In the eras of booming U.S. economies, we had one of two advantages; either we offered goods that nobody else had or, we offered goods at a quality and/or price level that nobody else could touch. From a consumer standpoint you either buy the product because 1) nobody else has it 2) you can't beat the price or 3) the buying experience is worth the added cost. Okay, occasionally you buy purely out of loyalty, but that's rare. Now consider that most of what we buy is made outside of the U.S. That's got to be the combination of quality and price being better than goods manufactured here.
I submit to you that if we could adopt The FairTax here in America, we'd create an incentive for companies to come back here and manufacture products again. Think about this; in order for us to be buying products made overseas the cost of manufacturing AND importing those products must still make it significantly less expensive than if it were manufactured here. Pardon me for being a little bit biased, but WE ARE AMERICANS! We have been known for being some of the hardest-working, most innovative and efficient workers in the world. When and why did we give up that honor?
Furthermore, any downside (and I don't see any) to adopting the FairTax would be short-lived. If you have not read these two books and you are interested in seeing America become THE leader in manufacturing and innovation, you MUST read them. I know lots of people think that companies went overseas because they are greedy. Well, many of us have 401(k)'s and IRA's invested with these companies. Why? Because we want maximum profits and growth in our savings and retirement plans. Yeah, we're greedy too.
If you think we can't make a difference, remember that the founding fathers of our country (and Martin Luther King Jr. for that matter) could've taken the same approach.
Please read these books and contact your Senators and Congressmen. Let's take America back!
Only one problem, Steve, and you know it as well as I do... Our political elite (congressfolk, president, federal bureaucracy, etc.) will never have the personal and corporate character to do away with the current system.
ReplyDeleteOur best hope lies in doing several individual steps:
1. Push through a term-limits amendment to the constitution and hope that we can get some folks of high character into office.
2. Eliminate the influence of lobbyists some way.
3. Ensure that our congressfolk and their staff actually write legislation instead of having corporate sponsors and/or lobbyists do it.