Clowning Around With Taxes

Who says our Congress is full of petty partisans and grouchy grinches? Two Georgia Congressmen have lightened the mood by sponsoring a bill to do away with the income tax, the estate tax and –yes – the Internal Revenue Service.

For funding, they propose that the federal government rely on a national sales tax – high in rate but gaping with loopholes – administered mainly by the states.

Should they have tried out H.R. 25 at an Atlanta comedy club before going national?

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Caution: Go ahead and snicker at the idea that Uncle Sam should stop collecting taxes. But be aware that the idea of a national sales or "consumption" tax – to supplement, not replace, the income tax – has a number of serious advocates.