[newgeezer]

Let's say we have a national federal sales tax. If Congress raised the tax rate and caused us all a lot of pain, what recorse would we have? Would we just not buy anything and let the whole economy collaps[e]?

Absolutely.

Likewise, if individuals don't like the choices that Congress makes in spending their now visible-and-painful tax dollars, they can quit spending their hard-earned discretionary dollars and thereby quit sending them to Congress.

In either case, Congress would be accountable to the taxpayer, instead of the other way around.

It's a beautiful thought, people having so much power to tax themselves (or not).

[biblewonk]

Oh you know it'll never happen.