Mastodawn

Beth Jan 27, 2023

This will take a few minutes to read, but really explains the problem with this plan that Kevin McCarthy had to agree to put up for a vote in order to get into his position.

VAT is normal in other western democracies but in those other countries, there are also high income tax rates for wealthier individuals. In those countries, regressive VAT taxes are paired with with progressive income taxes. The GOP suggestion is to replace our not-progressive-enough income tax with a very regressive sales tax. Definitely a boon for the very wealthy and a burden for everyone else.

Those other countries also provide their citizens with free national healthcare, family leave, free childcare and more. Americans go bankrupt and die young while every other nation continues to see their citizens make economic gains and live longer.

The FairTax Act, GOP plan for 30 percent national sales tax, explained-
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2023/1/26/23563563/fairtax-national-sales-tax-kevin-mccarthy

The FairTax Act, GOP plan for 30 percent national sales tax, explained

Why Kevin McCarthy agreed to put a radical plan to remake the tax code up for a vote.

Vox

Steve Rogers Jan 26, 2023

"This may shock you, but Mike Gravel did not really know what he was talking about."

The article is worth the time for so many reasons but that's on the list.

Meeche Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark Just remember there are no moderate republicans. They went all in. Every. Single. One.

Tortugonal Jan 26, 2023

We all know this won’t pass senate and would be vetoed. It’s odious.

But I haven’t seen discussion about this:

I am retired living off savings, of which much has already been taxed. I’d be double-taxed on that while those working and earning would only pay the sales tax. Is that right? That message needs to be broadcast to all living off savings if that’s how things would work!

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark Could this be America's "Poll Tax" moment?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_tax_riots

Poll tax riots - Wikipedia

Tonio Loewald Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark I assume this VAT would not stop cities and states levying their own super regressive sales taxes on top of this shit.

Bad at Names Jan 26, 2023

“We want to reestablish the slaver plantocracy of the 1790s with us as the plantation owners and we never want to pay taxes! Work for us or die in the gutters, you filthy fucking peasants!”

- the Republican plan.

Tankboy87 Jan 26, 2023

@GrittyLipids @TonyStark I feel like they accomplished this back in the 1970’s

DR. SURFERCHIC Jan 27, 2023

@GrittyLipids @TonyStark

Exactly this. I mean, if people didn't believe this and the grab to demolish SS and Medicare when they were telling us that was the plan, maybe they will believe it now. No one should take the stance, this will never pass. That's what they said about TFG winning the presidency, it's what they said about Roe, need I say more?

Bad at Names Jan 27, 2023

@DrSurferChic @TonyStark

Yeah, their entire plan is to destroy everything done since about 1795 and also add violent Christian death squads and reeducation camps for LGBT people and anyone else they think is too mouthy or opinionated.

Bellison22 Jan 27, 2023

@DrSurferChic @GrittyLipids @TonyStark
👍🎯👍🎯👍

R.J.Jan 27, 2023

@DrSurferChic @GrittyLipids @TonyStark When they tell us who they are, believe them. They float this stuff out and people say it's not going to happen and then it does. Roe, Obergefell. Nothing's off the table for the right.

ニルス・スキニール Jan 28, 2023

@DrSurferChic @TonyStark
I am pretty sure it won't pass the Senate and pretty sure Biden would veto if it did,
However, Manchin introduced the proposal to slash social security and medicare, along with Romney. Also up until at least 2015, Biden was onboard with cutting social security, veterans benefits and medicare. As well as privatising social security.

So we just don't know. If faced with a govt shutdown, am pretty sure Schumer would cave. Biden just may too.

R.J.Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark I'm do glad someone called out the stupid 23% thing.

And Neil Boortz. All Republicans want is to raise taxes on middle and give nothing back to them. And give more to the 1ers.

Joanna Bee Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark If they paired it with any of those benefits, count me in. Republicans don't want us to have anything good.

Doctor Fate Jan 26, 2023

Speaking strictly as an expert:

Goose The Cat Jan 26, 2023

@KentNelson @TonyStark We're all becoming experts now. Years of Republicans do that.

Alex Jan 26, 2023

@GooseTheCat @KentNelson @TonyStark

I'm not cool enough for those bird pictures. This is absolutely a "Americans go bankrupt and die young..." plan. 100%.

Goose The Cat Jan 26, 2023

@mentallyalex @KentNelson @TonyStark You are cool enough! It took me a little to get used to them.

And yes you're right.

Doctor Fate Jan 26, 2023

@GooseTheCat @mentallyalex @TonyStark

I fully support this message.⚡

Pepper Potts Jan 26, 2023

Republicans have been whining about inflation for over a year, but want to add $60 to your $200 grocery bill.

Humble Fan of Atty. Woo Jan 27, 2023

@Pepper @TonyStark

Can we stop talking about Republicans for 5 minutes? carry on

Roy #BLM Pardee 🇺🇸Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark I still can't believe this is an actual, straight-faced proposal. Absolutely banoodles.

Tony Stark Jan 26, 2023

@rpardee Thank you for “banoodles.”

I will be replacing what I normally use, “bananapants”, with that.

Roy #BLM Pardee 🇺🇸Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark All credit to my dear sister for that one.

Maria Hill Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark It's good to have a thesaurus of banananuts. @rpardee

Barbara Monaco Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark Thanks for your clear and concise summary of GOP tax scheme. It cannot work.

Pusher Of Pixels (old account)Jan 26, 2023

On this concept...anybody have a source for what flat tax rate would equal current tax collections? And bonus current spending?

That seems like a really simple starting point for people to understand how much they get fleeced by the 1%.

Stu Duerson, machina exo deus Jan 26, 2023

I'll speak for Germany, 40 yrs ago, but the VAT was the only tax incorporated into retail items. No 'state' or city sales tax.

The Republican proposal, on top of the Trump tax cut snap-back soon to take place, corporate tax avoidances, and the completely decimated US progressive federal tax, would create a vassal economy with the vast majority of us being nothing but serfs.

Fuck the GOP. Before they fuck us.

Paranoid Factoid Jan 27, 2023

@skydog @TonyStark Good comment. That is the goal. They are aristocrats and royalists in waiting.

graphictruth Jan 27, 2023

@skydog @TonyStark

I would suggest leaving red states to ensure blue states can't be cheated into the red. I don't hold out much hope for the US holding together. I think things would be better without White Supremacists stirring up trouble in congress.

Freedom of Association means you are free to hang with anti-facists, play bagpipes at Christofacist preachers and tell bluenoses to bugger off.

Make sure your local schools meet high standards. Consider running for School Board.

MugsysRapSheet Blog ☑️Jan 26, 2023

@TonyStark Here in Texas, we have no state income tax, we have an 8.25% sales tax.

Now imagine adding an additional 30% to that. 😵

Tazor Jan 26, 2023

In Denmark we have a 25% VAT on everything combined with tiered income tax, property tax and company taxes.

We also have "free" education until university, "free" healthcare and a social security net.

Mike Meadway 🇺🇸 🇩🇰 🇬🇧Jan 26, 2023

@Tazor @TonyStark By our calculations, at our income level we'd actually spend LESS in Denmark on taxes -- including the VAT -- than we do here in the Seattle area.

Martha Howell Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark The GOP is trying to push this in Wisconsin as well. So far, Tony Evers says he won't sign it. Hope he stands firm.

myrmepropagandist Jan 27, 2023

"30 percent national sales tax". ?

but I thought eggs were so expensive

WesDym Jan 27, 2023

@futurebird The purpose of the GOP's proposed VAT is to shift more of the burden of paying for the country onto those who can least afford it, because those who can best afford it are their friends. Or perhaps they're masochistic and hoping to speed a bloody revolution and their own public lynchings. But I think it's more likely that they're just too stupid to know better.

One Dude. Opinions. All Mine.Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark bravo!

Tony Stark Jan 27, 2023

@thunder_struck Good morning and thank you.

Ro Laren RED57🥄💩🦨🍈🍊🤡Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark @thunder_struck

This thread is full of dumb birdies and one smug cat who approves. Thank you.

Tony Stark Jan 27, 2023

@thunder_struck @RoLarenRED57 Thanks, Ro! As usual, I’d rather talk to fewer people who know how to act in a society where we all have to depend on each other than a lot of people who don’t know how to cooperate. People and cats included.

Elizabeth Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark I think this really says it all: "Definitely a boon for the very wealthy and a burden for everyone else." This is what they believe in and want. If you can't pick yourself up by your own bootstraps and make yourself wealthy off of minimum wage then you are a burden that society shouldn't have to help or support in any way.

Tony Stark Jan 27, 2023

@akaBeth10 It sure does. Hard to find middle ground with Republicans right now. They simply want to grind the vast majority of people into the ground.

I can’t take it seriously when anyone suggests it. And they do.

Hope Van Dyne Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark @akaBeth10 No reasonable Republicans exist or if they do, they’re invisible. So there’s not much use anyway.

Elizabeth Jan 27, 2023

@TonyStark Well, it's not exactly a new ideology for them. When I had to go on permanent disability, related to a severe back injury they've watched me struggle against almost my whole life, my R family members first response when my approval came through was, "What will you do for work?". If I was "choosing" to not work there would be no help, including through major spine surgery. This attitude has been there a long time, many decades. They're the "I got mine, screw you" party.

Tony Stark Jan 27, 2023

@akaBeth10 I’m very sorry to hear it. I’ve seen so many people worn down by means testing in the first place.

Coming from the people in your own family sounds awful.

No empathy with the Rs and the culture wars they’re out on want to erode what there is.

PirateRo Jan 28, 2023

@TonyStark @akaBeth10 Speaker Pelosi canned the deconstructionists. I think she really meant say they were flaming assholes and she objected with them having access to her dimension, but it came out as deconstructionists.

Persister Jan 28, 2023

@TonyStark @akaBeth10 agree completely. Whenever someone tells me that there are still moderate Republicans my answer is always, name them. Name these non-existing moderates. Take all the time you need.

Threadbane Jan 28, 2023

@akaBeth10 @TonyStark We seem to have crossed the line to becoming a kleptocracy, where the gov't is actively in the process of giving everything away to the plutocrats and their families. We are one of the least upwardly mobile societies in the world now, with nepotism and cronyism filling most of the top vacancies in management with "friends and family" instead of the best qualified for the job. Salary no longer really depends on performance, but on social connections.

Patrick Jan 28, 2023

@TonyStark Quick observation: We would still need the IRS to track sales tax revenues and business returns. No way that silly proposal would not increase bartering and unreported transactions.