re: #607 karmic_inquisitor

Flat Tax is usually a combination of sales tax and income tax. Western Europe has it on a progressive scale so people who earn more pay a higher percentage. It’s “flat” because there are no deductions for things like mortgage interest, business expenses, health care, etc. Eastern Europe has some countries with a true flat tax where everyone pays the same rate regardless on income.
“fair tax” is national sales tax with no income taxes. It’s a completely bogus and repeatedly debunked system that will not work although people keep pushing it anyways. The government looked into it a while ago and the numbers just don’t work.