As I noted before, in terms of what affects voters the most, I feel strongly that it’s important to understand what it is that each candidate hopes to bring to the table in terms of tax incentives, tax policy and tax proposals. With that in mind, I contacted each of the candidates who has officially declared an intention to run for president. To keep it simple, I asked each of the candidates the same six tax-related questions.
Next in the series is Libertarian candidate Lee Wrights. Here’s what Wrights had to say:
taxgirl: What’s the single most important tax issue facing Americans today?
Wrights: Taxes are too many and too high.
taxgirl: If you could only make one “quick fix” in terms of an extra credit, a disallowed deduction or the like, what would it be?
Wrights: Abolish the federal income tax.
taxgirl: The current federal estate tax exemption is $5 million for individuals or $10 million for married couples. Do you recommend lowering the exemption, boosting the exemption, keeping it at its current rate or something else altogether?
Wrights: Abolish the federal income tax, so no “exemptions” would be needed.
taxgirl: It has been suggested that the IRS should be eliminated. Do you believe that this makes sense, and if you do, what would you establish in its place?
Wrights: Absolutely. I would abolish the income tax and replace it with … nothing.
taxgirl: Do you think that significant tax cuts are possible considering the current state of the economy, specifically with respect to the issues surrounding the debt ceiling and the federal deficit?
Wrights: Yes. Federal spending is totally out of control. We must stop the spending, beginning with all programs that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, and by stopping all wars and bringing all the troops home from overseas.
taxgirl: And just for fun, if Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
Wrights: I would not accept it, because it is money extorted from other people.
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You can read more about Wrights’ campaign here.
You can read more about other candidates in the series here:
Does this guy live on the Moon Colony Newt keeps talking about? Why would he agree to do a blog interview and answer everything with “abolish the federal income tax.” Come on, dude, how about some nuance. Some explanation. Some detail.