I couldn’t resist watching “The Tonight Show” last night — Leno was going to be on his own, winging it without writers or doing his own writing, just like when he was in stand-up comedy. To top it off, he had as his guest “star” the single most likable Republican presidential candidate of the bunch: Mike Huckabee.
I’ve said in recent weeks that Mike Huckabee is an awfully likable guy. His sense of humor alone will win him votes over Giuliani, Romney, and probably even McCain. And when Huckabee explained his play to eliminate the IRS and make everybody economically much better off with the so-called “Fair Tax” plan, he really got my attention.
Of course, you know, when a politician — ANY politician, no matter how sincere or likable — moves his lips about 1) tax cuts, and/or, 2) a fairer tax, and/or, 3) eliminating the IRS, he or she is being outright delusional. No one will ever get rid of the IRS. Too many MILLIONS of lobbyists, bureaucrats, politicians, and private businesses rely on the IRS to let it go down. Ever. If you remember nothing else about what I’m saying, get some scissors, clip this out of your computer screen, and glue it to your eyeballs so you won’t forget it:
NO ONE WILL EVER GET RID OF THE IRS.
Aside from that, apparently anyone with a little bit of time and some careful thinking, can see some serious flaws in these so-called “Fair Tax” plans. Mostly, they simply don’t stand up to the basic math involved in running the country. If you don’t believe me, look at this article, or run “Fair Tax” through an Internet search engine. Aside from all the folks writing blogs who really hope the IRS will die, and those who are just plain fanatical or goofy, you’ll find columns and papers done by economists who laugh the idea off the table.
Get real here, people: The “Fair Tax” really isn’t anything but a “Fairy Tale” tax.
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