally!"



The Best is Yet to Come

If you think that its been an exciting ride so far—just wait—its about to get a lot better.

February 12 sees the release of Neal Boortz and John Linder's new book, FairTax: The Truth--Answering the Critics. You can order a copy now here through Amazon.com.

The first 100,000 copies of the book contain FairTax.org’s membership brochure which should help build our army of citizens willing to speak up for a better tax system.

As April 15th approaches again we are making ready for an on-line petition we hope will have hundreds of thousands of names for delivery to both Presidential campaigns and to Congress itself.

The FairTax website saw 100,000 new visitors during December and here at FairTax.org we have worked hard to keep the website current and interesting—both for long time supporters and for new visitors.

We have developed "E-cards" that allow FairTaxers to send a simple message about the FairTax to a friend. You are encouraged to use these messages to both educate the public and bring new strength to our campaign. Click here to send an E-card.

Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff, the brilliant Boston University economist, has posted new work on the FairTax, including how it helps the middle class. While this won't stop the disinformation campaigns of the critics, it provides a needed answer by a highly respected economist to those who are trying harder than ever these days to distort the FairTax.

Our radio talk show appearances (at 650 and counting) continue to fire the imagination and hopes of hundreds of thousands of citizens who had given up on real tax reform and even given up on the Founding Father's promise that we are a nation, “Of, by and for the people….”. Leo Linbeck, our Chairman and cofounder recently spent two hours on big New York City station WOR.

The FairTax movement has become as much about the public's role in public policy as it is about a far better tax system.

Its healthy for the nation and it moves us closer—one step at a time—to seeing the FairTax driven, by the people, to the floor of the House and Senate.

Our goal now is to fan the spark that has been set in the grassroots into a raging fire that sweeps away those politicians who have forgotten they work for the people—not for tax lobbyists and not for themselves.

We are closer than we ever have been before but every one of us knows that as far as we have come, we have as far to go.

We cannot ever underestimate the self-interest of Washington, DC in keeping the power over the citizenry in the hands of the few who profit from manipulation of the tax code.

No single candidate defines the FairTax—this is a growing movement by the citizens of America who are finally standing up to end to our broken tax system and for a far better way to raise and control revenues for the common good.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your passion, your commitment and for your belief that, together, we citizens can create and see enacted good public policy. It is the core belief of our form of government and our best hope for a better nation. Please keep up the good work and keep up the pressure. When our elected officials--and candidates--feel the heat, they will see the light.

I skimmed the above, and it didn't say what the FairTax was. What a load of hot air!

So I visited their site. The proposal is to eliminate the income tax and replace it with a progressive sales tax.

This is absurd. Sales tax is hard to collect, compared to income tax. If you shift to a progressive sales tax, it'll raise sales taxes. I'd guess to around 35%. People will dodge that tax.

All their rhetoric about "transparency" is total bullshit. TOTAL BULLSHIT. The sales tax is dodged daily, by thousands of merchants who deal in cash. They pocket the savings... as personal profit. There's nothing transparent about that.

They also want to eliminate the estate tax, one of the most progressive and democratic taxes of all time. Even Ben Franlkin suggested that the estate tax be raised... to 100%, to eliminate inheritance.

They want to eliminate the Social Security and Medicare taxes, presumably to demolish these institutions.

A sales tax is generally regressive. It discourages conversion of cash into capital, particularly real capital like goods, land, and other physical objects. It encourages people to purchase stocks, bonds, and other financial products. Moreover, it advantages the people who invest more than buy - it punishes families who must purchase goods, and rewards individuals who act like bankers.

This UN-Fair Tax group are a pack of anti-tax conservatives. What the hell are they doing on Indymedia?