[expatpat]

Your resort to an ad hominem attack proves you lost the argument. Your reading skills are also lacking -- nowhere did I defend the IRS, nor would I.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Your post 433: Well this isn't a very profound point, but here goes. The income tax is taken before you get a paycheck, true, but the sales tax is taken before you get the purchased item. You can buy or not buy, true, but you can also work on the books, or not. Many folks get their money without paying the income tax man -- either they don't work (e.g., live on investment income or welfare) or get paid under the table (e.g., illegal aliens or waiters) so there is a choice. Much of the 'choice' with the sales tax is similarly phony -- you are not going to walk to work instead of drive, etc.

Would you like your crow served baked or fried?