IMO, one of the biggest problems with taxes is that most Americans are too dumbed down to understand them. Most Americans don't understand that government, by definition, have no money. The only money that government has is in the pockets of individual citizens.
Confiscatory and predatory taxing practices, such as those that exist in America today, simply exemplify the absurdity of the American tax system.
As long as the tax system maintains the status quo, the divide between the "haves" (Republicans who work and earn money) and the "have nots" (liberals who only want what Republicans have - except for the working part) will only grow deeper. As Congress continues buying base by shifting more and more of the tax burden onto the shoulders of those of us who work, the debate over tax reform grows only more rankorous and more vociferous. As long as we continue to allow Congress to expand the margins of those who don't pay taxes (yet share the "tax cuts") and shift more of that burden to us, this debate has no peaceful end in sight. Remember, this nation was founded on the basis of "No taxation without representation".
Without tax reform, the American past will become its prologue.
AMEN! (as i head to church!)
One of the advantages of the nrst is that it requires ALL individuals to pay the same marginal rate.
This unites taxpayers instead of dividing them.
I have to take exception to one of your points.
There are plenty of Republican who even call themselves conservatives who love the government gravy train and think that the 'compasssion' of big government is a good thing. It's not just the self identified liberals and democrats anymore who want big government.
What you said was closer to being accurate just 6 years ago but many Republicans now buy into the compassion of big government made popular by GWB and glombed onto by Rick Santorum.