With a nod to Stephen Colbert, I have to object to the new GOP candidate fad of introducing a flat tax. Clearly this stems from the Hermanator's recent surge in the polls due, at least partially, to his 9-9-9 flat tax plan. Though these candidates try to paint these plans as a "fair" tax because everyone would be paying the same rate and loop holes would be removed, the truth of the matter is that just about any flat tax would lead to a massively regressive tax system that would negatively impact the lower and middle classes. On the flip side, as you go up the tax bracket, the benefits of the system get greater and greater. The United States could clearly benefit from a simplified system of taxation but, especially with a mind towards our current economic situation, there should still be an eye towards fairness. A system of taxation that leads to a precipitous drop in revenue while disproportionately effecting the middle and lower classes would seemingly have a devastating effect on an already strained economy. If House Republicans are so worried about class warfare, maybe they should consider buying dinner for the least fortunate in this country before trying to screw them...
EDITORS NOTE (spoiler... Editor is just me): Rick Perry unveiled his "flat tax plan" which is a completely optional plan that has the added bonus of not simplifying the tax code at all since no one has to choose the flat tax. Basically, the lower classes can continue paying their current taxes, the upper classes get a tax cut by choosing a flat tax, and spending somehow goes down by 10%. Yaaaa, sounds like its going to work like gangbusters to me! Kudos Governor Perry.
UPDATE 2: Perry's all about the 1%, yo.
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