Pigs Rule!

Sometimes I get stuck on an idea, and I'll let it float around awhile until it becomes too big and ridiculous to sustain itself. For example, imagine there was only one type of tax. A sales tax. No property taxes or government fees of any sort. No income taxes. Just a sales tax. One flat tax. It's not really even an original idea, but follow me.

The tax could change from town to town, state to state, but from local governments on up the only legal form of taxation would be a sales tax. That's right, imagine no FICA. You'd have to outlaw exemptions to be fair. No tax breaks for anyone. No incentives, either. Not for the St. Louis Cardinals or Wal-Mart or James River Assembly. Not for anyone.

Any increase in taxes would have to be approved by voters. Legislators could decrease taxes, but only if they decreased them for everyone equally. Stick with me.

Here's the fun part: aside from the stuff we really want government for: national defense; the three branches of government; roads; and education, the government would provide basic needs for everyone. That's a lot you might say, but that's all. No postal service or social security or other stuff we don't need.

If you were poor or out of work or otherwise unable or unwilling (I know you don't want to, but you've got to include unwilling) to work you could have basic needs met such as food rations (three squares a day, and it doesn't have to be pretty as long as it sustains life), a basic home (something like the government housing projects we know and love), and health care (this can be good, but 3 free hospital visits per year, so make 'em count). That's it. If you don't want to work, you don't have to. But, you won't have money.

The government basics then-- as well as the other stuff-- would be provided by anyone who spends money. Or, in other words, people who worked. The people who work, even if they are poor, can buy what they can with their resources and know they're contributing to the larger national safety net.

Capitalism would still reign, but the wealth of the government would forever be tied to sales taxes. Who cares if the tax is 30 percent or more? Our basics are there if we need them, and the system would treat everyone the same. Have your freedom, and be as greedy as you want; it's good for the country.

Oh, and you'd have to be a citizen to get the government basics.

Under this fair, simple, and transparent system, trust would be restored to politicians, which would make them popular and well-liked by all.

Then we could let our leaders live in the big house. If they give a few special privileges to their friends every once in awhile, well, what would that hurt? When the leaders want or need to change the rules they can post a sign on the door for us workers to read.

Dang it! See, I always take it too far.