The VAT is a terrible idea, consumers won't have a clue how much they're really taxed/
"consumers won't have a clue how much they're really taxed"
So what?
Most people have no idea how much they are taxed now, because its all disguised in a multitude of taxes hear and there, and engineered so you get a refund at the end of the year to help you forget that your 100 dollar refund hides 20,000 in taxes.
Bush has already said whatever is done will be Revenue Neutral (no higher tax). In subsequent years it might creap up, expecially if the DemoRats get back in power. But it can just as easily creap down withoug having this fight about tax cuts for the rich every two years.
Like I say, So what?
It works in a lot of countries right now.
That may be true. However, consumers have no idea how much they are paying in taxes now. The average Joe deoesn't even understand that businesses don't pay taxes, but merely passes on the cost to their customers.