[E. Pluribus Unum]

So you don't mind spending a month every year figuring what you owe, and the other eleven worrying about whether, in the opinion of the IRS, you did it right?

A Value Added Tax is a hidden tax that you will pay without knowing about.

I want people to be aware of the taxes they are paying, so they rebel against them.

People can't rebel against invisible taxes that are not itemized on their purchase receipts.

A national sales tax would show up as an itemized expense on your receipt.

As I said before, a national sales tax is okay, but not a VAT.

At least when you pay taxes through the IRS they are very visible to you.

[H.Akston]

"At least when you pay taxes through the IRS they are very visible to you."

Don't forget their miserable little plot to make this untrue for most of the masses. - Witholding.

[undeniable logic]

I want taxes to be visible as well. My preference would be a NRST, where by law the purchase and the tax paid would be a separate transaction. For example, you go to the supermarket and buy $100 worth of stuff: The cashier says that will be $100. You pay the $100 and then the cashier says, ok, now that will be $30 for tax, and you pay the $30.

This type of system, which will never happen of course, would be a constant reminder of how much we really pay in taxes.