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FAIRtax Friday And The Chairman's Report - October 14th, 2016

Christopher Columbus
 
Until 1971, Columbus Day was a federal holiday celebrated on October 12th.  The 1971 act moved the holiday to the second Monday in October. 
 
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451, Christopher Columbus became convinced that he could reach China and India by sailing due west.  This was important because of the time, danger and expense of obtaining spices and other trade goods from China and India by taking land routes. 
 
Columbus finally got the funding he needed from Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain.  His three ships, the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta, set sail from Spain on August 3, 1492.   On October 12th, Columbus spotted land and thought he had reached Asia.  In fact, he had reached the Bahamas.  He claimed the land for Isabelle and Ferdinand and sailed on to Cuba and Hispaniola. 
 

 
Although Columbus’ voyages led to the discovery of the Americas, he really didn’t know where he was going and didn’t know where he was when he arrived.
 
Congress, Columbus and Tax Reform

Alexis de Tocqueville, the great early 19th century French observer of the American experience, said, “On my arrival in the United States I was struck by the degree of ability among the governed and the lack of it among the governing.”
 
Perhaps in no area is this more apparent than in the U.S. tax code’s dismal comparison to the tax codes of our competitors.  Everyone knows that we are living in a world where global trade is becoming more and more important.  In a recent report, the Tax Foundation released the 2016 International Tax Competitiveness Index.   
 
The introduction stated:
 
The structure of a country’s tax code is an important determinant of its economic performance. A well-structured tax code is easy for taxpayers to comply with and can promote economic development, while raising sufficient revenue for a government’s priorities. In contrast, poorly structured tax systems can be costly, distort economic decision making, and harm domestic economies.
Many countries have recognized this and have reformed their tax codes. Over the past few decades, marginal tax rates on corporate and individual income have declined significantly across the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
 
The Tax Foundation explained the following table as follows: The International Tax Competitiveness Index (ITCI) seeks to measure the extent to which a country’s tax system adheres to two important aspects of tax policy: competitiveness and neutrality.
 
The International Tax Competitiveness Index

Country Overall Score Overall Rank Corporate Tax Rank Corporate Taxes Rank Property Taxes Rank Individual Taxes Rank International Tax Rules Rank
Estonia 100 1 1 10 1 2 14
New Zealand 91.6 2 21 6 2 1 15
Latvia 88 3 2 25 6 7 2
Switzerland 84.6 4 7 1 33 4 8
Sweden 82.1 5 6 11 7 23 6
Netherlands 81.4 6 17 12 23 5 1
Luxemborg 78.6 7 31 5 18 13 5
Australia 78.3 8 26 8 4 15 16
Slovak Republic 75 9 11 32 5 8 12
Turkey 74.8 10 10 26 9 3 13
Norway 70.9 11 12 22 16 11 18
Korea 70 12 20 3 26 6 32
Czech Republic 70 13 8 31 10 12 9
Ireland 70 14 3 24 17 24 22
Slovenia 69.7 15 4 27 15 14 19
United Kingdom 96.6 16 19 17 31 17 3
Austria 96.6 17 18 23 8 33 7
Finland 68.4 18 5 14 19 27 23
Canada 68.3 19 22 7 22 21 24
Germany 67.4 20 23 13 14 32 10
Denmark 66.3 21 14 19 12 29 20
Iceland 66.3 22 13 21 21 30 11
Hungary 64.3 23 15 35 25 20 4
Mexico 62.7 24 28 20 3 9 35
Japan 61.4 25 34 2 27 28 27
Israel 60.7 26 25 9 11 26 31
Spain 59.5 27 27 15 32 19 21
Belgium 58.9 28 29 30 24 10 17
Poland 56.5 29 9 34 29 16 26
Chile 55.7 30 16 29 13 18 33
United States 53.7 31 35 4 30 25 34
Greece 52.7 32 24 28 28 22 30
Portugal 50.9 33 30 33 20 31 29
Italy 46.1 34 33 18 34 34 28
France 43.2 35 32 16 35 35 25


Conclusion
 
On his August 3, 1924 national radio show, Will Rogers said:
If you have a radio, the next three months is a good time to have it (quit working). All you will hear from now until the 4th of November will be: 'We must get our government out of the hands of predatory wealth.' 'The good people of this great country are burdened to death with taxes. Now what I intend to do is ...' What he intends to do is try and get elected. That's all any of them intend to do. Another one that will hum over the old static every night will be: 'This country has reached a crisis in its national existence.'" 
 
It seems that all of the rhetoric we hear now is not really intended to help us make a logical decision but one out of fear.  We will not hear anyone admitting that the policies of Democrats and Republicans are responsible for the U.S. tax system ranking near the bottom of the list.
 
Repairing our tax system and eliminating the huge disadvantage for U.S. companies does not require years of studies and debates.  The economic studies have been done.  It is also common sense that if you reward something you will get more of it.  If we reward hard work, savings and ensure that U.S. companies are not harmed by the U.S. tax code, we will all prosper.
 
It is time for politicians to stop trying to act like fixing many of our economic woes is so difficult.  Often problems have simple solutions.  The FAIRtax is a simple solution that will work.  You have to wonder about the motivations of people who do not see this “simple” fact.

Planes, Steak and Water



Autry Pruitt, one of our AFFT directors, has written an entertaining and informative book discussing how he became a supporter of Donald Trump—although he didn’t start as one.  AFFT does not endorse either presidential candidate and notes that neither is proposing the FAIRtax as their tax plan.
 
We include this note because it is important that your vote in November be an informed vote.  This book may not make you a Trump supporter, but it will provide accurate information.  Autry concludes that he thinks one of the bold ideas that Trump will consider, if elected, is the FAIRtax and explains this. 
 
Finally, he is offering to make a 20% donation to AFFT of the price of each person purchasing a book by hitting this link.

Time to Invest In the FAIRtax and Save America

Many worthy activities are underfunded.  If they had more funds they could do more good things. Americans For Fair Taxation “(AFFT”) is one of the few worthy activities that does not spend your funds on salaries or even office space.  It is a group composed of people who are donating their time and even paying their own expenses.
 
AFFT has been working for a long time to educate people about the FAIRtax. We are still running into people who have not heard about the FAIRtax, but what a difference it is from even five years ago.  The biggest fear of the D.C. Elites is if the American people realize that they have been “had” and demand common sense reform like the FAIRtax.  The Elites know that their “friends” in Congress will desert them if threatened with being thrown out of office.
 
There is going to be some sort of change in the income tax code in 2017.  If AFFT is not demanding, on behalf of you, that Congress not just make a few changes but make real reform, then there will be more of the same and America will continue to lose jobs and more of our children will be living with us because they cannot find jobs.
 
By contributing (investing) $10.40 per month, you help provide a financial base to AFFT.  If you can make larger contributions (investments) these will be used not for salaries, as we are all volunteers, but for the needed updates to our economic studies which will be vital in 2017.
 
Please go to this link to invest in AFFT and in your and your family’s future.
 
New FAIRtax Book

AMERICA’S BIG SOLUTION - An Introduction to the FAIRtax

You can help introduce someone to the FAIRtax by informing them of this book.  As the title indicates, it is an introduction to the FAIRtax and is directed toward people who may have heard of the FAIRtax but are not really sure of just what it is.  Written by Florida volunteer Terry Tibbetts, the book offers a light hearted approach to a serious subject, reforming the federal tax system.  America’s Big Solution gives the reader enough information to get them started in their examination of the most thoroughly researched tax reform proposal our country has ever seen.  “ABS”  is intended for people who may not be attracted to social media for all the latest news and would like to gather their information in a more traditional form that is not limited to a 140 character “tweet” or a Facebook post. 
 
You can find America’s Big Solution on the three most popular platforms -- Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Apple iBook Store.  To purchase  the electronic form for the Amazon Kindle or the print form, go to this website. To find it for your Barnes & Noble Nook, go here. And if you’re an Apple user, go to the iBook store at this site.  The print version (only available at Amazon) is $9.25 whereas the electronic versions are all priced at $2.99. (Apparently electrons are less expensive than paper and ink!) All royalties go to Americans For Fair Taxation.
 
Please share this information with everyone you know. The more people know about the FAIRtax, the easier it will be to steer Congress into the only REAL tax reform proposal on the table at this time.

AFFT National LOGO Store
 
THE FAIRTAX® LOGO STORE
 
SUPPLYING EDUCATIONAL/PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

October BOGO TIME
 
PLUS 25% discount on all event banners
 

Now is the time to get the FAIRtax℠ word and logo in public’s eye. Therefore, we will be offering numerous BOGO’s ( buy one get one free ) for the month of October. Also, we will continue to offer all FAIRtax℠ banners at a 25% discount during the month of October.
 
                    Presently, BOGO’s are available on the following promo items:
 
Palm Cards, Business Cards, Adhesive Bumper Stickers, Magnetic Bumper Stickers,
 
Event Stickers, Scrolling Banners, Pens, Notepads, Pocket Calendars
 
                                               EVENT BANNERS
 
We currently offer four event banner designs and all are available at a 25% discount, a super deal.
 
Your FAIRtax℠ Store is ready for the October national election time period with GREAT DEALS so you can present the FAIRtax℠ concept and logo at all Presidential campaign stops, at elected representative town halls/events, and all other political meetings plus your own FAIRtax℠ educational meetings.
 
WWW.FAIRTAXLOGOSTORE.ORG
 
When visiting the Store, don’t forget to order a supply of FAIRtax palm cards. Besides handing out palm cards at meetings and events, whenever you send mail through the post office, including at least one FAIRtax informational palm card in your envelope. And remember, many entities send you postage paid envelopes for whatever reason. So, why not send them back with an enclosed palm card and a FAIRtax sticker on the outside for all to see  - keep spreading the word.
 
Please take a moment and visit our store by clicking here.

FAIRtax Power Radio

“I have been a supporter of the FairTax since about 2000 and I try to continually educate myself on the strengths of the FairTax as well as the arguments that people use against it. Your podcast is perfect for me to add to my studies.”  This is an excerpt from an email The FAIRtax Guys received from Bryan of Tennessee recently and accurately expresses the purpose of FAIRtax Power Radio.  

Bob Paxton, the creator of FAIRtax Power Radio, is a Florida volunteer with previous radio experience and someone who is devoted to getting the FAIRtax passed into law as soon as possible. He invited Ron Maiellaro, another Florida volunteer, to join him. Together they are “The FAIRtax Guys” and they have created a series of podcasts that not only introduce the listeners to the FAIRtax but also discuss the many different aspects of the FAIRtax as it relates to the economy, our Constitutional rights, politics, business and anything else that comes to mind. After all, the FAIRtax will affect every aspect of American life.

The free 30 minute podcasts cover all aspects of the FAIRtax including an entertaining introduction, how the FAIRtax increases purchasing power for everyone, how the FAIRtax promotes business, an interview with a Congressman, a comparison of the FAIRtax to the current income tax and the flat tax and even several visits from Thomas Jefferson. The FAIRtax Guys take current events, such as the national elections and discuss how the FAIRtax will help create jobs and improve the economy.

You can listen to FAIRtax Power Radio online or download the podcasts on Spreaker.com or on iTunes.  You can also find FTPR on YouTube and SoundCloud.com.  All of these platforms have free apps for smartphones so you can listen at any time.

The listenership for FAIRtax Power Radio is expanding but in order to reach out to enough American to create a groundswell of support, we need your help.  After enjoying FTPR, please let others know about it by sharing the links and websites in the previous paragraph.

Please introduce everyone you know to FAIRtax Power Radio.  As The FAIRtax Guys say in every episode, “The FAIRtax: When you understand it, you’ll demand it!”
 
Links for Further Information

Please, if you'd like to keep studying and promoting the FAIRtax, make yourself familiar with the links below. We always do our best to keep our AFFT community up to date, and you can stay ahead of the curve using these convenient sites.

Thank You For Opening The FAIRtax Chronicles, Our Sponsored Mailings
                          
We plan to do several of these mailings each month. If you take a minute to open the sponsored emails and click through to the website, you are making an in kind contribution to AFFT. It is not required to actually make a purchase, but your minute of time will ensure that AFFT is paid ever larger amounts from people paying for us to send their offers to our supporters.
 
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Thank you for staying FAIRtax strong!