I can live with the graduated tax system We have now. I don't think a Robin Hood plan is a great idea. A national sales tax might be fair, but unless there are a lot of provisions to prevent it, an item would get taxed a lot of times between when it was made and when it was finally used [is tax due every time an item is resold?] .

     I used to spend a lot of time in the Bahamas. They have import duty from 15% on "essentials" up to 65% on "extravegances". They have no income taxes. It seems to work OK for them, but automobiles, electronics, tools and plenty of other things are at the 65% rate. A British friend who lived and worked there for 18 years and has since moved to the US, recently told Me He prefers the tax system We have here in the US.

     Obviously the country has to come up with money, an the population is going to have to fork it over. There is probably no plan that is fair to everyone, and it is a fine line to come up with a system that allows businesses to prosper, encourages investment and does not opress the lower income groups.

From what I understand, Obama just wants to raise the tax rate from 36 to 39% on $250,000 and up.  Also I think that was the old rate and Bush gave that 3% cut. What also gets me is the fact that Social Security tax is only paid on money up to $102,000.  Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Obama and McCain all will be able to collect Social Security.  They are millionaires and billionaires.  IMO I don't think that if you already have loads of money then that 1200/mo (or whatever they get) should be used for something else.