It just seems so obvious to me I assumed one major complaint regarding Herman Cain's tax reform plan, 9-9-9 would need no explanation... but once again I am disappointed, so here we go:
Issue: since one part of the 9-9-9 Plan is a national sales tax (9%), what's to keep a future Congress and future President from raising that to 10%, or even 20%?
The real answer is the pressure from us, We the People. We can affect what happens in the Capitol by voicing our wishes, and of course by our vote. (I know, everyone knows this. So what?)
It's the "so what" thing that troubles me the most, actually. To take that attitude is to say we have no confidence in our elected Leaders sworn to serve the Nation. I'm no different... my own confidence level in Government is very low.
That, though STILL isn't what bothers me the most...
Currently, the ones most loudly raising this particular issue ARE elected servants in Congress, and even those in the Obama Administration. In effect, they are saying that a big problem with the 9-9-9 Plan is lack of trust in the Congress and the White House. That is, they do not trust the very institutions they represent... They have no faith in themselves to do the right thing.
Do those we have elected really believe an argument that they cannot be trusted with the economic welfare of America and its Citizens makes any sense at all? More likely what they fear are Citizens able to see and understand what they are doing to us, rather than for us. Big favors and little ones instantly disappear, and the job of living within our means becomes obvious and necessary.
So what IS the problem? There is none. The Cain 9-9-9 Plan is simple, effective and visible. Legions of lobbyists, special interests and political favors are reduced to insignificance... and We the People win.
Issue: since one part of the 9-9-9 Plan is a national sales tax (9%), what's to keep a future Congress and future President from raising that to 10%, or even 20%?
- Structurally (a part of the Plan itself) includes a requirement that a "supermajority" vote will be required in Congress to make any change to the sales tax portion, or any other part of the 9-9-9 Plan. This is pretty good protection, but not "bullet-proof." Nothing is.
- There is nothing different about the 9-9-9 Plan as compared with the current bloated and confusing tax code. The Fed can change those rates any time they like.
- FUNDAMENTALLY different is that the 9-9-9 Plan offers absolute transparency and visibility, unlike the current tax code. There are so many rules and changes and specific loopholes in the current code we have not only a huge IRS organization, but a sizable number of accounting firms plus consumer-oriented tax help agencies just to get us through the process... and to fix problems.
- If you want to raise taxes under the 9-9-9 Plan you offer a Bill in Congress to change that one number. It is impossible to hide, and everyone in America can understand immediately. A favorite expression, this means we will no longer be "mushrooms." Secrecy and complexity are confounded by visibility, and Herman Cain's 9-9-9 Plan would bring the tax conversation out into the clear light of day.
The real answer is the pressure from us, We the People. We can affect what happens in the Capitol by voicing our wishes, and of course by our vote. (I know, everyone knows this. So what?)
It's the "so what" thing that troubles me the most, actually. To take that attitude is to say we have no confidence in our elected Leaders sworn to serve the Nation. I'm no different... my own confidence level in Government is very low.
That, though STILL isn't what bothers me the most...
Currently, the ones most loudly raising this particular issue ARE elected servants in Congress, and even those in the Obama Administration. In effect, they are saying that a big problem with the 9-9-9 Plan is lack of trust in the Congress and the White House. That is, they do not trust the very institutions they represent... They have no faith in themselves to do the right thing.
Do those we have elected really believe an argument that they cannot be trusted with the economic welfare of America and its Citizens makes any sense at all? More likely what they fear are Citizens able to see and understand what they are doing to us, rather than for us. Big favors and little ones instantly disappear, and the job of living within our means becomes obvious and necessary.
So what IS the problem? There is none. The Cain 9-9-9 Plan is simple, effective and visible. Legions of lobbyists, special interests and political favors are reduced to insignificance... and We the People win.
