THE FAIRTAX AND FREEDOM ON THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY
In 1776, The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, representing the 13 colonies. Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated.
They pledged: For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
The men who signed the Declaration knew that they were likely going to be sought for treason by the British and stood to lose their possessions and maybe their lives. Benjamin Franklin signed and said, We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.
Franklin’s statement proved prophetic.
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, while his family was in hiding. His possessions were taken from him and he died in poverty.
The properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton were looted.
At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. His wife died in jail.
John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.
AMERICANS AND LIBERTY, FREEDOM AND RIGHTS
As you may know by now, the National Tax Research Committee (NTRC) commissioned Quantus Insights to conduct a national survey on behalf of Americans for Fair Taxation. The survey took place in June (2025) among 1,200 registered voters. Details can be found at FAIRtax.org
We will go into more detail in the next Chairman’s Report, but for now, these are the highlights.
- 50% of voters support the elimination of the income tax and abolishment of the IRS.
- 58% of voters support the idea of replacing the current income tax system with a national sales tax including a major of Republicans (69%), Democrats (52%) and Independents (51%).
- Support also comes from blacks (53%) and Hispanics (48%)
- One-third of younger voters, those under 45, have heard of the FAIRtax, more than the older age groups, those 45-64 (19%) and 65+ (16%)
- Finally, 73% of those under 45 support the idea of eliminating the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax.
You can download the entire survey presentation and data at these links. SHARE IT!!
Survey Presentation
Survey Data and Questionnaire
There are two types of Freedom—Freedom From and Freedom to. Although they are closely related, they are different.
Freedom from refers to the absence of external constraints, coercion, or interference that limit an individual's ability to make choices and pursue their desired course of action. It is the freedom from oppression, tyranny, and the infringement of fundamental rights and liberties. This aspect of freedom is often associated with negative rights, which impose obligations on others to refrain from interfering with an individual's autonomy.
Examples of freedom from include:
- Freedom from persecution: The right to hold and express beliefs without fear of persecution or discrimination.
- Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention: The protection against unlawful deprivation of liberty.
- Freedom from censorship: The ability to access and disseminate information without undue restrictions.
- Freedom from poverty and hunger: The right to a basic standard of living and access to essential resources.
Freedom from creates an environment where individuals can make choices without fear of repression or coercion.
Freedom To
Freedom to, on the other hand, refers to the positive ability and opportunity to act, participate, and pursue one's goals and dreams. It is the freedom to engage in activities, express oneself, and make meaningful choices. This aspect of freedom is often associated with positive rights.
Examples of freedom to include:
- Freedom of speech and expression: The ability to voice opinions, ideas, and beliefs without fear of retribution.
- Freedom of religion: The right to practice and observe one's chosen faith or belief system.
- Freedom of movement: The ability to travel and relocate without undue restrictions.
- Freedom of association: The right to form and join organizations, unions, or groups of one's choice.
Freedom to fosters creativity, innovation, and self-actualization, enabling individuals to reach their full potential.
The interplay between freedom from and freedom to is crucial for the realization of true liberty.
While freedom from removes external constraints, freedom to provides the means and opportunities for individuals to exercise their autonomy and make meaningful choices. Together, these two dimensions of freedom create an environment where individuals can thrive, societies can progress, and human potential can be fully realized.
In conclusion, freedom from and freedom to are complementary and interdependent aspects of liberty.
CONCLUSION
There is no other proposed reform that increases Freedom From and Freedom To for Americans like the FAIRtax:
- Freedom From filing income tax returns
- Freedom From the IRS
- Freedom From D.C. telling us how much of our earnings we can keep
- Freedom To decide how much federal tax you pay based on how much you spend
- Freedom To earn and save without being penalized
- Freedom To keep your financial information secret and not on file to be leaked
Please go to this link to invest in AFFT and help us pass the FAIRtax. It’s an investment in your and your family’s future.
THE SOLUTION—PASS THE FAIRTAX!
Why would D.C. pass the FAIRtax and give up this almost unlimited source of donations? The only way that they will is if the rest of us demand it!
Isn’t it time to end this ludicrous tax collection system and the IRS?
There is going to be a vote on the FAIRtax in the House of Representatives.
We now have the opportunity to force all Members of the House to show where they stand. They can:
- Vote for the present income/payroll tax system or for the FAIRtax.
- Support the corrupt income tax and the IRS or eliminate it. It can’t be any simpler than that.
- Hide the true cost of their government or pass the FAIRtax and show everyone the true cost of government on each retail receipt.
- Support the largest transfer of power from government to the people, the FAIRtax, or not.
If Members think that the FAIRtax needs to be amended to address a problem, then they can propose the change. Don’t reject the entire bill because it has a perceived “flaw” that can be addressed and, if it is a real “flaw”, corrected in the final bill.
HELP BRING ABOUT REAL TAX REFORM AND STOP FUTURE IRS ABUSES
By contributing (investing) $10.40 per month, you help provide a financial base to AFFT. If you can make larger contributions (investments), these will be used not for salaries, as we are all volunteers, but for the needed updates to our economic studies which will be vital for all future years.
Please go to this link to invest in AFFT and help us pass the FAIRtax. It’s an investment in your and your family’s future.