Joining Forces
In the battle to replace the
IRS and income tax with a national retail sales tax, there are two major groups
working toward this worthy goal: Citizens for an Alternative Tax System (CATS)
and Americans for Fair Taxation (AFFT).
On this note, I have been
trying for several months to get members of AFFT here in Las Vegas to attend
our local CATS meetings. I was not getting anywhere, but then I was contacted
by Hannibal Trent, Western Regional Director of AFFT. We had several
conversations by phone and discussed this problem at some length.
I mentioned several times to
Mr. Trent that we have regular meetings here in Las Vegas and that we always
had on hand AFFT literature to hand out, as well as our regular CATS
literature. I said to him that for all intents and purposes, AFFT was already
having regular meetings here in Las Vegas, but that no one in AFFT seemed to be
aware of this, nor did any of the local AFFT members take advantage of this
fact.
The last time Mr. Trent
called, we talked about the person who is currently wearing the hat of AFFT
District Director here in Las Vegas. This person had been somewhat active in
CATS before he signed on as DD of AFFT. Mr. Trent and I have repeatedly tried
to contact this person and get him to attend our CATS meetings, but we have
been unsuccessful.
So, I said to Mr. Trent, "Why
don't you just make me the AFFT District Director, as I am already somewhat
wearing the hat?"
He said that was a great
idea, and that would solve the problem of AFFT being able to share their member
information with me, so that I could contact the local AFFT members to try and
get them to the meetings. As a DD, I can receive all of that information.
So, I signed on as District
Director of AFFT, Nevada District 1. I am waiting to hear back from AFFT for
confirmation of my acceptance as District Director.
Contact AFFT at: 1-800-FAIRTAX (1-800-324-7829)
Or visit their web site at: www.fairtax.org
Monthly Meetings
| Date |
Time |
Place |
Monday,
January 14, 2002 |
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Sunday,
February 17, 2002 |
2:00 pm -
3:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Sunday,
March 17, 2002 |
2:00 pm -
3:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Sunday,
April 7, 2002 |
2:00 pm -
3:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Monday,
May 13, 2002 |
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Monday,
June 10, 2002 |
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Monday,
July 8, 2002 |
7:00 pm -
8:30 pm |
Whitney Library
5175 E. Tropicana |
Due to scheduling conflicts with
another group, we have changed our meeting day from Monday to Sunday for the
months of February, March, and April.
Please keep this schedule posted
in a visible place, so that you will be reminded of our upcoming meetings.
Remember…bring a friend!!
CATS E-Briefing
Citizens for an Alternative Tax System
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #423
Washington, DC 20006
Phone 800-767-7577
Fax 703-368-5843
www.cats.org
November 20, 2001
Subject: White House Agenda
Dear CATS Member:
Before the terrorist attacks and the war, fundamental tax reform was moving up on the White House agenda. The promises were that when the tax cut was passed, the next item of importance was fundamental tax reform. With the continuing downslide of the economic indicators as the market correction takes place, and with the current war necessities, there is new focus on tax reform as a positive move toward economic renewal.
Fortunately, we have a "deep well" of communication and political activity already in place on this issue. In July, as part of our 15,000-piece direct mail package we delivered our post card message to the President -- The National Retail Sales Tax, Shedding the Past. It is time to communicate again, and this time we are acting in tandem with other tax reform groups.
Tom Wright, long time political activist in Texas writes: "We know the President intends to take the lead on this issue, and that his top advisors are paying attention. President Bush is making decisions on the contents of his State of the Union message. Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill is long a supporter of consumption taxation. Economic Advisor Larry Lindsay has publicly stated that structural reform is on the agenda. Political Advisor Karl Rove is reading our faxes personally. It is imperative that we ACT NOW. We want there to be just one answer: The federal retail consumption tax."
We have added a new feature to the CATS web site to make it easy to communicate to the President. On the HOME PAGE, click on the picture of the President. This takes you to an e-mail form, pre-addressed to the President. It can be sent right from the site. You can also print the form and send it as a fax.
AFFT has also set up a web site to facilitate delivering a message to the President: www.fairtaxvolunteer.org
So, please write a note to the President. Use the available facilities. The President needs to know there is strong grass roots support, even in these changing times! Convince him it is imperative!
Glenn Wahlquist
Director of Operations
CATS National Office
Request for Funding
Citizens for an Alternative Tax System
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #423
Washington, DC 20006
Phone 800-767-7577
Fax 703-368-5843
www.cats.org
E-mail: mailroom@cats.org
Need For Funding: We are in a time of rapid change. Our survival has been threatened. Perceptions as to what is important (security over other considerations) are driving realignment at the political level. Many of the "trivial" topics have fallen away and priorities have changed. The fact that we are facing economic insecurity at the same moment that we have high demands on government for protection has moved the sales tax solution up in importance. This is the time to increase communication and add to the already established "well of information" that exists by our previous actions.
It is indeed fortunate that we have had time to establish our arguments and test them in the political arena before this time of rapid change! Decisions could be made that would severely limit economic recovery.
Here is a list of activities that will require additional funding beyond the money received from our newsletter, memberships and membership renewals. Please help.
Information:
1. Create a new version of the "Revitalizing America" video. This was our most successful video ever, but it is informationally out of date and not used. We need to recreate the message to align to the current circumstances and have the current political players and economists deliver that message. This video will be our major educational tool and membership fulfillment vehicle. Immediate distribution will be to every legislator along with a new booklet. (See below.)
Cost of video production: $10,000
2. Create a short booklet outlining the strategic importance of moving to the National Retail Sales Tax that would be sent to every Senator and Congressman accompanied by a copy of the new video. The booklet will provide "talking points" on the advantages of getting rid of the income tax and the economic advantages of the sales tax, and also stress the strategic importance of making this change at this time.
To produce the booklet in-house the costs for 550 would include:
Binding materials, paper, printing costs: $900
Postage - Priority mail using their packaging: $2172.50
This price includes the postage cost for the booklet and the video. It is possible we could deliver the packages to the Congressional Post Office but because of security this may not be feasible. Will check it out.
3. Video duplication and packaging. Because this will get major distribution we will create a four-color box. The minimum order of boxes is 2500. Cost:
Artwork- Bill Wright Design: $250
Printing: $850
Tape duplication (550x $1.50): $825
Total = $1925
4. On our web site, we need to add an additional key feature - the ability for someone to type in their zip code and immediately get a list of their representative and senators with a place to write a message and easily send it right from the web site. We will also include selectable addresses of others like the President and important legislative committees, i.e. Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee. This new feature aligns to the theme of our web site, which is to increase the quantity of communication between citizens, and between citizens and their elected representatives.
The cost of adding this feature: $2500
5. The outreach to new people must be continued with a project that is less costly to produce and send. Through one of our members, I can get a good deal on an inexpensive flyer with a detachable reply card. After test marketing the flyer for results, the artwork will be transferred onto a CD and shipped out to anyone so they can print the flyer and send it out to their own list along with a personal letter of endorsement. This flyer will drive people to the www.cats.org as well as create new players and possible members.
The cost of the production and printing of enough flyers to do the test mailing:
$2000
Solution: Respond to this Request for Funding by selecting one of these donation levels:
Approved for:
$500 _______ $1000 _______ $2500 _______ Other: _______
Disapproved? _____________________________
Thank you very much.
Glenn Wahlquist
Director of Operations
CATS National Office
Mail this completed form to:
Citizens for an Alternative Tax System (CATS)
2020 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #423
Washington, DC 20006
