This is the key. As the author describes eliminating things like the mortgage deduction - but if you implement a BIG while still leaving legislators the ability

This is the key. As the author describes eliminating things like the mortgage deduction - but if you implement a BIG while still leaving legislators the ability to levy taxes against certain constituents over others, we remain at exactly the same place we are now. The Fairtax proposal at http://www.fairtax.org http://www.fairtax.org has long advocated a lesser sort of BIG (called the 'prebate,' which would give everyone a check for their standard deduction each month to avoid people paying taxes on essential goods). After that, all would pay a flat sales tax on goods. Prices of goods would only increase minimally, given the absence of tax compliance costs for businesses. One could conceivably expand this type of BIG and do away with the welfare programs altogether. But without doing away with the IRS, the system remains corrupt. Sadly, neither of these proposals will ever happen, because both would require the federal government give up its ability to pick and choose to which constituents and special interests they dole out favors.