I disagree. Obviously the whole point of 999 is to replace the entire current tax system. If that were to actually happen (I’m not saying it will, I’m just saying we need to be honest when talking about someone’s proposal) it would be incalculably better for everyone. You say “another venue for taxing”. I have to assume you’re talking about the sales tax (as the other two taxes, we already have). I’m not afraid of a national sales tax so long as the current system is completely repealed. (Again, this is totally unlikely, even with a President who is behind it, but we’re discussing that plan).
Obviously the ideal system is “no tax”. But the next best thing is a plan like the Fair Tax system (which Cain was in favor of, until he came up with his own plan, obviously because he thinks it would be easier to enact.) Fair Tax is essentially a consumption tax. The plan basically says repeal every federal tax. Then institute a national sales tax, and issue a monthly payment to all family households of lawful U.S. residents as an advance rebate, or “prebate”, of tax on purchases up to the poverty level.
And of course, if you have to have a tax, this is what you want. Right now we tax production. And as we all know, anything you tax, you get less of. Taxing consumption would make the world much more wealthy.
The main point fearmongers like Santorum like to use is “that’s the last thing we need is another venue for taxing! Let’s ask the people here…Do you want a national sales tax? See? Nobody wants it. You’re an idiot.” Obviously that’s as dishonest as a doctor saying you have cancer and he needs to amputate your leg to save your life and someone goes “Amputate the leg? That’s ridiculous! Show of hands, who here wants their leg cut off? See? You’re an idiot.”
Obviously Santorum ignores two things. 1) It’s not “another” venue. That implies all the other venues would remain. But obviously that goes against the plan. The whole point of the plan is to replace everything currently. 2) The whole thing is transparent. Anyone would easily be able to see any deviation. You say “9% here, here, and here”. That’s it. Any change from that would be too obvious to ignore. And the first thing people would notice is a change in a sales tax. They would see (and feel) exactly how much it is really costing them because it would hit them every time they go to consume. I guarantee you if we had a Fair Tax system right now, there would be no wars.