On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:26:57 -0700, Joerg wrote:
Joel Kolstad wrote:
"Chuck Harris" wrote in message

The poor guy who pays that tax will have to work about 1 minute to pay
the tax. The rich guy will have to work a small fraction of a second
to pay the tax. That's regressive.

Yes, but isn't the idea that -- even with a flat consumption tax -- if you
made less than, e.g., $20k/year you'd be eligible for food stamps, etc. and
therefore wouldn't have to spend as much on necessities such as food in the
first place? That's a tax break, right?

Sure. Also, you can exempt essentials such as bread, milk, cheese,
fruits, vegetables. But not booze. In the end it's surprisingly simple.
You could also easily steer environmental goals. For example, a reduced
tax on hybrids, CFL bulbs and such. The huge problem would be what to do
with all the bureaucrats that are no longer needed.

Fire them, let them try to collect unemployment, then let them go out and
beg in the streets for their money like the rest of us have to do. Well,
maybe not literally, but pounding the pavement looking for a job is
pretty much equivalent to begging in the streets.

Maybe they could take up lawnmowing, so we wouldn't need the wetbacks. ;-D

Thanks,
Rich