Peden for the (Un)Fair Tax?

In a lame attempt to co-opt Mike Huckabee’s platform positions, to appeal to voter blocks, it seems that Chris Peden’s spiffy new website shows that he endorses the (Un)Fair Tax.

With the Fair Tax, Americans would not have a single dollar taken from their paychecks by the federal government. Americans would decide for themselves how much they will pay in taxes each year when they make their purchases, providing a tax system that is equitable for Americans at every income level. Bill Gates would pay the highest amount if he spent the highest amount and the poorest family in America would pay the least.

The Fair Tax criticisms are long, and serious. Factcheck.org has some details.

Key amongst them are the prebate checks to people scamming the system by working for hidden income. Another, is that consumption by the wealthiest in America will be driven to foreign countries, these same wealthy folks who pay 70% of the current income tax burden. Not to mention that citizens will likely push even further to buy cheap, imported goods to reduce their sales tax burden, diminishing the consumption of high quality, American made goods in the domestic market.

In a nation with a negative savings rate, and many citizens financing their consumption with debt, the additional costs of sales taxes are truly regressive and damaging.

What’s troubling, is that Chris seems to be pandering again, looking for support in nooks and crannies, even if the program he is endorsing is unrealistic and damaging.

Chris, if you’re out there, drop a line in the comments. I would love to debate you on the (sic) Fair Tax. That is, if you really think you know what you are talking about.