You are saying that folks will look at their invoice - but won't look at their paystub? What kind of half-assed excuse is that? No I wasn't. That would be the same stupid thing as today. Simply listing it isn't what puts downward pressure on taxes - it's having to pay it. Pay it by pulling $10s and $20 out of your pocket. Let me reprint:
But if witholding were gone and we had to pay taxes with cash out of our pockets, would it increase resistance to higher taxes?"
So how about a little more time reading and a little less on the choice words?
And I will call anyone who peddles this scam as a way to reduce the tax burden of the average working family a baldfaced liar.
Good. You should do so if you have any reason whatsoever for thinking it. Do you care to share any of them?
Earned income credits allow many low income taxpayers to have no or negative income taxes. Consumption-based taxes based on a flat tax rate will result in a higher tax rate on those that spend most of their income on consumables, rather than those that invest a large part of their income, who are largely the more wealthy.
The money is going to come from somewhere. By reducing taxes that the wealthy pay - you MUST THEREFORE INCREASE the taxes that those who are not-wealthy would pay.
It's plain and simple logic. Which is why the Kool-Aid drinkers have so much trouble with the concept.