[LS]

Two sources: 1) land sales and 2) import tariffs. Until the late 19th century, land sales were STILL the biggest money maker and could be today. Who is the largest landowner in the country? Uncle Sam. You say, "Well, if the government sells all its land, it won't have any to sell later." But the market adjustment of prices would dictate that with each new sale, the price of the next would be higher, until theoretically the government could literally sell a few hundred acres and make lots of money.

Given that, I don't think it's a realistic choice and I think the real alternatives are a flat income tax and a national sales tax. I favor the former.

I don't like the notion of making businesses into tax collectors. At least with the IRS, there is ONE AGENCY that everyone can hate. It helps keep it in line. But I'm afraid that a sales tax would become quite insidious and much easier to increase.

[kevkrom]

and I think the real alternatives are a flat income tax and a national sales tax. I favor the former. I don't like the notion of making businesses into tax collectors.

And I go the other way, because I don't like the notion of individuals having to report their private finances to the government. As long as there's a determination of "income" as the basis for the tax, there will be an invasive, intrusive IRS checking your personal financial information to determine if you're complying. A flat tax would also not get rid of hidden, VAT-style cascading of taxes.