Neal Boortz thinks people listen to talk radio for the same reason they watch NASCAR racing.

“They’re hoping somebody will crash and burn,” said the Atlanta-based talk show host and best-selling author.

Boortz will share opinions like this and others at 7 p.m. in the Founders Hall auditorium at the Tuscarawas campus as part of the Voices of Distinction Series.

“The Neal Boortz Show” reaches nearly four million listeners across the country, but doesn’t actually reach New Philadelphia where the Tuscarawas branch is located.

The turnout won’t be negatively affected, said Pam Patacca, public relations coordinator at the Tuscarawas campus. She realized Boortz has large followings in the surrounding areas when many individuals came to the university to buy tickets in bulk.

Boortz has a few stories to tell about his radio show, but his book, The FairTax Book, which was co-authored by Republican Congressman John Linder of Georgia, will be the focus of his speech. The book discusses a fundamental change in the country’s tax system, in which the IRS is abolished with an income-neutral sales tax. The FairTax Bill, or HR25, is currently being considered in the House of Representatives.

“I will take a good part of the audience … and make them avid disciples of the FairTax,” Boortz said. Students “will want to get right out of school and go to work to try to get this passed.”

If the FairTax is passed, a salary of $75,000 a year would result in exactly that: $75,000 a year. Individuals would not be “punished for working,” but taxed on the things they buy.

“This is just ideal for a college audience because about the time (students) get out of school and go to work, they’re going to hit real sticker shock with what happens to their paychecks,” he said.

The tax would be the largest transfer of power from government to the people since the U.S. Constitution, he said, and government is not eager to accept the tax and give up that power.

Boortz said one problem with getting the bill passed is that lawmakers have to rewrite it and change its terms in order to oppose it.

“Criticize the bill the way it is written instead of rewriting it and then criticizing it,” he said.

Wesley Tolle, professor of mathematics at the Tuscarawas campus, has read The FairTax Book. He said he is considering setting up an opinion-writing contest, with prizes totaling up to $1,000, for students who have attended the speech.

Tolle said Boortz is great at getting his point across and is looking forward to his visit to the campus.

“I share the same philosophy with the guy,” he said. “He’s a Libertarian – I’m a Libertarian.”

For Boortz, being a Libertarian means you get to make everyone mad.

“That’s pretty much what I do,” he said.

Contact regional south campuses reporter Morgan Day at [email protected].