Herman Cain: Tax Poor People’s Food To Finance Massive Tax Break For The Rich

[jefferson_dem]

Herman Cain: Tax Poor People’s Food To Finance Massive Tax Break For The Rich
By Amanda Peterson Beadle on Oct 9, 2011 at 11:20 am

The centerpiece of former pizza czar Herman Cain’s presidential campaign is his “999″ plan, which would slash taxes on the wealthy, drive up deficits to the worst point since World War II, and force low-income Americans to pay a massive nine times their current tax rate. In an interview this morning with CNN’s Candy Crowley, Cain even said food and clothing would not be exempt from the 9 percent national sales tax he would put in place if elected president. Indeed, he said it would be “fair” for a poor person to pay as much in sales taxes as Crowley does:

CROWLEY: Is there any exception, as you see it, in this consumption tax? Except for clothing, perhaps? Except for food? <...>

CAIN: Nope, you don’t have to do that. Nope, you don’t have to do that. <...>

CROWLEY: So a poor person is paying the same amount of taxes on groceries as I am? Does that sound fair to you, just in a vacuum?

CAIN: Yes, it does sound fair because of the other point I’m about to make. If they need to buy a car or a home or some hard goods that are used, they pay no taxes.

<SNIP>

VIDEO at LINK: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/10/09/339783/herman-cain-tax-food/

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. wtf

:crazy:

[Graybeard]

2. "Does that sound fair to you, just in a vacuum?"

The vacuum is between Cain's ears.

[dkf]

3. But he gets rid of the payroll tax which hits people at the first dollar.

That is basically 15.3% if you consider the employer portion.

[louis-t]

5. I see, so punishing consumption is good for the economy?

Not to mention the collapse of the federal government due to the loss of revenue?

[golfguru]

7. Since everything I try to buy is made in China, how does

consumption help create good jobs in our country?
All we create is retail sales clerk jobs by promoting consumerism with goods made in China.

What we really need is a plan to boost manufacturing businesses which is the place where good and permanent jobs are created.

[louis-t]

10. Not everything, but I see your point.

Still, a national sales tax wouldn't help anything either. Especially when you figure in the "people would be actually taxed less" part of the sales pitch. Less revenue is less revenue.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Employers are off the hook from helping pay for social security benefits.

Another shitty thing about the (UN)fair tax scheme.

[dkf]

11. Yeah one wonders how social security fits in this.

[tridim]

4. Is he running for asshole in chief?

[Aviation Pro]

8. Hey pizza guy...

...go back to spinning dough and piling on the sugar based crap you call tomato sauce on your garbage product.

There's too much important work to be done and non-events like you need to disappear.

[They_Live]

9. Think I don't notice

the mark of the beast if it is turned upside-down?

No sale, CAIN!

[Scuba]

12. It's 0.999 Pure Regressive. n/t