I have the same fantasy, Dan, as you do.
Your fantasy flat tax will not do the trick, though.
BUT, the FairTax will!
The income tax system is exactly how the ruling elite want it: easily manipulated to punish or reward.
One of the huge strengths of the fair tax is that it makes the taxation rate transparent to the payer.
Something else that would accomplish this would be to eliminate withholding.
Make everyone pay taxes by writing a quarterly check.
Better yet, make them write an annual check and move tax day to Oct 31. Right before elections.