[John123]

VATS are evil and confiscatory. Hastert needs to drop the VAT bs. Flat tax is ok, VAT is not. I'll take what we got, mess that it is, over a vat.

Since you feel very strongly about this, explain exactly why VAT is bad for us...

[EternalVigilance]

Sorry to interject, but I can't help myself.

The answer to your question is simple:

VATs are HIDDEN.

Hidden taxes are prone to political manipulations and hiding the true cost of goernment from the citizenry.

If Hastert wants to promote a VAT, I will oppose him. If he wants the FairTax, he will have my undying and active support.