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A national sales tax would not be fair or equitable

Re: Consumption tax .

Well, they're at it again. Once more we see a push for a national sales tax. This would be perhaps the most regressive and oppressive of all taxes. It kills the "little guy." This tax is based on consumption. In other words, if you spend you're taxed.

Think of this: Assume you make $32,000 a year and have a family. You really must spend all of your income to make ends meet. So 100 percent of your income is taxed because you were forced to spend all of your income and could not bank any of it. The fat cats making six-figure incomes and above are able to save some of their income and bank it. Someone making $200,000 a year just might be able to live very well on $150,000. That means $50,000, or 25 percent of his income, is not subject to this national sales tax. All the little guy's income is taxed and only 75 percent, or even less, of the fat cat's will be taxed.

If this is what this administration thinks is fair and equitable, they need a reality check.

Contact your representatives and senators now and insist that this concept be relegated to the scrap heap where it belongs.

Consumption tax deserves support Re: A national consumption tax: How would it change things? March 5.

Thanks to the Times for getting the message about the FairTax legislation out to the public.

I am truly excited about the prospects of finally getting out from under the oppressive and regressive income tax system that is replete with loopholes, exceptions, deductions, and has been used for years as a socioeconomic wedge by both major parties.

A consumption tax would eliminate all withholding and payroll taxes, which means everyone gets to keep 100 percent of their income, giving all of us more buying and saving power. All embedded taxes that accumulate throughout the production cycle are eliminated thus lowering the price of the product. Prices would also drop as a result of the elimination of corporate income taxes that, in reality, are passed to the consumer anyway. All costs associated with income tax compliance (tax attorneys, tax accountants, paperwork preparation) are eliminated as well.

The current version of the FairTax bill, HR25, includes no exemptions. To offset this, every household would receive a monthly rebate check indexed to the poverty level to offset taxes paid on necessities. When the exemptions are eliminated, the tax code can no longer be used as a vote-buying mechanism.

I encourage everyone to visit www.fairtax.org to get the full story. Also, call your representatives and let them know of your support.

Ybor can do better than Wal-Mart

Re: Ybor Wal-Mart supercenter.

Is this the same Tampa that in the past has looked ahead to create visionary projects such as a world-class exemplary airport before there was a need for that level of a facility? Now we can't seem to think outside the box about anything. The new museum is in danger of being scrapped for a lesser design. Maybe we should get Malcolm Glazer to buy it and threaten to move it out of the city. We'll bend over backward and pay any amount then.

We shot down Civitas and its plans to renovate a deteriorating slum on the edge of downtown, the downtown to which they want people to move.

Now we want to add to the Wal-Martification of America by putting a supercenter in a unique location like Ybor City. Is this the best we can do? Can't we get something different in there, something we don't already have too many of anyway? How about an IKEA or a farmers market? Come on, people. We can do better than this.

Toby Linzy, Tampa

Re: Interests clash over Wal-Mart plans

Wal-Mart has begun, if it is not already, to be a dirty word in the eyes of some.

If the leaders of Ybor and the city of Tampa have a plan in regard to Wal-Mart's plans, they sure won my "Vote of No Confidence."

If Ybor, Tampa and the area known as Channelside want to establish an actual vibrant community with a marketplace, Wal-Mart could be the needed catalyst.

Let's face it: At this moment there is no place for local residents to go to buy items for their home and family.

Local leaders from the Tampa and Ybor can help to shape the look of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart knows the impact it can have in an area ripe for retail. The partnerships that can be formed with schools, clubs, local neighborhoods and the city can be tremendous.

If it is successful or if it fails, Tampa, and Ybor will be smarter for the experience. As soon as they wipe the last tear, whether for joy or sadness, they then put in motion a plan to attract other retailers to the area as a whole.

Bars hold Ybor back

Re: Calming down Ybor, editorial, Feb. 28.

The bars in Ybor City have a reputation for attracting violent crime.

Many people are afraid to go Ybor and would not consider shopping there, let alone living there.

Yes, it has some beautiful historic buildings, and it could become the next Hyde Park. But as long as the bars remain, it won't.

Fishermen had little choice

Re: One last fishing run a fatal risk? March 3.

Capt. Ed Walker, a 15-year charter boat captain, is quoted in this story as saying, "I don't want to bash the guys, but they didn't have to go."

But they did have to go. As a commercial offshore fishing boat captain for 30 years, I think the government did make them go fishing. When you have to leave on a certain date and be back on a certain date, you have to go in that time frame. In the latter part of January I left on a trip knowing bad weather was two to three days away. I did not like it, and it was a risk I was well aware of.

At this time I had been allowed back to work for only 21 days since the middle of November. I had to go, unless Capt. Walker or the U.S. government would make my boat payment, my mortgage payment, my boat insurance payment, and all other living expenses.

Since Nov. 15, the government has put me out of work for 76 days. I have been allowed to work for 44 days. They did have to go fishing and the government forced them to go fishing.

[Last modified March 8, 2005, 16:52:55]