Reply #9: Too many to mention here...

[TreasonousBastard]

and I don't have time right now to dig up the references. There are, btw, a number of different "flat" tax plans out there.

Here's a few objections to start with--

A straight flat tax inequitably taxes lower wage earners at a higher effective rate.

The flat tax doesn't address paytroll taxes, like FICA, Medicare...

A flat tax doesn't take into account common deductions, such as mortgage interest, local taxes, or contibutions. Immediately, those interests, like banks and charities, will lobby to include their changes.

Depending on whose figure you believe, it might not be revenue neutral, and bring in less revenue than what we have now.

The IRS code now is so huge because everyone with access to a congresscritter has stuck in a special provision. There's no gurantee taht won't happen with any flat tax proposal. The code will undoubtedly grow to massive proportions once gain.

The huge tax code is primarily concerned with commercial stuff, and individual taxpayers are only a small part of it.