[Smokin' Joe]

Let’s take away the income tax and make it pubicly observable since the IT has far, far too many hiding place for mischief.

Well, that would certainly strip things down to their essentials. Freudian slip? (8^D)

I'd like to do away with the income tax, simply because I think it was misapplied anyway.

Exchanging my labor for a more portable and universally acceptable medium of exchange is an exchange, not income. I was out what I put into the equation (labor, expertise), and the exchange occurred at fair market value (otherwise, it would not have happened).

But the IRS wants to tax barter exchanges as if they were income, too.

[Paladin2]

"But the IRS wants to tax barter exchanges as if they were income, too"

Fortunately, the gov't (the IRS is just a witless tool of Congress) doesn't impute work you do for yourself as income and send you the bill.

[Paladin2]

"make it pubicly observable" - LOL, good catch.

From what I've seen on the 'net in the last few months, there's alot of that going on in Hollywood, CA. Perhaps the trend is spreading to other parts of the state?