While the USA Today newspaper ("McPaper" as my fraternity brother, T. Harvey, calls it) is a decent news source for me during my extensive travels they do not offer the depth needed for a full discussion of issues. A good example of their editorial board's failure to pose THE key question regarding the US Tax Code is their April 12, 2006 editorial -- "Who's keeping an eye on tax preparers? No one..............."
Their editorial points out that 48 out of our 50 states do not require any licensing or certification for tax preparers thus that apparently should be our biggest concern -- the need for more regulation!!!
The editorial goes on by telling us what "Percentage of taxpayers at various income levels who use paid (tax) preparers" -- which I have re-printed below:
INCOME RANGE PERCENTAGE OF TAXPAYERS
$0 to 20,000 53%
20,000 to 40,000 56%
40,001 to 60,000 57%
60,001 to 80,000 58%
80,001 to 100,000 55%
More than $100,000 64%
Now for the question the editorial board really failed to ask:
WHY SHOULD THE TAX CODE REMAIN SO BURDENSOME AND COMPLICATED THAT 53% OF PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN $20,000 HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO PREPARE THEIR INCOME TAXES???
Instead why not unleash real economic growth and extend freedom by creating a flat federal income tax rate of 17% (to start with -- then we work to reduce it each year. Of course I want income tax completely eliminated since it is a violation of my personal privacy but I am willing to compromise by offering this proposal. Jesus himself only expected 10% via the "tithe" system so surely Congress can live with 17% of someone's income. ) starting at incomes of $100,000?
Come on USA Today you can do better.
Flat not fat,
Todd
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