VAT is just a poll tax by stealth. Instead of charging you directly, we will increase the price of all of the goods and services you consume, distorting and add

VAT is just a poll tax by stealth. Instead of charging you directly, we will increase the price of all of the goods and services you consume, distorting and adding a huge bureaucratic layer to the economy as a result. Secondarily we will print money to finance Government spending, and you will 'pay' for it through inflation. Meanwhile the rich can avoid VAT by purchasing expensive personal electronics and cars through their companies and getting rebated, and see their asset portfolios increase in value thanks to the money printing. If the psychological element of paying poll taxes is too extreme, just replace them with land taxes with credits for each citizen living there and large credits for children under 16. At least you can link the payment to the consumption of a resource (housing) and penalty if you don't pay (confiscation or the application of a lien). Of course land value taxes are unpopular in European countries with a huge class of landed gentry...