That 23% really bugs me. If the government has to take that much money to stay "revenue neutral" it is spending way too much money.
It ought to, nevertheless, that is what is being paid out of gross household income for the current tax system, especially if Bush does not manage to get his tax cuts made permanent.
Point is government is too big, and mainly because most voters do not perceive the full cost of government in their lives. To most of the electorate government is a source of handouts with someone else paying the piper. A visible across the board retail sale tax changes that perception and changes the balance of who demands change in government by exposing the real tax burden to the view of every voter in the nation.
Is that gross household income percentage of 23% inclusive of current business taxes?
I would prefer some Constitutional cap of 7 to 10 percent, but I know I'm just dreaming.
Cordially,