The current system, flawed as it is, gives each worker a concrete number, a dollar amount, that is being taken from themWhat about the fact that the money they are paying now can't possibly be paid back to them without either a huge increase in the payroll or income tax? They might clearly see that the money is taken from them now but they don't understand how that money will be repaid to them. Those "concrete" dollars mean nothing.
Dear woodbeez,
"What about the fact that the money they are paying now can't possibly be paid back to them without either a huge increase in the payroll or income tax?"
Non sequitur - doesn't relate to which system better hides the tax, itself.
"They might clearly see that the money is taken from them now but they don't understand how that money will be repaid to them."
And under the new system, they don't see it at all. You don't think people pay attention to the documentation and information that's annually put in their hand, now. Do you think they'll pay attention more when they're provided with less information? That's an improvement?
"Those 'concrete' dollars mean nothing."
Well, then you're discounting to zero the effect of information on the average worker. You're saying that getting some information - a consolidated annual report of the cost of the employee side of Social Security and Medicare tax - has as much effect (or less effect??) than receiving no consolidated report of information at all.
If that's your position, well, all I can say is that it you're ultimately arguing that information has no effect on behavior or attitudes. I think such a position is entirely unsupportable.
sitetest