HUGE support for the FairTax Plan in Atlanta last night! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mikemover · #1 05-25-2006, 03:11 PM

There was a public "FairTax rally" held just north of Atlanta, GA last night... At the VERY large Gwinnett county Convention center.

TWO HOURS before the scheduled start time, the building was already far beyond capacity, packed with thousands and thousands of people, with standing room only, huge crowds in the parking lot who could not get in, but would not leave, and gridlock traffic all around the area from even MORE people trying to get there.

I'm out of town right now, so I could not attend, but an hour and a half before the start time, my girlfriend and several friends were trying to get there to attend the rally. Halfway there, she turned on a local radio station, and they were telling people "If you are in traffic and trying to get to the Neal Boortz/Congressman John Linder FairTax rally, turn around and go home now, because the building has already exceeded capacity! They are not letting anyone else in, and you WILL be stuck in traffic."

People are obviously ready to hear about solutions to our absurd, unfair, stifling tax system, and they showed up IN FORCE last night to prove it!

From the boortz.com website:

Thursday -- May 25, 2006

JUST A STUNNING SUCCESS

... and a long night, by the way. The FairTax Rally at the Gwinnett Convention Center was an amazing success. Many thousands of people showed up, even on the night of the American Idol final show, to show their support for getting rid of our present anti-growth and anti-achievement tax code and replacing it with a simple national retail sales tax that allows people to save and invest without taxes, that allows businesses to invest in capital and labor without tax consequences, that would eliminate the tax compliance nightmare for tens of millions of Americans and American businesses, and that would constitute the largest transfer of power from the politicians to the people since this Republic was formed.

About 40 minutes before the rally was scheduled to begin I decided to take a peak at the crowd. They showed me to a darkened room above the convention center floor with a wall of windows. Friends, I couldn't believe what I saw. Belinda and Royal were on stage entertaining an already-packed convention hall. Six giant projection screens brought the stage close to every seat ... and every seat was filled with additional people lining the walls. I was stunned. These people weren't there to see me ... I've made plenty of appearances in Atlanta, and most folks know that I'm a big disappointment in person. They were there to show their support for The FairTax. Herman Cain joined me in that room ... saw the crowd ... and said that a revolution has been ignited.

Some people really deserve thanks. Sean Hannity dipped into his own pocket to charter a jet to come to Atlanta for the rally. He stopped in Washington to pick up Congressman John Linder, the author of H.R. 25, the FairTax Act. Amazing guy. ABC's John Stossel stopped by the rally after a signing for his book "Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity." As a reporter for ABC News John couldn't endorse a particular tax reform proposal, but he did talk to the crowd about the abuses and absurdities under the present system. John Hoagland from Americans for Fair Taxation addressed the crowd, as did Herman Cain. Now there is one sensational speaker .. Herman Cain He brought the house down more than a few times.

A special thanks to my good friends Banks & Shane. This Atlanta-based band showed the crowd why they've been such a smashing success for over 30 years. The entire band donated their time to the FairTax Rally. Paul Shane wrote a FairTax song ... and the crowd loved it. We'll get it recorded and made available for downloading!

Special thanks also to Royal, Belinda and my colleague Clark Howard for their help and participation, and to the people at my flagship station, News/Talk 750 WSB for the incredible job they did setting this monster up. Promotions gurus Michael Dobson and Neil Williamson deserve special thanks ... as does Assistant PD Condace Pressley. And then there's Dash. When the traffic backed up and it looked like Sean and I weren't going to be able to get there on time ... Dash put his Long Ranger helicopter down in the WSB parking lot, picked us up, and we were there in 12 minutes.

Congressman Linder wants to take this show on the road. I'll be anywhere we can duplicate this crowd. In a heartbeat.

For more info: www.fairtax.org

_________

Amazing. I figured the thing would be fairly well-attended, just because of Boortz's popularity, and the media coverage that the book has garnered in recent months. But the incredible turnout far exceeded ANYONE'S expectations. I hope this really DOES mark the start of a tax revolution.

Mike

Pete Geither · #2 05-25-2006, 03:14 PM

We can only hope.

Maroon 300D · #3 05-25-2006, 04:39 PM

Wait a minute...you mean our system of taxation isn't the best possible option available?

mikemover · #4 05-25-2006, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maroon 300D

Wait a minute...you mean our system of taxation isn't the best possible option available?

Surprise, surprise!

Mike

OMEGAMAN · #5 05-25-2006, 05:09 PM

"As a reporter for ABC News John couldn't endorse a particular tax reform proposal"
Since when did this start?

mikemover · #6 05-25-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMEGAMAN

"As a reporter for ABC News John couldn't endorse a particular tax reform proposal"
Since when did this start?

Maybe there's a COUPLE of guys left who still have a shred of journalistic integrity.... I dunno.

Mike

Zeitgeist · #7 05-25-2006, 05:28 PM

Calling John Stossel a "reporter" is a bit of a stretch.

Honus · #8 05-25-2006, 06:53 PM

I don't know squat about this issue, but I am impressed that Sean Hannity and John Stossell have thrown their support behind this movement. Their endorsements create an almost conclusive presumption that the whole thing is BS.

I also don't know anything about Congressman Linder, but I notice that he gets a perfect rating from the Christain Coalition, he wins awards from the Chamber of Commerce, and he flies on private jets with Sean Hannity. That's pretty much strike three, wouldn't you say?

dynalow · #9 05-25-2006, 06:59 PM

"Fair Tax" That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it?

With 300 million folks in this country, I suppose you might get, oh, maybe a million ideas of what a "fair tax" is.
I have been in the tax game for 26 years and I can't recall any candidate for national office, Congressman, Senator or White House that didn't rail out against the IRS or the Code. The national whipping boy for all Americans and politicians in particular. It's a no brainer. (But I seem to recall someone, Mondale, I think, saying in a debate he would raise taxes if eleceted.)

With everyone in Washington against the Code, you would figure if they were really, really, really serious about "reform", with all the changes made to it since 1913, that after 93 years they would have gotten it right!! Well, they haven't yet, and they never will. Quite the opposite, it has gotten so much worse in it's complexity, it's ridiculous and obscene.

I love the old mantra: "Everyone should pay his fair share" Red meat for the folks back home in___________ ( in this case Georgia) What a crock. Meaningless words.

Give me your idea of fair and I'll offer my .02.

But my idea of fair, and I think most feel this way too, is captured in Huey Long's quote:

"Don't tax you, Don't tax me..
Tax that fellow behind the tree.."

mikemover · #10 05-25-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

I don't know squat about this issue, but I am impressed that Sean Hannity and John Stossell have thrown their support behind this movement. Their endorsements create an almost conclusive presumption that the whole thing is BS.

I also don't know anything about Congressman Linder, but I notice that he gets a perfect rating from the Christain Coalition, he wins awards from the Chamber of Commerce, and he flies on private jets with Sean Hannity. That's pretty much strike three, wouldn't you say?

Whatever.

The FairTax plan is hardly "BS"... Your naive comments are BS. You even ADMIT that you don't know anything about it, yet you automatically write it off?!?!

If you're going to comment, then why don't you do a little homework on the actual subject at hand, so that you have some concept of what you're talking about, instead of summarily dismissing an idea merely because you don't like someone who like the idea?

For the record, I don't care for Hannity either... but that is irrelevant. I like the FairTax plan, because it will WORK. For better or worse (usually worse), Hannity is a very influential figure. So if he supports this great idea, then that pleases me.

Mike

mikemover · #11 05-25-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

"Fair Tax" That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it?

With 300 million folks in this country, I suppose you might get, oh, maybe a million ideas of what a "fair tax" is.
I have been in the tax game for 26 years and I can't recall any candidate for national office, Congressman, Senator or White House that didn't rail out against the IRS or the Code. The national whipping boy for all Americans and politicians in particular. It's a no brainer. (But I seem to recall someone, Mondale, I think, saying in a debate he would raise taxes if eleceted.)

With everyone in Washington against the Code, you would figure if they were really, really, really serious about "reform", with all the changes made to it since 1913, that after 93 years they would have gotten it right!! Well, they haven't yet, and they never will. Quite the opposite, it has gotten so much worse in it's complexity, it's ridiculous and obscene.

I love the old mantra: "Everyone should pay his fair share" Red meat for the folks back home in___________ ( in this case Georgia) What a crock. Meaningless words.

Give me your idea of fair and I'll offer my .02.

But my idea of fair, and I think most feel this way too, is captured in Huey Long's quote:

"Don't tax you, Don't tax me..
Tax that fellow behind the tree.."

Of course it is easy for any politician to rant and rave against the IRS... And almost all of them do so whenever they think it might buy them some votes.

But none of them EVER offer any viable alternatives, other than promising that "I'll work to lower your taxes", which we all know is rubbish 99% of the time.

The FairTax plan IS a viable alternative, and is arguably the most thoroughly researched and brilliantly constructed alternative to the IRS/income tax that has ever been conceived.

Congressman Linder has introduced this legislation more than once, and of course it has gone nowhere so far, because our illustrious leaders certainly do NOT want to let go of their share of the world's largest piggy-bank, and more importantly, the almost unlimited power over YOUR life that it grants them!!!

However, Congressman Linder did NOT WRITE this legislation... Nor did Neal Boortz. It is not merely one more politician's "idea of fair", and it is not merely "MY idea of fair"... Those guys have merely put their fame, influence, and support behind it, because they can see that it is FAR superior to our current system.

A group of university professors and universally-recognized economic experts created the plan, and it is THEIR "highly-educated and experienced idea of fair"....

And, having read the plan, having read the book, having read the legislation, and having researched it fairly extensively myself.... I tend to agree with them.

Why are so many people so quick to dismiss something that they know so little about?

It is well-documented that almost EVERY criticism of the FairTax plan is based on ignorance of how the plan really works, and even upon blatantly false premises and deliberate misinformation. See here:

http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/rebuttals.html

Please fellas.... Do YOURSELF a favor. Do some research before casually condemning the idea.

The website: www.fairtax.org

The book, which provides a MOUNTAIN of info:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060875496/sr=8-1/qid=1148601113/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-6251918-6088923?%5Fencoding=UTF8

A quick synopsis of the plan, for the truly lazy critic:

http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/sketch.html

Wikipedia's extensive and informative entry on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FairTax

And the actual legislation:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

Mike

Honus · #12 05-25-2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

...Your naive comments are BS...

That doesn't even make sense. "Naive" means "lacking experience, wisdom, or judgement." What does my comment about Hannity and Stossell being untrustworthy have to do with being naive?

Quote:

You even ADMIT that you don't know anything about it, yet you automatically write it off?!?!

I haven't written off anything. I've heard Boortz talk about Fair Tax. I'm not convinced by his argument, but unlike some, I wouldn't presume to know what the best tax system is. My general sense is that the current tax system and the IRS are underrated, but I could be convinced otherwise.

Quote:

If you're going to comment, then why don't you do a little homework on the actual subject at hand, so that you have some concept of what you're talking about, instead of summarily dismissing an idea merely because you don't like someone who like the idea?

I didn't dismiss anything, summarily or otherwise. And my comment did not relate to whether I like Hannity or Stossell. My comment was based on Hannity's proven record of dishonesty and Stossell's proven track record of being wrong on the facts. I don't know enough about Stossell to know whether he is honest, but he has shown himself to be without a clue on various matters, particularly the civil justice system.

Quote:

...Hannity is a very influential figure...

That's true and it is a sign that Western culture may be in decline.

mikemover · #13 05-26-2006, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dculkin

That doesn't even make sense. "Naive" means "lacking experience, wisdom, or judgement." What does my comment about Hannity and Stossell being untrustworthy have to do with being naive?I haven't written off anything. I've heard Boortz talk about Fair Tax. I'm not convinced by his argument, but unlike some, I wouldn't presume to know what the best tax system is. My general sense is that the current tax system and the IRS are underrated, but I could be convinced otherwise.I didn't dismiss anything, summarily or otherwise. And my comment did not relate to whether I like Hannity or Stossell. My comment was based on Hannity's proven record of dishonesty and Stossell's proven track record of being wrong on the facts. I don't know enough about Stossell to know whether he is honest, but he has shown himself to be without a clue on various matters, particularly the civil justice system.That's true and it is a sign that Western culture may be in decline.

The VERY FIRST thing you said about it was "I don't know squat about this issue but... their endorsements create an almost conclusive presumption that the whole thing is BS", merely because Hannity and Stossell have endorsed it, and now you say you're "not convinced by Boortz's arguments".

That sounds an awful lot like a casual dismissal to me.

Again... Hannity, Stossell, Linder and Boortz had NOTHING to do with the writing of HR25, the FairTax legislation. The conception of it was not a partisan effort in ANY way, and prior to the writing of HR25, EXTENSIVE research was done by internationally recognized experts from universities like Stanford, MIT, Harvard, etc.... Perhaps you've heard of them?...

Details here, if you care: http://fairtax.org/economic.html

You imply that you're OK with our current system as it is, by actually claiming that it is "underrated", but you also say that you "could be convinced otherwise".....

How are you ever going to be "convinced otherwise" if, just because of your distaste for a couple of people, you won't even bother to investigate such a promising alternative?

Sounds like you have already made up your mind, and just don't WANT to be "convinced otherwise."

Mike

Pete Geither · #14 05-26-2006, 05:51 AM

Thanks for the info Mike,,,, have been casually following the fair tax movement for a bit, but did not realize it was starting to take off. There is nothing I would like better than to see the lowlifes who skirt the system now actually have to start paying taxes, whether they want to or not.

raymr · #15 05-26-2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

It is well-documented that almost EVERY criticism of the FairTax plan is based on ignorance of how the plan really works, and even upon blatantly false premises and deliberate misinformation. See here:

http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/rebuttals.html

Please fellas.... Do YOURSELF a favor. Do some research before casually condemning the idea.

The website: www.fairtax.org

The book, which provides a MOUNTAIN of info:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060875496/sr=8-1/qid=1148601113/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-6251918-6088923?%5Fencoding=UTF8

A quick synopsis of the plan, for the truly lazy critic:

http://www.fairtaxvolunteer.org/smart/sketch.html

Wikipedia's extensive and informative entry on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FairTax

And the actual legislation:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

Mike

So true. Even my Maryland state representatives are woefully ignorant. One of them said he can't endorse Fair Tax because it would hurt the poor. (Sigh). It would hurt the undocumented though. Maybe thats what all the resistance is about.