THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010008
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 31 lines
It is time for all citizens to affirm their choices for president, vice president and the Congress - those who will lead us into the 21st century. It is clear to me that both major parties hold a philosophy of taking hard-earned personal (and business) earnings to perform functions not delineated in the Constitution.
Republicans would lead us to a continuing government dependency (Socialism) more slowly, perhaps, than Democrats, even though the former has a few real conservatives, i.e., believers in constitutional government. Only the Libertarians and the U.S. Taxpayers Party support the latter, especially regarding taxes.
Neither major party wholly senses our anger and frustration with the income tax, which is inefficient, burdensome and complex. The income tax, and other taxes, should be replaced with a 15 percent National Retail Sales Tax on all final goods and services - a simple, flat, fair and easy-to-collect tax. It will enable citizens to determine how their earnings will be spent, whether on consumption, savings or investment (capital creation). And the government will receive only that revenue required to execute its constitutional mandates. We would then know the true cost of government each year.
Further, this tax would make our products more competitive with foreign goods, because it would remove the hidden income tax on all goods produced, as well as the extra cost of government under the current income tax laws.
R.J. DIETZ
Virginia Beach, Oct. 23, 1996 by CNB