Tony StarkJan 26, 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
Show threadElizabeth
@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.
Jan 27, 2023 at 10:17pmWeb
Show threadTony StarkJan 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.

Show threadHope Van DyneJan 27, 2023
@TonyStark @akaBeth10 No reasonable Republicans exist or if they do, they’re invisible. So there’s not much use anyway.
Show threadElizabethJan 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.
Show threadTony StarkJan 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.

Show threadPirateRoJan 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.
Show threadPersisterJan 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.
Show threadThreadbaneJan 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.