Topic: Cats

George Humphrey interviews George Ashley Lewis, founder of the Austin chapter of Citizens for an Alternative Tax System (CATS). Lewis advocates for the total elimination of the federal income tax and the IRS, to be replaced by a national retail sales tax. He argues that the current system is "monstrous" and cites a case where a restaurant was raided by federal agents based on false embezzlement retaliation claims.

The speakers argue that the current income tax system puts U.S. goods at a disadvantage in global markets compared to countries that remove taxes at the border. A national retail sales tax would allegedly create 1.6 million industrial jobs by allowing businesses to reinvest compliance costs into production. The plan proposes that states, rather than a federal agency, administer the tax collection to further decentralize power.

George Ashley Lewis notes that the push for a national retail sales tax has bipartisan support, including from House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer. He encourages listeners to educate themselves via the CATS website and to contact representatives like Lloyd Doggett. Lewis concludes by stating that the income tax is fundamentally unconstitutional and violates the 4th, 5th, and 8th Amendments.

The group gathers at the fireworks stand to film promotional material for the Mike Hanson campaign. They set off large fireworks, including "Black Cats," to celebrate the campaign kickoff. The footage captures the informal atmosphere of the "Beer Garden" headquarters and interactions with supporters and film crew members.