What is a fair tax?

In response to last week’s question, “What is a fair tax?", my friend Chris provided the following scenario, "Elections should be held on April 16th,  the day after we pay our income taxes. That is one of the few things that might discourage politicians from being big spenders.  That would be a fair tax!"

Bruce, my friend in UT had a different perspective, writing, "It's the money you pay every year to walk around exhibits, smell livestock, eat funnel cakes, and go on carnival rides."  Yet my friend Kosol concluded, "It's the tax when you take a taxi.   (or is that a fare tax?)"

My friend Swany concluded, "A fair tax is an oxymoron."  My friend Kelly challenged, "A fair tax is one that can be explained to a 12 year old before their mind wanders AND has a max rate of 10%!!!  After all, as the bumper sticker says, “If 10% is good enough for G-d, it’s good enough for the IRS.”  Kelly then added, "Taxes should not be used to fund the Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts!"

My college roomie John and birthday bud Jon concurred, "It's the one that someone else has to pay."  Yet my dad's beach buddy Bob replied, "The tax on the admission to the White House."

And then my friend Richard provided an example that challenges all fair taxes as he wrote, "The first Monday Night Football game on ABC was played by the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on September 21, 1970.  The Browns had a wide receiver named Fair Hooker (1969-1974, 129 career receptions, 8 touchdowns; see proof at the bottom of this email). Dandy Don Meredith’s observation was 'I haven’t met one of those yet.'  And so it is with fair taxes."

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm' “:

How do we make money from all of this pollen?

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Hal 

Fair Hooker:  

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaimages/392/06419314/1973ToppsFairHooker.jpg