"I believe that, in both spirit and substance, our tax system has come to be un-American. Death and taxes may be inevitable, but unjust taxes are not. The first American Revolution was sparked by an unshakable conviction -- taxation without representation is tyranny. Two centuries later, a second American revolution for hope and opportunity is gathering force again -- a peaceful revolution, but born of popular resentment against a tax system that is unwise, unwanted, and unfair."

Ronald Reagan ("Address to the Nation on Tax Reform," May 28, 1985)

President Ronald Reagan's words can be construed as prophetic in the context of where we stand today in America. Though this rhetoric was uttered some twenty years ago, we are still faced with a bent, battered, and broken tax system. Illustrative of how bi-partisan support can forge something unique and powerful, President Reagan's tax reforms did not just represent a triumph for his Administration. It represented what could be done when Americans decide something must be done. Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals, and Libertarians can work together for the benefit of America. In continuing with the prescient theme President Reagan espoused, the American spirit is at its most fruitful epoch when Americans stand united; this has been the essence of who we truly are since the inception of this great nation.

The American Spirit has always been one that embraces individual choice and personal freedoms. The essence of who we are stems from our pursuit of happiness, which is why our capitalistic society has always spawned an entrepreneurial spirit ; unequivocal in efficiency and innovation. Though admittedly, we have experienced ups and downs, and times of economic dismay and downturn, nevertheless America has remained the steadfast beacon of hope and freedom the world over because we never lose sight of our ideals and dreams.

Americans usually find ways to circumvent events and enactments that no less stifle and work against it. The 16^th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States wrought just such promulgation; "Income" taxes represent one of the worst experiments this great country has attempted. It is a testament unto ourselves that we have overcome the shackles that this system places on the best of all of us. As T. Coleman Andrews, a former Commissioner for Internal Revenue, stated,

"As matters now stand, if our children make the most of their capabilities and training, they have to give most of it to the tax collector and so become slaves of the government. People cannot pull themselves by the bootstraps anymore because the tax collector gets the boots and the straps as well. The income tax is bad because it is oppressive to all the discriminates particularly against those people who prove themselves most adept at keeping the wheels of business turning and creating maximum employment and a high standard of living for their fellow men. I believe that a better way to raise revenue not only can be found by must be found because I am convinced that the present system is leading us right back to the very tyranny from which those, who established this land of freedom, risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to forever free themselves."

What is curious about these words, is that they resound that much more for he was the head of this institution, and they were spoken at his resignation as IRS Commissioner in 1955. How many more generations must endure the reins being pulled, and the burden of the shackles from our present system? The time is now for something new, a system forged and worthy of our American Spirit.

The Fair Tax will present each and every American with a renewed since of individuality and freedom of choice; for that choice will be invigorated without the burden being weighed on what Americans work so hard for. No longer will Americans have the disincentive to relegate how much they work, and bring home to their families. The Fair Tax will bring many benefits, not the least of which would be:

• The American Economy as we know it will have no restraints with which to grapple, and will have the very sky as our only limitation


• No more will we have to worry about the exportation of American companies and their most important progeny: jobs. The lone incentive will, again, be the beacon that is America


• Americans will be given a choice. Their choice will be to save as much or as little of their money as they want, and correspondingly, this will mean they will be taxed on what they want for the choice to spend – on new items only! – will be the choice to experience tax
• The specter of inefficiency will be virtually eliminated from the US economy; this will re-invigorate our domestic corporations and allow those corporations to perform their essential function


• The Fair Tax will almost assuredly become the great equalizer in the realms of reining in on those who avoid, legally and illegally, and those that evade paying their respective share of taxes to the public coffers.

What this blogburst hopes to secure is the recognition of this alternative, the recognition of the best hope for America in the 21st century. We hope to invigorate and add to what Representative Linder and Neal Boortz began with their National Best Seller, "The Fair Tax Book." In doing this, we hope to raise the level of awareness to this alternativeÂ… there is a better way. We invite questions, whether via e-mail or comments on the blogs participating in this blogburst. Further, we hope to illustrate some of the inadequacies of our current tax structure and where the Fair Tax would be more beneficial.

We look forward to the dialog that will ensue. Americans once sought liberty when they were burdened with taxes without the benefit of representation. Today, we find ourselves shackled with an unfair tax system in spite of representation. We believe that the Fair Tax will alleviate this problem. Join us!

The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous and Terry of The Right Track Blog. If you would like to join us, please e-mail Jonathan or Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.

FairTax Blogroll - Our 12 Charter Members

• Publius Rendezvous
• The Right Track
• Cao's Blog
• Right Wing Nation
• A Conservative Blog in Flyover Country
• Don Surber
• Ogre's Politics & Views
• Blue State Conservatives
• Oblogatory Anecdotes
• Euphoric Reality
• The Buzz Blog
• Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff

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