NOTE DAY AND DATE CHANGE :  NOW MAY 1ST 10:00 AM

The VAT taxes the value added to each step of production of every good or service. For example, the addition of a windshield to a work-in-progress new car would require a tax on the increase in value of the car. Providers of goods and services will, of course, pass these taxes along to consumers as costs of production; i.e., as higher prices. In effect, the VAT is a sales tax imposed on all goods and services deemed to be subject to the tax. Further, the complexity of keeping track of all these mini-taxes is such that the VAT is only cost-effective if the tax is high enough. This could result in the tax rate being set at 10-15% and it is further subject to the whims of Congress when it comes to raising the rate.

The VAT, as a flat-rate tax on most of what we buy or consume, is extremely regressive. Unlike the income tax, which has been twisted and contorted in order to give a break to this group or that person, the VAT hits everyone with the same bat. The poor will pay a greater percentage of their expenditures in tax than those of higher income. Only a further set of contortions can relieve this certainty. Bring on thousands more pages of tax regulations!

Fortunately, many of us in the Roanoke Valley are served by a Congressman, Bob Goodlatte, who can be counted upon to vote against a VAT proposal as often as it comes up. Other Congressmen serving our region are not so certain, nor are our two Senators. We need to contact our wavering representatives often and with a simple message: The VAT – Don’t even think about it!

There is an alternative to the income tax with or without the VAT: the FairTax. It provides for the elimination of the income tax and the IRS leading to a whole bunch of changes. Instead of taxing “earned income,” which seems to include money made from any source whatsoever, it taxes only money spent to make a purchase. Since earned income is not taxed there is no need for payroll and withholding taxes and you go home with your full paycheck. There are some workers who, having had their checks reduced in this way for so long, don’t know what their full wage is! Wait, there’s more! Each legal, resident family will receive a monthly refund for the FairTax that will be paid on expenses up to that family’s poverty level meaning that the poorest among us will, unlike the income tax and especially the VAT, pay no tax at all. The rich, on the other hand, will hardly notice the prebate. Between these extremes, every family will have some of its taxes refunded with the most effect felt at the lower incomes.

The income tax is already included in the costs of goods and services by virtue of hidden taxes collected from providers. The VAT would double down on this at every level of production. On the other hand, the FairTax would eliminate all of these taxes! Consequently, as the costs of new goods and services drop – the average amount is 22% – the FairTax is inserted at the level of 23%. Prices would remain essentially at the income-taxed level and well below the plus-VAT level. In fact, had the FairTax been effect a year or so ago, its full-paycheck property would have provided a strong stimulus on its own.

Act now to stop the tax madness! Tell your federal legislators: income tax…NO; VAT…NO; FairTax…YES. Reach them as follows: Perriello – 202-225-4711; Boucher – 202-225-3861; Warner – 202-224-2023; Webb – 202-224-4024. Let them hear from you.

For further information, see www.RoanokeAreaFairTax.com, www.FairTaxNation.com, www.FairTax.org, www.franklincountypatriots.net, and www.RoanokeTeaParty.com.

The email usually says “I urge you to go to www.usdebtclock.org. This is a site every American, FairTaxer or otherwise, Democrat, Republican or Non-Affiliated, should see. The numbers are truly shocking, and this display helps put them in perspective…. …. The FairTax isn’t strictly about the national debt (and the national unfunded liability), but it goes a long way towards addressing the problem. The FairTax grows personal savings and investment, equalizes the balance of trade, grows the economy, and makes federal spending transparent to the consumer. Please take time to visit this site.”
The email is right on the money! Please take the time to go visit the site at www.usdebtclock.org

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More than 9,000 of your fellow FairTaxers have already downloaded the new FairTax.org Toolbar to help raise money for the FairTax cause.

Will you take a moment now to help us hit our goal of 10,000 downloads on our way to 25,000 this year?

Thousands of FairTax supporters are already taking advantage of the our browser toolbar that generates revenue for the FairTax cause at no cost to them simply when they use it to search or shop online. We hope you’ll join them.

This is a critical time for the FairTax. America’s economic woes reminds us that the FairTax is a real and permanent financial
stimulus package that we need now more than ever. Each day’s dire news about spending deficits, unemployment or slumping economic output should be a stark reminder that there is a better way…the FairTax.

The good news is that more and more Americans understand this. The FairTax continues to build strength nationally, but funding is crucial to keep the momentum going. Funding means more online and grassroots efforts, more rallies, more media buys, and more outreach to all Americans about the power of the FairTax to unleash the real potential of the American economy. That begins with your taking a moment now to download the new FairTax.org Toolbar.

Download the Toolbar at www.fairtax.org/toolbar and make sure we reach our 10,000 target today.

The Plan is to:

• Meet with other FairTax supporters at the Pentagon Memorial at 9AM
• Everyone go as a group to the METRO at 10 AM
• Take the METRO to the “Federal Triangle Metro Stop”
• Meet at the IRS Building at 10:30 to 11:00 for a peaceful demonstration in front of the building.
• We will get a head count at the IRS building.
• At 11:45 we will walk towards the capitol area.
• Gather to enter the congressional office buildings en masse.
• Go straight to targeted congressional offices.
• Don’t forget your signs and banners!

9-11 FairTax Protest