Chairman’s Report - May 29, 2015

Candidates Run Because They Want To Be Elected

Most people reading the above will think that it is so obvious that it does not need stating.  The reason that I state it though is because candidates will respond to pressure and modify or even change their positions.  

In 1992, my wife and I spent six weeks in New Hampshire leading up to the February 18th presidential primary.   We were promoting the Tauzin proposal for a national retail sales tax on which the FAIRtax is based.  

We organized proponents of the retail consumption tax and members of our team started attending events all around the state where the Democratic presidential candidates were speaking.  At each of these events, normally having between 20 and 200 people in attendance, one of our supporters would ask, “Are you in favor of eliminating the IRS and replacing the income tax system with a national retail sales tax?”

It was interesting that the first responses to the questions started out being dismissive.  However, as the candidates kept getting asked the same type of question by different people at events around the state, we saw a change in the answers.  By the last week of the campaign, the answers from Bill Clinton, Bob Kerry and Paul Tsongas were all like this from Clinton while speaking in a large unheated barn outside of Manchester, New Hampshire, “It is an intriguing idea and actually could really stimulate our economy.  We definitely should seriously consider this approach.”

The day before the New Hampshire primary, I was in Berlin, New Hampshire doing a talk radio show when Clinton’s people asked if he could call.  The host said sure and told me that he wanted me to address Clinton.  Clinton called in and gave his three minutes of talking points.  Then the host, a supporter of the national retail sales tax, told Clinton he would like to speak with me on the air.  Clinton was surprised but after he learned that I was promoting the retail sales tax, he cut me off and spent the next three minutes explaining the advantages of the retail sales tax.  

Did Clinton follow-through on his statements while in office?  No but he and the other candidates were careful not to just dismiss questions he received in other states about the retail sales tax.   He was careful to phrase his answers so that he didn’t appear to be an opponent of the retail sales tax.

My point is that we have to take every opportunity to attend events where one or more of the presidential hopefuls are speaking.  We can ask them the question,  “Are you in favor of eliminating the IRS and replacing the income tax system with a national retail sales tax?”  We will let them know that they have to aware that negative comments about the FAIRtax will alienate some voters.  They know that in this crowded field, every vote counts.

We may not get them to endose the FAIRtax but we will neutralize the type of attitude that equates the FAIRtax with a “goofy idea.”  


FAIRtax Power Radio


FAIRtax Power Radio is the “on demand” show that plays when YOU want to listen.  Using your computer or smart phone, you can “watch” FAIRtax Power Radio by going to “The FAIRtax Guys” channel on YouTube.  There are over a dozen episodes plus an introduction by The FAIRtax Guys.  For audio only, another source for FTPR is SoundCloud.com; again search for “The FAIRtax Guys” to find our channel on www.soundcloud.com.  Both YouTube and SoundCloud have free apps for smart phones so you can listen whenever and wherever you wish.  Each episode is a half hour long.  We start at the beginning in episode #1 talking about the need for REAL tax reform and continue to build the case with each episode in an informative yet entertaining way.  Our goal is to offer a discussion of the most thoroughly researched tax reform proposal, the FAIRtax, and make it seem like a family discussion at the kitchen table.  Listen to our program and then tell your friends and relatives about the show.


AFFT National LOGO Store Open for Business  

Last week, State directors received the new 2015-16 National FairTax Palm Cards from the new National Store.  The AFFT National Logo Store has new logo palm cards, hats, polo shirts, and tote bags with many new promotional items to follow weekly.  Please visit the AFFT National Logo Store at www.fairtaxlogostore.org.

Our special thanks to Rudy Treml for his countless hours of work to make this happen for all of us!!

Washington June Trip

Peggy and I are going to Washington, D.C. on June 1st and expect to have a very full schedule of appointments while we are there.  There are a number of our AFFT state leaders who have contacted Peggy and indicated that they have had meetings with their Members of Congress in their districts and want us to meet with them in D.C.  

Please contact your Members of Congress and ask them to meet with Peggy and me.  It will be a great help in getting appointments and spreading the FAIRtax message.  Please email Peggy at peggy.green-ernst@fairtax.org and let her know who in your Members’ office with whom you have been in contact.

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