[elbucko]

You need to adjust your tin-foil. There is no way for the government to track every single person's purchases unless they outlaw cash.

You're forgetting something. The burden of proof is on you, unless you provide in the law that the govt. must prove your spending.

My tinfoil hat is not as thick as the cardboard dunce caps many of you are wearing regarding taxes and government.

[kevkrom]

You're forgetting something. The burden of proof is on you, unless you provide in the law that the govt. must prove your spending.

Lemme get this straight... you are seriously suggesting that all of the following could even remotely happen:

1. The government passes a law requiring each person to spend a minimum amount on taxable (retail) goods and services. Would this be a fixed amount (what about people who spend less than that?) or a percentage of income (how would total income be determined if only wages are tracked?)

2. The government then violates all manner of financial privacy to track every individual's check and credit card purchases, and keeps a database comparing that to the minimum amount that person is required to spend.

3. Anyone who comes up short gets hauled into court to prove that they made up the required difference in cash by providing receipts.

I suppose this will be right after the aliens from Area 51 are proven to be the secret force running the CIA?