[Leto]

There seems to be rumors that O'Neill will leave in the next couple of months.

I think next year there will be some tactical moves on taxes, ending the Alternate Minimus Tax, reducing taxes on cap gains, making the tax cuts permanent and some stuff for lower income tax payers.

I think that real tax reform will not happen until after the 2004 election and that assumes a big Bush/GOP victory, things will be run up the flagpole between now and 2005.

Lindsey seems to lean towards a Flat Tax and away from a Sales TAx.

[ancient_geezer]

Lindsey seems to lean towards a Flat Tax and away from a Sales TAx.

In 1997, and before HR2525, in any case. This is 2002 and quite a bit of water has flowed over the bridge since then.

I do note in this '97 article Lindsey is silent on the issue of retail sales taxes. It will be of more interest to know where he is today, and whether or not his views will hold much sway in the long run.

The Flat Tax, among other things, has been shown to be a VAT, which Lindsey was clearly not in favor of.

[ancient_geezer]

There seems to be rumors that O'Neill will leave in the next couple of months.

Those rumors only lead one to infer that Lindsey will be leaving and and that O'Neill might will not fill his shoes.

O'Neill's days at Treasury numbered 

"BY ROBERT NOVAK SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST If Lawrence Lindsey resigns as President Bush's national economic director, would the administration's economic leadership problems be solved while Paul O'Neill remains as secretary of the Treasury? The confidential answer from the White House is an unequivocal ''no.'' "

The statement of whether or not either is actually leaving, especially O'Neill is never really raised. Only the hypothetical If "Lindsey resigns" is ever suggested.

The only statement made is "while Paul O'Neill remains as secretary of the Treasury", the administration's economic leadership problems would not be solved.

Hmmm! One would be advised to ask what economic leadership problem is a SecTreas supposed to solve? I sure don't see one.

Lindsey is "economic Director", and said office is not expected to be filled by SecTreas Paul O'Neill, by anyone.

In other words the whole question is a strawman, with no substance, but gives Novak something to write about on an otherwise lackluster day.

[jayef]

Flat Tax, Sales Tax. What difference does it make? Unless spending is curbed dramatically, your tax burden will be the same. It's the spending, damn it!