[upcountryhorseman]

In line with this quote, Isn't it time to scrap the progressive income tax and just have a federal consumption
tax and nothing else? After Bush is re-elected, this is
something he could push to enhance his standing with conservatives.

[unixfox]

Isn't it time to scrap the progressive income tax and just have a federal consumption tax and nothing else?

The only way to get this done is to start by scraping the incumbents/liberals/socialists. That would mean just about all of them.

[ancient_geezer]

Isn't it time to scrap the progressive income tax and just have a federal consumption
tax and nothing else?

More than past time. The vehicle to do precisely that has been out there since '97.

John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a pure consumption tax:

H.R.25
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 01/7/2003)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

S.1493
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 7/30/2003)
Title: A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Refer: http://www.fairtax.org

I think it is prime time to push hard on getting more Congress Critters willing to make that change in the the law. Then push for enactment of the above as well as an Amendment to the constitution to expressly prohibit income and payroll taxes forever.