Taxation and Redistribution

I also agree that progressive taxation on income is unfair. If there is to be an income tax then it should be a flat rate, which I would wholeheartedly support. However, I would rather there just be a consumption tax rather than an income tax similar to the idea put forward by supporters of the U.S. FairTax legislation (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FairTax for a summary). There are too many ways for the rich to avoid the income tax, but it is harder to avoid a consumption tax. The poor would be able to afford necessities under this plan as basic needs would be exempt from the tax. I also like how everyone will pay something as then people may not be so keen to support excessive government spending as there are no exemptions other than basic necessities. I am sure that a lot of details would need to be worked out for it to work properly.

I think one of the worst ideas is the tax on property. I really do believe in private property rights and the taxation of property always seemed to me that it undermines this concept (the landlord being the government itself in a way). I wouldn't want someone to lose their home, farm, or business due to a property tax burden. I think no matter what the taxation scheme that society should encourage a wider distribution of private property ownership as under the concept of Distributism.