>>>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/22/obama-expresses-openness-new-value-added-tax/
>>
>>In some ways a VAT is actually a step in the right direction, as long as it replaces one or more existing tax(es) and isn't simply an additional tax:
>>
>
>Yeah, that's gonna happen <bg>

It's easy to be flip with this, but in all seriousness it's a real measure of the quality and courage of your elected representatives if they can replace various taxes with a VAT.

Cowardly governments:

- LOVE hidden taxes
- LOVE to tax business, because businesses can't vote, and all a business can do is pass on the increased tax to consumers as higher prices, so the business gets blamed for the government's action (perfect from a government POV)