Without making a case in this opinion piece for a federal consumption tax meant to replace the massive federal tax code, it will just be said here that one of the features of a consumption tax would be enhanced liberty. The very notion that Americans must annually cower before the IRS in order to prove their income to it is unfortunate. There’s so much more to be said here, but let’s leave it there.
The purpose of this opinion piece is to address Manhattan Institute senior fellow Brian Riedl’s assertion in a recent Washington Post op-ed that cutting IRS funding “is not a conservative move.” Riedl contends that doing so “will ultimately drive up deficits and raise middle class taxes.” About Riedl’s stance, he’s not alone here. Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell routinely makes a similar case to Riedl’s from left of center.
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