Russia's flat tax rate is 13%.
If spent wisely and with intelligent priorities and fiscal restraint, 13% should be about the right number for the U.S.
do I think I'll see it in my lifetime....no.
I agree that a lower amount should be sufficient, but don't agree that it should be based on a percentage. This is where the government has difficulty planning as well as contstraint.
I suggest that we have a "residency fee" for anyone staying over 30 days and prorated per day after that. Find out what the actual bills are for the necessary programs of the government and divide that amount by the number of EVERY living person in the country. This way, everyone pays the same amount and every addition to our handouts would really affect every person, thus reducing the size of all handouts. Workers deserve to know how much they would have to pay each year based on real governmental costs- Now you have no idea exactly how much you'll have to pay until your tax-return is accepted by the IRS. And, even then, you are subject to audits and changes years later. I'd much rather have the 13 percent tax, as you suggested, than what we have now.