I spent 22, or 23 years in Fort Myers. When I first moved there (Actually, I got stranded there. But that’s another story) Fort Myers had a population of about 16,000 and Lee County’s population was, tops, 40,000. In the winter months that figure MIGHT have doubled. Especially during February when Ft. Myers would have the Edison Pageant of Light.

When I left in ’87 the total population of the County was nearing 400,000, roads and infrastructure was struggling to keep up, Cape Coral and Ft Myers Beach were both large cities unto themselves….Way back when, I could drive from Ft. Myers to “The Beach” in about half an hour. By the time I left, I didn’t even want to go to the beach because of the traffic…

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the article…

Take care,

Jake

“Jake,

I just read your post on FB re snowbirds!

How true.

For many years my in-laws were snow birds in Fort Myers…they were seasonalcondo renters on the gulf side of Estero Blvd for as long as I can
remember…just north of the bridge at the bottom of the island. My
mother-in-law was a frequent visitor to the flea markets…maybe the two of
you crossed paths at one point or another. What is it? Six degrees of
separation?

When Carol was growing up back in the 60s her parents pulled a camper to
that neck of the woods. When our kids were growing up we would travel to
Florida to visit Carol’s parents during our kids’ Spring Break. I remember
well the traffic jams…and the fact that if we ever wanted to get to the
Mainland we had to leave the condo by 9 am or we would get stuck by traffic.

I have heard of one other term used to describe those in the south who may
not be snow birds…and that is Q-Tips. The idea is that all you see of a
driver when you are behind their slow-moving car is the top of their white
head.

Great story…I loved it and could definitely relate!

Scott
Roxboro

If Cain’s plan does not alllow for deductions then in NC, my slaes taxes go from 7.5 percent to 16.5%. If I have to pay 9% of my paycheck in income taxes and get no deductions, I lose money. Ditto for business owners or corportations.

Using your scenario I would not pay 9% in sales tax on my entire earnings. I would probably wind up paying — in one way, or anther — the corporations 9%. Now, again, using your reasoning that would not, most likely, represent a total increase of 27% across the board for me or nay other taxpayer. But it definitely will represent and substantial increase in what we pay in “taxes”.

At any rate, Ralph — thanks for responding and thanks for the exercise….

From a business owner’s point of view, if I spend a dollar on office supplies, I would pay 9% sales tax. If I give that dollar to an employee, the employee pays 9% income tax. If I keep the dollar as profit for my shareholders, my business pays 9% corporate tax. Only one of those three things can happen. I can’t spend the same dollar three times. It’s either 9 here or 9 here or 9 there, not 9 plus 9 plus 9.

Again, I’m not making any comment about whether I think it’s a good idea or a bad idea or whether it’s likely to happen or not likely.

Of course, it’s possible you could write a crazy “999″ tax plan where the business would pay 9% tax on all revenue (not just profits) and then the employees would pay 9% tax on all their income (no deductions) and then pay 9% again on sales tax when they spend the money (on everything, including rent). In that case it still doesn’t add up to 27%. It would be 9% of revenue plus 9% of salaries plus 9% of take-home pay, which in my previous example comes out to a grand total of $139.54 out of the original $1000, which is less than 14% from the business owner’s point of view, or 17% from the employee’s point of view. Either way, it doesn’t add up to 27%. I really don’t think that’s what Cain meant. But I could be wrong.

If Cain’s plan allows deductions I would agree with you wholeheartedly. However, according to the original explanation that I read and some of the news commentators that took tine to dig into the matter — there would, baskically be no allowable deductions.

Now, realistically, few taxpayers (I believe it is about 6%) now pay the “normal rate” in taxes because of the allowable deductions. If deductions were allowed under Cain’s 9-9-9 deal, it might have some merit EXCEPT I think the lower wage earners will get hit the hardest…that is those who can least afford it.

Further, I think Cain’s 9-9-9 and Perry’s 20% deal are just smoke and mirrors…that is electioneering rhetoric that will never see the lighjt of reality.