The flat INCOME tax does little to solve the problems we have with the tax code. Very little. In fact, it only does one thing: flattens the rate.That statement shows gross ignorance of what the Flat Tax really is. The most important feature of the Flat Tax isn't the flat rate, it's that, by taxing consumption, it removes the bias against savings inherent in our current system.
THat is the one good feature of the flat tax.
However, it retains the rest of the evils of the income tax.
it retains withholding income taxes
it retains withholding employee payroll taxes
it retains employer payroll taxes
it retains tax costs hidden in prices
it retains the tax component in US exports, continuing the stupid practice of making US goods less competitive in the world market
it retains the assumption that individual taxpayers are guilty until proven innocent
it retains the feds ability to audit individuals arbitrarily
.....
Tax reform proponents aren't ingorant of the one good thing about the flat income tax, but income tax kooks are ignorant of the downside of the flat income tax- ie everything about our graduated income tax save some bias against saving.
And HE talks about "ignorance". Nightie is a guy that loves the Nightmare VAT/Nightmare Flat tax. Trouble is, neither is defined at all and both are just ivory-tower theories (which break down in practice) with no detail -- none at all -- behind them.
He even switches from one to the other as the preferred method whevever it suits the particular argument he attempts to present. These also are straight from "The SQL Diversionary Handbook for Looney Liberals".
As an example, on page 112 of that handbook (under the DIVERSIONS chapter), it suggests a technique for this situation which runs soimething like this:
(Nightie) - "Where did I EVER switch from one to the other??? Just show me, moron. Just show me one time. I dare you!!"
A bit further in that chapter, we see suggested: (Nightie) - "Prove to me that the Nightmare Tax breaks down in practice. Give me some hard figures and not just your B/S. Proove it, idiot." (And all this despite a non-existent tax scheme which is detailed nowhere but the REAL ones DO fall apart when used, but you can't give figures on something that doesn't exist such as the Nightmare VAT/Flat).
Those two tactics even work with some people, but not most.