Making Real Tax Reform a Reality (Second in a Series)

A veritable army supports the status quo. Let's build a bigger one.

by Rod D. Martin
February 13, 2004

In an article last month entitled "Tax Reform for the New Century," I made the case for replacing our oppressive and incomprehensible tax system with a flat tax.

As I noted, a flat tax would reward hard work, savings, and investment, creating real wealth for everyone. Given its single tax rate, and the absence of loopholes, it would be simpler and fairer than today's monstrosity, which forces Americans to deal with over 1,100 forms and publications and spend 5.8 billion hours each year in compliance efforts alone. It would also make Washington radically more accountable for how it spends our money.

The case for a flat tax is compelling. But to the Beltway barons of the welfare state, the Ted Kennedys and Tom Daschles, a flat tax would be about as welcome as garlic is to vampires. These living fossils of liberalism would rather keep buying the votes of their political base by playing Robin Hood, soaking the "rich" to pay the poor. The "rich" could mean an…