[Windflier]

An income tax penalizes you based on the measure of what you provide to the economy. A consumption tax penalizes you based on what you take out and use.

Precisely, which is why the way we tax Americans today makes no sense.

The current form of federal taxation is a penalty on production, which is exactly what you don't want, if your intention is to grow a thriving economy that provides plenty for everyone (who will work).

In my view, those who've nurtured and grown this diabolical system, understand that honest, hard working people will shoulder that punitive burden. Ironically, it's the honest, hard working fellow that enables the politicians to reward their favored constituencies while shunting him to the back of the bus. It's a plainly evil system that has got to go.

[MrB]

if your intention is to grow a thriving economy that provides plenty for everyone

yeah, if... but this is NOT the goal of the left.