Aklim, your point is well taken regarding "stealth" or other taxes. Ultimately, consumers and property owners pay the lions' share of taxes. Businesses and corporations may collect a tax and forward it to the government, but the consumer buying their product is actually the one paying it. The point is that the govenment collects a lot from us by stealth. Your suggestion is that we simply have a national sales tax that is right up front and there is much value in that idea.

The problem gets into do we do that at each government level? Do we have 10% for the Feds, plus 8% for the State, plus 3% for the County, plus 2% for the City (total 23% in this case)? Eventually, you reach a pointy where black market and smuggling become a big deal. We see that now with the differences in alcohol prices between Ky. and Ohio. I'm not sure what solution is best, but all of this is fodder for honest, civil debate.