Interesting idea as well as the 1st reader comment. But, we all know it will never happen until revolution is literally playing out on the Gov doorsteps… History has shown over and over, mega change that involves massive power reallocation’s, NEVER occurs willingly….

Nice reading both post and comment though…

…..Bill

Your slip is showing when you say: “And yes, significantly reducing the size and scope of the federal government is the other fundamental goal and benefit, one that would be a welcome relief to the vast majority of Americans.”

This would be a relief only to the Tea Baggers, who are mostly white, male and middle class (and who are almost totally funded by thegazillionaire hard right Koch brothers), not to the tens of millions who rely on our social safety nets.

And “your” proposal has already been offered and detailed with a much more constructive scope that includes the needs for social justice and equity along with sustainability.

My old Clamshell Alliance colleague Roy Morrison, who is the Sustainability Director for Southern NH University, wrote “Tax Pollution, Not Income”.

This treatise answers perhaps the fundamental question that American democracy must address in the 21st century.

How can we make a democratic market economy serve the cause of ecological survival and prosperity?

The answer is surprising and at hand: Tax pollution not income. End the income tax and the IRS. Combine this with government savings and investment in sustainability, and with a Negative Income Tax balanced by a responsibility for National Service to end poverty and welfare and provide a fair basis for social justice.

“Tax Pollution, Not Income” presents a comprehensive and achievable design, informed by the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, that uses our existing market economy and democratic institutions to craft a durable plan for prosperity and survival. The book presents in detail a program based on three basic and mutually supporting policies that represents:

In sum, this plan means:

End all income taxes and institute ecological consumption taxes on pollution, depletion, and ecological damage. We must tax the “bads,” not the “goods;”
Build a National Trust with annual government savings that invests in sustainability;
End poverty and welfare with the rights to a Negative Income tax, balanced by the responsibility for National Service.

The policy paper shows how all Income taxes can be replaced over ten years by two ecological consumption taxes indexed on the basis of pollution, depletion and ecological destruction:

A Btu Tax on Energy (BTU-tax)
An Ecological Valued Added Tax (EVAT)

By taxing polluting, depletion, and ecologically damaging goods and services more, the market will be made to send price signals for sustainability. We tax poison, not income. The pursuit of lower prices and self-interest will be the path to ecological sustainability.

Trust Investment can save social security, provide an educational birthright for all Americans, and eventually, in a sustainable world, provide sufficient income to meet all federal revenue requirements. Yes, a 21st century end to all taxes is possible. “Tax Pollution, Not Income” shows us how.