There are many comments about this being a state issue, but I believe it is already covered in the Constitution. You cannot tax basic rights. The government can’t stop you from traveling, owning property, feeding your family, or defending your property and family. I believe the right case going to ths Supreme Court would end the property tax.
People will argue about needing a driver’s license and such, but they are only required for interstate commerce. People just don’t know that or don’t want to deal with the hassle of ill-informed law enforcement.
To simplify things , I believe a constitutional amendment ending property/vehicle taxes and associated fees of all kinds, salary tax, and any tax that affects retirees should be implemented immediately.
Alongside this, the legislature should pass a bill that make sales tax the only legal tax on American citizens. These taxes should be capped at a combined 6% during peace time. I propose this to be broken down as follows: 3% to the county, 2% to the state, and 1% to the federal government. Obviously this prioritizes moving power and responsibilities back to the local government and leaving the federal to focus on infrastructure and defense.
I also favor siloing these tax dollars.
As an example, if the tax is collected at the gas pump, charging station, hydrogen dispenser or who knows what else in the future then that goes to the road department. A system like this prevents special interests from stealing from needed programs to embezzle into their pet projects.
Lastly, I recognize there will be a time when conflict arises and Congress should also be able to add 1% in times of war, which must be reauthorized every year or it falls away. This can only be brought to a vote when CONGRESS votes to enact a state of war, not a President or a General.
This would bring the maximum possible tax to 7%. Any other funds needed would have to be brought to the public and negotiated through bonds etc.
If we place hard caps on taxes, specify where the money goes, and make everything else illegal then we don’t have to ever sweat these issue again.
Another benefit is that the IRS would no longer be needed. All tax dollar distribution would be automated based on where it was collected. We would replace this entitity designed to audit citizens with an auditor of how the government is using these funds.
Lastly, we need to end the Federal Reserve’s relation with our government. The inflation they cause is a tax in itself and cannot effectively add to our tax bill if we rely on sales tax. A pair of scissors that cost $8, when it previously cost $1, will generate significantly more tax dollars.
Thank you for reading this and I welcome any comments.