MEET THE “STICKY” GROUP – PART 2
Sometimes writings inspire people to act in unexpected ways. In 2020, we reviewed in a series of writings about the six principles of “sticky” ideas from Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold, and Others Come Unstuck, (Arrow Books, 2007).
Florida State Director Paul Livingston took it upon himself to put the principles into action by assembling a group to come up with “sticky” messages for the FAIRtax. The group is now meeting every Monday evening by phone conference. The outcome remains a work in progress.
Last week we introduced four members of the group. We now introduce the remaining three “stickies”:
Marilyn Rickert, Illinois, came from a different – and more skeptical - point of view than Jim Bennett (who we introduced last week). While nursing a broken leg, Marilyn stumbled onto the FAIRtax website. Her first thought was that she needed to straighten these guys out and explain to them why that idea would never work. To her surprise, the FAIRtax straightened her out and she became one of its earliest and most effective advocates.
A few years later, Congressman John Linder introduced the FAIRtax bill into Congress, and Marilyn thought her job was over. Was she ever wrong!
Fast forward to last year, when the Illinois Democratic Party decided to declare war on Illinois’ flat income tax in favor of a progressive income tax. Many people have the mistaken idea that the FAIRtax and the flat tax are similar, but they’re as different as night and day.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the richest man in the state, was the primary force pushing for the progressive income tax which he called his “fair tax” plan. The measure went down to a stunning defeat, thanks in part to Marilyn’s efforts.
In 2020, the Trump Campaign asked Marilyn to get involved in grassroots. Marilyn believes that Trump is coming back, and when he does, the income tax is history. The only question is whether we get the FAIRtax at that point or some other replacement plan.
Kerry Bowers, North Carolina, is a twenty-year veteran of the Air Force. Kerry picked up the FAIRtax book before getting on a plane. Soon after that, he went online and officially became a FAIRtax-er. At the time, he was living in Florida and Mark Gupton, then Florida FAIRtax State Director, made him one of the first district directors in the state.
Kerry is keenly interested in legislation, having put in corrections to the FAIRtax bill. He now lives in North Carolina but still has a residence in Nevada. Kerry has run for Congress and for President.
Kerry’s wife has a lot of “formers” on her resume including being a former IRS agent. She is also a former practicing CPA, a former professor, and was formerly in a financial post at a major corporation.
Kerry is a stickler for accuracy and believes that we sometimes articulate the FAIRtax message incorrectly. He is adamant that people understand what they are about to say before they speak about the FAIRtax.
Paul Livingston, Florida, learned about the IRS as a teenager. Paul was a saver and sold some stock. Because of this transaction, Paul had to go to a local lawyer for help doing his taxes. Count Paul among the many who learned about the FAIRtax listening to Neal Boortz on the radio. He recalls that after reading the FAIRtax book “many lights came on.”
Paul’s marketing background guides his approach to problem solving. First, define the problem. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can begin to devise solutions. The solution to all the problems with the income tax is clear—replace it with the FAIRtax. Paul laments that many talk-show hosts talk about problems, but they never talk about solutions.
We will keep you posted on developments of the “Sticky Group.”
Do you have a “sticky” message for the FAIRtax? If so, I would love to hear from you.
Yours In the FAIRtax Movement!Sometimes writings inspire people to act in unexpected ways. In 2020, we reviewed in a series of writings about the six principles of “sticky” ideas from Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold, and Others Come Unstuck, (Arrow Books, 2007).
Florida State Director Paul Livingston took it upon himself to put the principles into action by assembling a group to come up with “sticky” messages for the FAIRtax. The group is now meeting every Monday evening by phone conference. The outcome remains a work in progress.
Last week we introduced four members of the group. We now introduce the remaining three “stickies”:
Marilyn Rickert, Illinois, came from a different – and more skeptical - point of view than Jim Bennett (who we introduced last week). While nursing a broken leg, Marilyn stumbled onto the FAIRtax website. Her first thought was that she needed to straighten these guys out and explain to them why that idea would never work. To her surprise, the FAIRtax straightened her out and she became one of its earliest and most effective advocates.
A few years later, Congressman John Linder introduced the FAIRtax bill into Congress, and Marilyn thought her job was over. Was she ever wrong!
Fast forward to last year, when the Illinois Democratic Party decided to declare war on Illinois’ flat income tax in favor of a progressive income tax. Many people have the mistaken idea that the FAIRtax and the flat tax are similar, but they’re as different as night and day.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the richest man in the state, was the primary force pushing for the progressive income tax which he called his “fair tax” plan. The measure went down to a stunning defeat, thanks in part to Marilyn’s efforts.
In 2020, the Trump Campaign asked Marilyn to get involved in grassroots. Marilyn believes that Trump is coming back, and when he does, the income tax is history. The only question is whether we get the FAIRtax at that point or some other replacement plan.
Kerry Bowers, North Carolina, is a twenty-year veteran of the Air Force. Kerry picked up the FAIRtax book before getting on a plane. Soon after that, he went online and officially became a FAIRtax-er. At the time, he was living in Florida and Mark Gupton, then Florida FAIRtax State Director, made him one of the first district directors in the state.
Kerry is keenly interested in legislation, having put in corrections to the FAIRtax bill. He now lives in North Carolina but still has a residence in Nevada. Kerry has run for Congress and for President.
Kerry’s wife has a lot of “formers” on her resume including being a former IRS agent. She is also a former practicing CPA, a former professor, and was formerly in a financial post at a major corporation.
Kerry is a stickler for accuracy and believes that we sometimes articulate the FAIRtax message incorrectly. He is adamant that people understand what they are about to say before they speak about the FAIRtax.
Paul Livingston, Florida, learned about the IRS as a teenager. Paul was a saver and sold some stock. Because of this transaction, Paul had to go to a local lawyer for help doing his taxes. Count Paul among the many who learned about the FAIRtax listening to Neal Boortz on the radio. He recalls that after reading the FAIRtax book “many lights came on.”
Paul’s marketing background guides his approach to problem solving. First, define the problem. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can begin to devise solutions. The solution to all the problems with the income tax is clear—replace it with the FAIRtax. Paul laments that many talk-show hosts talk about problems, but they never talk about solutions.
We will keep you posted on developments of the “Sticky Group.”
Do you have a “sticky” message for the FAIRtax? If so, I would love to hear from you.
Jim Bennett
AFFT Grassroots Coordinator & Secretary
🇺🇸 Call For Pictures & WriteUps - When others see your activity, they are inspired, the process snowballs and Representatives, Senators and, yes, even the President start to listen to you and me. Please send your material to me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.org.
🇺🇸 The Official FAIRtax Store - Don’t forget to order your FAIRtax gear from the FAIRtax Store.🇺🇸 We've Got You Covered, If You Let Us Know - If you are planning an event, we have event insurance coverage available for you. Email me the "who-what-where-when" and I will obtain for you a COI. Once the event is underway, it's too late.
🇺🇸 CPAC Finally, save the dates: February 24-27, 2022 (probably), for either Orlando, Florida, or Washington, D.C. (National Harbor, Maryland). Plan to be at the CPAC (“Conservative Political Action Conference) annual convention. The FAIRtax Guys were there this year and say next year we need to turn out in numbers. You don’t need to be a conservative to attend and help the FAIRtax.