I would prefer a national retail sales tax
(not necessarily the “fairtax” and it’s complicated “prebates”).
But a flat tax would just be an adjustment to the existing tax code,
and could be implemented by an act of congress, whereas
a national retail sales tax would require a constitutional amendment.
The NRST is the way to go, morally, because it taxes consumption and not production.
The prebates aren’t that hard to understand, it’s just exempting the first X amount spent as assuming that this spending is what a poverty level person would by just to exist.
And the great thing about that is that the ‘rats can’t use the prebate system to exempt their constituents from taxes.
The problem with shifting from taxing income to taxing consumption is that it isn’t fair to people who have already been taxed on income.
I see advantages to a sales tax (particularly the underground economy), but it would double tax money that has been saved and upon which taxes have already been paid.
Agree.
A retail tax would eliminate the need for ANY tax forms that workers would have to deal with. The other problem with just “simplifying” tax laws is that it leaves the door open for those laws to start becoming more complicated again. Complexity creep. Congress (both parties) can not resist the temptation to add just one more rule or loophole or exception.
Taxes should NOT be used as a carrot or stick to shape the behavior of Americans.
A consumption tax would eliminate the need for any tax forms and for the intrusive window into citizens’ lives. Furthermore, it would tax everyone, not just the workers. Visiting tourists, illegals, criminals, .... All would contribute.
That said, Cruz’s plan is better than no plan. I’d vote for him and for his plan as an improvement over what we have now.