In response to:
I agree an exclusion for staples would be a better system than the prebate. However, you're never going to get the dumb masses (Thanks, Neil!) to give up their yearly "gift" from Unca Sammy w/o something in return. After 2-4 generations of a truly fair tax system, they would understand a coherent argument for phasing out the prebate in exchange for lowering the tax rate, rather than sending it to Washington to be filtered through the bureaucracy.
When someone says “First Amendment” you immediately think about your right to free speech, or perhaps freedom of religion. The First Amendment actually goes beyond that. For those of you who attended government schools, it’s time for a refresher. Here’s the actual wording:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Most people have a handle on the free speech, freedom of religion and...
It worked with the 3/5th compromise in the original document- the same principle can serve is now.
We should not perpetuate a bad system (i.e., tax refunds) when designing a new system. Furthermore, look at the potential for political abuse with the prebate. If you think demagoguery is bad now, imagine if EVERYBODY got a check. How long before we heard, "The Republicans want to cut your prebate"?