Tax Reform First

The GOP, upon entering the Congress in January should give America an option – a simplified tax code, built to make America a competitive place to do business in the world, or more the absolute job killing-tax raising policies forwarded by the Obama administration. The FairTax is one such growth-oriented tax reform that could be quickly implemented and easily understood by the majority of people. There are others. Even the basic almost-flat-tax structure offered by the Deficit Commission has its advantages if it weren’t faced with absolutely no way through Congress.

The point is, that America must have tax reform. A simple rate structure with few (or no) deductions would be preferable. If taxes are to be paid, everyone should pay them. Americans all take advantage of the Department of Defense, the roads, and the judicial system. Why shouldn’t each pay a small sum for these benefits? But the torturously progressive tax code Americans are faced with today is terrible on the middle class. The wealthy can afford tax attorneys to hide their money elsewhere, and the tax code is used to provide welfare to the poor that was supposed to have stopped in the Clinton administration.

More of these terrible tax loopholes and credits were created in the sausage-making process of Obamacare. Cornhusker kickbacks, and Louisiana purchases were only the ones you heard about. There are more. The first step in disemboweling Obamacare would a be a strong tax code reform that eliminated the perverted thought that the government can force an American to buy a product (i.e. insurance).

The goals of any tax reform should be:

1) A contribution by all Americans to the defense of the country

2) Creating the most competitive tax position in the world for American business

3) Emphasizing saving and investment.

4) Shifting some or all of taxation to a consumption based system

The first thing to go should be any and all taxes on dividends. America’s retirees are going to need all the help they can get, and ought to be living off their own past earnings, not depending on a dwindling ratio of younger Americans to support them with confiscatory social insurance taxes. Taxes have already been paid on corporate earnings, no need to tax them again when they are paid as dividends. Another priority for removal from the tax code ought to be the unjust, immoral, and painful estate tax. Family farms and small businesses have been getting hammered by this tax for a long time. This year the tax finally expired, and Democrats (and even some in the GOP) want to bring it back!

I’ll be back tomorrow with a plan for America to have it both ways, smaller government, fewer taxes, and a better defense, roads and justice system. Stay tuned.

GOP Leaders, What GOP Leaders? – Timothy Jones

After the 2008 election it seemed that the GOP was a broken machine, no longer functioning with anything like a coherent mission. There was zero leadership and no one wanted to raise their head out of the gopher hole for fear they would get hammered by the pro-Obama masses that wanted no dissent. Needless to say that has changed.

Today the GOP is looking a glut of want-to-be leaders. Some are the recycled fossils of GOP campaigns gone-by, like Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Some are from a bygone day, but have only strengthened their hand since the 2008 election cycle like Sarah Palin and Ron Paul. Some are party elders who see an opportunity like Haley Barbour. But the majority are new blood, people no one expected in 2008, but who have emerged as prominent figures in the countdown to 2012. A few were mentioned as possible VP candidates in 2008 like Tim Pawlenty and Bobby Jindal. A few have exploded onto the scene like Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. And some have been biding their time and building their influence like Mike Pence and Mitch Daniels.

The glut doesn’t end there. So conservatives are in for a major battle for a leader. The race for 2012 started in 2008, and some have stepped in with gusto, while others are still testing the water. Don’t be surprised if someone completely unheard of takes the nomination.

What conservatives have to remember is to vote on principle, not publicity. There are going to be upwards of 20 contenders for the GOP nomination, and a conservative Democrat like Evan Bayh could still enter the race against Barack Obama. There will be plenty of conservative options for Americans in 2012 for sure. I’ll be following the straw polls, looking at the records and sorting out the most conservative candidate as the campaign progresses.