LOL. Who needs a 2/3 majority in Congress when they've got an Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court?
In fact, if the individual mandate for healthcare is ruled constitutional on even a 5-4 split, then congress will haave unlimited power to tax in addition to the 12-12-12 plan.
Oh, and I suspect that people who now DON'T pay taxes, WON'T pay taxes.
IOW, those who don't pay now aren't much likely to suddenly put their shoulder to the wheel and get off the free dole.
Problem with "taxation via representation" is that the taxed are the least likely to exert their political will. It's the freeloaders who demand more political favors. So politicians favor the freeloaders.
If taxes are spread fairly now, then more of these Occupy morons who are even too lazy to show up to a protest will just stop going to work at mcdonalds if they get taxed more now.
We're all in favor of the same goals here, you me and txeagle.
I just don't believe that a logical, rational, head-on tax solution is the solution to our problems.
I think it has to be an annual/lifetime average plenary cap on individual contribution that individual taxpayers can claim relief on, a financial talisman against the IRS vampire.
Again, handle the affairs of tax filing reform or assesment method all you want, but at the end of the day, I want a Galt Lever I can pull and get off the contribution train without having to actually Go Galt.
Right now the only way out of the crazy system, whether you're a small business millionaire or a smelly stinky protester is to literally QUIT the economy altogether.
That, to me, is the most critical nexus of the problem. We need to be able to keep contributing and growing without fear of growing reprisal from the taxman.