[Principled]

A flat tax is better, preferably if we can keep the 401(k) and mortgage interest deductions to go with the personal exemptions.

I disagree. A flat tax keeps payroll taxes. A flat tax keeps withholding. A flat tax keeps the IRS. A flat tax doesn't stay flat (read history). A flat tax is a VAT. A flat tax means the feds still have a need and the right to know how much you make and how it's made. And a flat tax means you still are at the mercy of the arbitrary, capricious income tax code.

BTW, ALL income is invested tax free under the nrst - not just 401k money. Further, all home mortgage interest will still be paid with untaxed dollars. And, there is no need for personal exemptions under a sales tax - all earnings are always 100% exempt.

[hchutch]

The problem is, we still have this pesky thing called the 16th Amendment - and that is the law of the land until it is repealed.

With a VAT/NRST, we could see an income tax brought back, and we get the worst of both worlds.