Word from the boss man

"It's an interesting idea," Bush told an "Ask President Bush" campaign forum here. "You know, I'm not exactly sure how big the national sales tax is going to have to be, but it's the kind of interesting idea that we ought to explore seriously."

I hope that he was just sidestepping the question and that he has a bigger plan, but that is just me.

Opponents say such a system would not be in the best interests of the poor and the middle class who would pay the same tax rate as the wealthy even though they have less disposable income.

It is not clear in this last statement if it is referring to a flat tax or a sales tax, because both were mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Well in the sales tax case, food from the grocery store (which is not junk food) could be exempted from the tax. So poor people who just bought good healthy food would not pay taxes, but taxes on non essential food would be the same as every thing else.

On the flat tax side, their is really no way around the poor paying the same amount (if you tried to get around it, then it would not be a flat tax). Secondly, I am sure as soon as the democrats gain power the flat tax would not be flat anymore. The inability to reduce taxes on essential items, is why I am against the flat tax.

cube