» » 'Fair Tax' would preserve U.S. jobs
Your voice: Henry Williamson - February 5, 2006
All of us are bemoaning the fact that Ford recently announced intentions to lay off thousands of workers. General Motors, the airlines and other major contributors to the health of our national economy are also in financial trouble, and of course the workers are feeling the crunch.
We need to do something to reverse the trend of loss jobs and financially troubled companies. In the minds of over 600,000 supporters, including more than 70 economists, there is an answer - it is called the Fair Tax.
The Fair Tax Act (visit www.fairtax.org for details) is a plan already in Congress just waiting to rev up our national economy by providing the right incentives for:
American manufacturers to stay in America.
Good-paying manufacturing jobs not to be sent overseas.
American families to utilize more take-home pay.
U.S. soil to be made a haven for business that can export around the world and compete with any nation on earth on a "level playing field."
From the American worker's standpoint, the key is that the Fair Tax Act would help save American jobs and promote American manufacturing that stays on U.S. soil. Many experts say this is how we save American jobs, and this is how we compete against substandard wages in a global economy.
Some politicians, lobbyists, tax attorneys and others will tell you that "big business" is not paying its fair share of taxes. The fact is, in the end, all taxation of business is passed on to us, the taxpaying consumer - in the form of higher costs for goods and services we want, need and use.
In addition, taxation on business is directly responsible for lower wages.
Under the Fair Tax Act, American manufacturers would have the incentive to stay in the United States and not send precious jobs overseas because they would pay no corporate tax: It would give them the incentive to produce and manufacture here within the United States instead of China, India, Taiwan, Mexico and other countries overseas.
The way to compete nowadays is not to cut wages, but to provide incentives for business to do business inside the United States. The Fair Tax Act would do that exactly. And it does so much more. Incidentally, don't confuse the Fair Tax with the flat tax or the value-added tax; they are not the same, and they don't do nearly what the Fair Tax would do for Americans and the economy.
Henry Williamson of Fairfield is a retired credit analyst and a former member of The Enquirer's Local Voices panel.
» » Scores gather to hear arguments on tax reform
Group urges federal sales tax in lieu of income, other levies
By Kelli Wynn - Dayton Daily News - February 5, 2006
DAYTON | Tax citizens on what they spend, not what they earn.
That was the message delivered to about 160 volunteers and supporters who attended an Americans For Fair Taxation meeting Saturday at the Doubletree Inn downtown.
"I like the idea of making the American economy stronger by taking the tax burden off of businesses," said Ted O'Connor, Ohio grassroots coordinator for Americans for Fair Taxation.
The organization wants to abolish federal income taxes - capital gains taxes, payroll taxes, estate and gift taxes, corporate self-employment taxes - and replace them with a 23 percent federal sales tax.
The meeting drew people from the Dayton area, Middletown, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Akron.
"Let's tax people on what they take away from society, instead of what they give," said Genie Hayes, the group's communications and grassroots director.
O'Connor, 37, of Oakwood said, "With the sales tax, taxpaying becomes voluntary because you only pay taxes when you are buying a new item, and it gives lower-income Americans more purchasing power and better ability to move up the economic ladder."
O'Connor said, "We're not asking to eliminate the income stream that the federal government gets now. We're not looking to cut taxes or raise taxes. It's revenue-neutral. You pass the fair tax today and the government receives the same amount."
Dennis Cassel, 60, of Brookville, owner of Cassel Insurance Agency, said he believes change will happen, because "it just takes a few key people" and "nothing happens in this country unless it's grass roots."
Contact Kelli Wynn at (937) 225-2414.
» » FairTax rally slated tonight in Brookville
Organization seeks to replace federal income tax
By Ryan Justin Fox - Dayton Daily News - October 6, 2005
BROOKVILLE | There will be a town hall-style rally in Brookville High School's auditorium tonight to urge residents to help get rid of federal income taxes.
Americans for Fair Taxation, a nonprofit lobbying organization, is sponsoring the symposium pushing for legislation that would replace federal income taxes including personal, estate, gift, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, self-employment and corporate taxes.
"The current tax code drags us down," said Dennis Cassel of Brookville, who is helping organize the town hall meeting. "We want to Brookville to know that there's a better system out there."
The small business owner discovered the grass-roots effort to promote the tax plan about five years ago when his accountant informed him that he owed $2,600 on his tax return.
"I just thought to myself, 'There has to be a better way to fund the federal government,' " Cassel said.
That's when he came across fairtax.org during an Internet research.
The argument for a FairTax is to eliminate the income tax and replace it with a single-rate national sales tax collected only once, at the point of purchase for personal consumption.
Its proponents say it's a tax policy that supports and allows those employed to take home 100 percent of their paychecks and ends corporate tax costs that drive up retail costs.
Supporters also say that it would "fulfill the promise of Social Security and Medicare."
The FairTax legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in January by Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., would repeal the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and abolish the Internal Revenue Service.
Linder collaborated with nationally syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz to write FairTax: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS. A recent signing of that book in Dayton drew about 1,000 people, Cassel said.
That's why Cassel said he joined the network of nearly 400,000 volunteers to promote the FairTax.
Town hall meetings have been popping up all over the country in anticipation for a Congressional vote on the bill, HR 25, in April.
Cassel said there have already been several meetings in the Miami Valley, including ones in Dayton, Oakwood and Trotwood.
Cassel said he expects more than 500 people at Brookville's auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The high school is at 1 Blue Pride Drive.
"It's going crazy here in Brookville. I think we have a lot of support," Cassel said.
Brookville Chamber of Commerce President Margo Cantrell said she plans to check it out and has heard other business people are interested.
"I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want the FairTax," Cassel said.
Contact Ryan Justin Fox at 225-2263.
» » FairTax supporters meet at Smith School
By Tom Cecil - Oakwood Register - September 13, 2005
Thursday evening found one hundred and thirty seven FairTax supporters streaming into the gymnasium at Smith Elementary School. Upon entering the gym, everyone was asked to sign a petition in support of the FairTax with the understanding that the petitions would be sent to congressmen in Washington where bills are already pending in the House (HR 25) and Senate (S25). Additionally, each attendee received a handout with 10 suggestions on how to make FairTax a reality.
The concept of a FairTax is not new. Americans for Fair Taxation has been around for 10 years and support has grown nationally to several million and locally in the Dayton area to 4,000. The audience was urged to purchase and read the book entitled The FairTax Book by Neal Boortz, talk show host, and John Linder, congressman from Georgia.
On hand to make a presentation were Ted O'Connor, a full-time grass roots coordinator for Ohio, Oakwood citizen Michael Vanderburgh, state vice president as well as a regional leader, and two staffers from FairTax headquarters in Houston, Texas. In essence, they pointed out that all income taxes and payroll taxes would be eliminated so employees would take home their full check.
Also speaking was Kimberly Fletcher, president and founder of Homemakers For America, Inc. Her group consists of 1,500 from all 50 states who are trying to encourage women to get active in government issues from the city level all the way to Congress and the White House. Homemakers For America have endorsed the FairTax and are active in their support.
The speeches were interrupted several times by applause as the audience was informed of having more "spendable income" each year. The question and answer period was lively as audience members walked to the microphone to ask questions. All questions were positive.
There are currently over 4,000 members of Americans for Fair Taxation within 60 miles of Dayton. For more information contact Ted O'Connor at 299-5977.