That’s the fabulous idea of New York Times writer John Schwartz.
With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Schwartz looks at the treatment of taxes in an election year. In doing so, he offers politicians — whom he calls "a bunch of wussy-heads" (that description alone is reason enough to keep reading) — some advice:
"If we’re going to get rid of the deficit, pay off the national debt
and rebuild our treasury, we’re going to have to take some truly bold
moves. So here are a few modest (yet, as I said, truly bold) proposals."The first element of the plan is simple: make the tax system more complicated."
Schwartz then goes on to suggest some things that can be taxed without the usual political fear of a huge voter revolt. They include obnoxious consumption, spam (electronic, not Hormel’s classic canned meat), junk e-mail from friends and family and emoticons.
Oh, no! Tax my smiley faces?! 🙁
You can read Schwartz’s complete arguments for what he calls new "taxable vices" here.
