[Straight Vermonter]

Look at it this way. Two twins work their entire careers in the same job. Same pay same everything. One puts away money in an IRA, 401K and invests in the financial markets. The other buys a boat, a second home and vacations in Hawaii every year.

At retirement the individual who squandered his money gets SS tax free (he has little income other than SS). The frugal one meanwhile pays tax on his social security benefits.

Is that fair?

[Torie]

You just don't like the income tax. If you can tolerate wading through a rather dry but highly informative and balanced treatment of the various revenue raising alternatives out there, pick up Taxing Ourselves. A consumption tas has a lot of merit, but it is hard to avoid giving high income earners and/or those with considerable wealth a windfall, without going through a lot of complex hoops.