[pepperdog]

"I would count all employer paid benefits as income. I would also count all government transfer payments as income. Broaden the base and reduce the rates."

Are you running for office? Because if you are I want to be sure I can vote against you. You are living in a dream world if you truly believe there would be any reduction in any rates anywhere. The insurance industry makes the IRS look as compassionate as the Salvation Army. What would really happen is insurance rates would remain the same or rise, and oh! looky, looky....it's a magical mystery tour that puts more money in the treasury.

The average working person is already burdened heavily with taxes at every level, I find it hard to believe you espouse even more taxes in the interest of "fairness". Why don't you just pay everyone the very same salary, take the very same amount out for taxes, etc. Now wouldn't that be perfectly fair?

[oceanview]

is my parking spot at work considered an "employer provided benefit". should it be added to my wages for tax purposes? how about the free coffee they make available to me?

[sphinx]

Of course rates can be reduced. The top rate was 28% when Reagan was done. Then we started backsliding.

The 28% rate was achieved by broadening the base. Even then, the reformers didn't tackle the big tax expenditures, which we should. Income is income. Treat it all the same.

[nj26]

"The average working person is already burdened heavily with taxes at every level, I find it hard to believe you espouse even more taxes in the interest of "fairness". Why don't you just pay everyone the very same salary, take the very same amount out for taxes, etc. Now wouldn't that be perfectly fair?"

Bush appears to be trying to revive Stalinism.