Why Perry's Flat Tax Plan Doesn't Have A Prayer

Rick Perry introduced his flat tax plan this week to positive reviews from Republicans, but here’s the catch: It doesn’t have a prayer.

The reason is simple: The last 30 years of tax politics is littered with the detritus of failed flat tax proposals, most prominent among them the one highlighted by Steve Forbes in his 1996 presidential campaign. Despite longstanding support for the idea, not once has a flat tax come remotely close to passing Congress.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67132.html

I wouldn't say a 0% chance of success, maybe only a 10% chance. It would require for the Republicans to fill both the Senate and House, and I still think the min level of taxation would have to go up to $75,000.

You don't get it CV. All the others tried to scrap the entire current tax system like Cain is trying to do. Perry's plan only ADDS a much better plan and option to it. It still leaves in the current tax plan as an option. That way the old plan can be phased out later if people want to and if it works. The reason other plans failed is because they meant getting rid of something overnight that Americans are use to. Some people are afraid of change that quickly. This lets them try a new plan and see which one works best for them.

Ah, so we keep the current crappy plan (and the bloated IRS) and ADD a new plan as well. Then taxpayers have to do TWO tax returns to see which one works best for them and pay the LOWEST one.

That's REALLY going to help cut the deficit.

Actually the flat tax is polling pretty well. People are tired of complex tax law riddled with loopholes. More popular with the the people than the politicians.

A simplified tax plan is definitely needed....but it also needs to be equitable. And asking people to do double preparation to determine which plan saves them the most money will never fly. I think Perry will learn what Cain already has...you can't develop a tax plan in sound bites.

Of course it's polling pretty well:

Q: Would you like to keep the current confusing and time-consuming tax plan where it takes hours or even days to fill out your tax return or have a simple tax plan?

A: Duh

It's not a new idea, as the article states.

I think it you make a big enough percentage of voters exempt from the flat tax, it would pass easily.

Sometimes I really would like to see nationwide referendums. The people don't get their way often enough.

Nationwide referendums, huh. What a great idea for reducing government costs.