An Individual's Plea for the Fair Tax

Written by:

Robert L. Nathan, Jr.

10615 Briar Forest

Houston, Texas 77042

Emailed from:

San Diego, California

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Dear Honorable Members of the Commission,

I support HR #25, the Fair Tax amendment.

I could list many reasons for my support. Almost as many reasons as
there are rules that have evolved into the current cumbersome tax code
over the past near ten decades. In the past two years of my volunteer
work in supporting the FairTax idea, I have debated these reasons over
and over, and frankly, I have found little or no objection to any of the
benefits that the Fair Tax offers.

And there have been few weaknesses raised, except the weakness of the
politicians. We have lost control of our representatives, as they are
reluctant to pass something that could mean the end to many sources of
campaign funds through special interest groups. Does anyone in
Washington possess the political courage that it takes to change out tax
system to something that is fair and simple?

I think for the purposes of this small appeal, against the overwhelming
thicket of Federal bureaucracy, I will state the one reason that I
support the FairTax that is nearest and dearest to my heart. And that is
the right to personal privacy. This right is hinted at in the fourth
Article of the Bill of Right, but many think that it is not expressly
guaranteed, as this Article only protects one from search and seizure.
Privacy is not mentioned, but I feel the implication is obvious.

I am a student of Architecture and of all the American Architects that
I've studied; I admire Thomas Jefferson the most. As one of the
Architects of the constitution, I feel that he is surely rolling over in
his grave. Given the current state of affairs and the utter indifference
that has evolved with regards to the intent of the fourth Article of the
Bill of Rights, coupled with the strong armed tactics that are employed
by the Federal bureaucracy as it clumsily enforces the tax code, with
little or no empathy for the human condition, I feel certain that the
Jefferson Memorial itself should be spinning off it's foundations.

I am no lawyer, and I despise the way lawyers distort the underlying
meaning of the constitution as a means of promoting the interests of
special groups over the interests of the common man and the common
taxpayer. But I feel certain, had Mr. Jefferson and his colleagues had
the vision to anticipate the ultimate passing of the sixteenth amendment
with it's never ending and exponential growth of pages and rules that
govern every single tax paying citizen, Article four would have been
strengthened to no lesser degree than the current tax code.

I firmly believe that the intent of the founding fathers, through the
provisions of the Constitution, was to build a framework for government
that would shield the common man from any intrusion into their lives
from the federal level. The State governments, along with the
constitution, were to be our shield. The walls provided by the
constitution were designed to be transparent, but only from the side of
the common man. Like a one-way mirror, controls over the federal system
were allowed by his single vote, while the Federal system had no control
over the domain of the common man.

But over the years, the walls that protect us have crumbled and eroded.
Through the passage of the sixteenth amendment and liberal
interpretation of the interstate commerce clause and other provisions of
the constitution, there is no place that man or woman can go in this
country for shelter from the fallout of Federal regulation and fiscal
control over their lives. The special interests of the wealthy and
powerful have interceded and the common man's control over his
government has diminished.

The abolition of the income tax is a very personal issue to me (It's
even called "Personal Income Tax"). What could be more personal than the
auditing of one's income? Personal finances are probably the most hotly
debated topic in every bedroom in the United States. And with every
debate, there is Uncle Sam, right there in bed with us.

Finally, I would like to leave you with this image. Picture yourself as
an honest common man, with limited means and resources. He believes that
he has followed all the rules in paying his taxes, but how can he be
sure? The mass of codes and regulation is beyond anyone's comprehension.
This common man is facing an audit of his income by the IRS, an
organization with the unlimited means and resources of the Federal
bureaucracy. Is this fair? Can you have any empathy at all for a person
in this situation?

So I plead with you. Return our country to a simpler time, and a simpler
means of collecting taxes. Give me the FairTax. I'm weary of the income
tax game, which can only be won by those wealthy enough to buy
protection though the employment of full time tax lawyers and
accountants. No man should live in fear and anxiety of their government.
Please put an end to this and pass the FairTax. It satisfies the intent
of the founding fathers with regards to Federal tax collection as well
as the right to privacy that is implied in the Bill of Rights.

Robert L. Nathan, Jr.

A common Citizen of the United States of America

\-\-\-\--Original Message\-\-\-\--

From: Nathan, Robert L.
\[[[mailto:RNathan@GilbaneCo.com]{.underline}](mailto:RNathan@GilbaneCo.com)\]

Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:05 PM

To: comments@taxreformpanel.gov

Cc: info@fairtax.com

Subject: Proposals for tax reform