Flat Tax vs. Progs. Tax

[moe.ron]

What are your thoughts? Make the tax code simpler by enacting a flat tax rate?
Is it even a good idea? Make the economy more efficient?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

What are your thoughts? Make the tax code simpler by enacting a flat tax rate?
Is it even a good idea? Make the economy more efficient?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

You need to clarify - do you mean a true (income-percentage) "flat tax" or a (consumption-based) "fair tax"?

A true flat tax is basically regressive, given the marginal utility of money.

A consumption-based tax makes some sense, but I'm leery of overly promoting saving versus spending as we're trying to re-establish a production base.

At the end of the day, it might be best to simply better codify the current progressive taxation, at least to the extent that it can be justified under inflation and marginal value to the individual.

[RU OX Alum]

I think the sliding scale should slide less, that there should be some, I don't know, more of structure to it, that might be the wrong word.

[Langox510x]

To me it makes since that the lower income individuals should be in a lower tax bracket thus pay less money, at least until they can make it on their feet and pay higher taxes. The wealthy can afford to pay higher amounts of taxes, so they should pay higher taxes, which not only will benefit them, but everybody as a whole. Paying taxes seems to me like an American patriotic thing to do.