DBL: <<If every adult had to pay a quarterly federal poll tax of merely $25, (an assuming for the sake of argument that most of them paid), the federal government would raise roughly $15 billion dollars. ... I[t] couldn't replace the income tax of course, but it could be the keystone to a different, lighter federal tax system.>>
This brings to mind an historical point which has been tugging at me - perhaps someone here will know the answer offhand. Has there *ever* been an instance where one type of tax has entirely replaced another, or even replaced in some 'revenue-neutral' fashion for even a few years, the tax it is proposed to 'replace'? I am curious because of all the talk of a national sales tax floating around. Besides the black market issue, I have a hard time believing any new tax would replace the federal income tax, and a harder time yet believing the combined burden of both would be lighter than that of one. I would like to see a healthy black market, though! :) I could really get behind a national sales tax if I really thought the feds would have the balls to try to extract 20-30% at the point of sale - especially in a 'progressive' fashion. Would poor people be issued tax-exemption cards? Susan Hogarth Triangle Beagle Rescue of NC www.tribeagles.org [EMAIL PROTECTED]
