"the stereotype that the rich have worked hard and the implied the poor are lazy is just plain bogus. "
I agree. Some rich work hard and some don't. Some poor work hard and some don't. I would think that most of the manual labor done is done by what we call the " middle class". That doesn't mean that the more monied don't work hard. It means that they work in a differant manner. I don't know anyone that works on Wall Street but I would bet if you asked one of them, they would say that they work hard. Everyone has a choice of how they will make a living in this country. Some choose to work in a field that doesn't reward as much monetarily but gives satisfaction in other ways. That is their choice. Just as it is the choice of others to go for the money. I am simply trying to say that in my opinion the "Fair Tax" treats everyone the same. If you want to pay a lot in tax, buy a lot of new stuff. If you don't want to pay a lot of tax, buy used stuff.
"But if the majority of their vacations are off-shore they escape a lot of taxation"
Yes, but a years worth?
"BTW do you really believe Paris Hilton worked hard for her money."
I am afraid of using the name Paris Hilton and the word "hard" in the same sentence.