Has any one ever looked at the time line between minimum wage hikes and economic downturns? It seems as though the housing bubble burst came on the heels of the democrat congress passing a raise in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour. Was this a contributing factor in this latest economic bust?

Also the higher the minimum wage goes, the more people are drug into poverty, the more dependency on government handouts. Sounds like Obama's econimic recovery plan to me....

How did allowing someone to keep the money they earned become a Government (tax) expenditure? The FairTax is definately the way to go. Tax people on the lifestyle they maintain, not the work ethic they have.

I know of several states with just a sales tax, not aware of any with only an income tax. As far as the result of a sales tax only state, and a high income tax state, just look at Texas and California.

Sean, the FairTax, as written, taxes all things, and everyone, equally. The prebate is sent to all households according to family size, regardless of income or wealth, to cover the basic necessities. The beauty of the prebate is that it allows the individual to determine what their basic necessities are rather than some hack in Washington DC.

The problem with the Income tax, today's version or a flat tax version, is the politician's definition of "income". That's why all income earners would have to file a tax return.

(for instance, is a $100 pair of jeans a "necessity when I can get a $20 pair?) Mike, this is the beauty of the prebate, every household gets a prebate according to family size, regardless of income or wealth. It allows each individual, not some government beaurocrat, to decide what their basic necessities are. Yours may be rent and food, mine may be cigarettes and beer. That's what makes it the FairTax.

For real tax reform check out "Fairtax.org". The FairTax is far and away the best tax reform plan I have seen proposed.

When did Clinton ever have a balanced budget, let alone a surplus, when the Federal Debt continued to rise every year he was in office?

The Republicans are to blame for everything. If the Republican controlled government from 2001-2007 hadn't been so stupid and spent like drunken sailors, there would never had been a Princess Nancy and a Prince Harry to destroy our economy and bring us a "Sort of a God" Obama.