A Dick Armey-style flat tax would be much better. If we can't *reform* the current system, then a complete overhaul is, in my opinion, a non-starter.
Remember, ANY tax system, with Congress in session, can and will be amended, even a purely-passed 'fair tax'. Also remember, your fair tax has yet to be edited in a tax committee. There is a reason Bismarck compared writing legislation with making sausages!!
BUT.....
Per the WTO, ANY system of taxation which uses income as the base is not eligible for border adjustment. A flat tax would not be eligible for border adjustment....and our goods will still be hamstrung in the global market.
We must embrace a system of taxation which IS border adjustable if we EVER want to regain our economic strength and maintain our standard of living. Any thing else is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.