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Walt Walt is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 348
Default OT / My pet peeve *fatties*... more VAT

DSK wrote:

Taxes should be simple, transparent, and efficient.


Maxprop wrote:

Like a flat tax?


Simple, yes. Fair?


With the right exemptions, it can be. Say, a flat X percent with the
first Y dollars exempt. By adjusting X and Y one can make it as
progressive or regressive as you want. (You'd need negative values of Y
to do serious regressive tax.)

That was one of the selling points among the pointy headed intellectuals
flogging the flat tax in the late 80's - it's simple, transparent, and
can be as progressive as you want. Then Malcolm Forbes Jr came along
and sold it as a strictly regressive idea, which is the one that stuck.

//Walt