Rudy Criticizes Fair Tax Platforms

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - "Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani criticized the "fair tax" plan that has been touted by rival candidate Mike Huckabee on Monday, saying it could hurt home buyers. The former New York City mayor cited the struggling U.S. housing market as a reason to avoid the plan, which would eliminate all taxes on income and investments in favor of a hefty federal sales tax.

A questioner asked about the plan but did not mention Huckabee. Nor did Giuliani mention his rival in his response. "I think there are several tax deductions that are vital to our economy," Giuliani said. "This would not be a good time - I don't know if there would ever be a good time to do this - to advocate ending the home mortgage deduction. The home mortgage deduction is considered by many critical to the ability of people to buy a home and keep their home."He also said deductions for charitable contributions and state and local taxes were important tax breaks that the plan would eliminate.

The plan calls for getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service and giving taxpayers a monthly rebate on taxes on purchases up to the poverty line. "Why waste our time trying to do this if we can't actually accomplish it?" Giuliani said. "I try to put my time into things that we can actually accomplish." Giuliani spent much of his time in Greensboro criticizing Democratic proposals on health care, education and pensions. He said the Democratic presidential candidates touting those programs are pushing the country toward more taxes when it needs more investment in private business.

"We have to have a society that rewards success," Giuliani said. "The only way in which we get people out of poverty is you help them help themselves by giving them the opportunity for a good education and the opportunity for a good job. That's how you deal with poverty - not with government welfare programs."

It's the "opportunity" part that bothers me. Over-emphasizing "giving them the opportunity" is what got us into this crazed entitlement circus to begin with. And I'd love to see a fair-tax implemented but I'd also love to see Mars and both are about as likely. The current Congress is not, in any way, shape or form, going to vote for a fair tax and thats that. Democrats despise the idea and as long as half the electorate votes for anti-fair tax representatives it doesn't stand a chance. To believe that liberals will kill the golden goose is to not understand how deeply entrenched in pork and giveaway programs our economy has become, and Huckleberry or Mitty can preach fair tax until they're red in the face but it simply is not happening.