March 1, 2000

Now, as tax season rolls around, we find ourselves pondering the flat tax. Will it simplify the tax process or complicate the inequity? Not all Fools see eye-to-eye on this taxing matter.

Bill Mann (TMF Otter) and Shannon Zimmerman (TMF Zman) are Dueling Fools. Bill favors the move toward a flat tax while Shannon thinks the concept falls flat.

Who is right? Vote for your favorite argument when you're done. Then, if you're in the mood for something sweet, check out our Hershey Foods <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(NYSE: HSY)") else Response.Write("(NYSE: HSY)") end if %> Duel Flashback.

The Bull Argument... The current tax regime hinders economic activity, its sieve-like nature makes it much less progressive than it is intended to be; it hurts people at the bottom of the economic ladder as much as it harms those at the top. The system's broken. It's expensive to administer, it's fraught with inconsistencies -- in short, it sucks. Continue »

The Bear Argument... I'm betting Foolish investors know a ruse when they see one. So I'll stop wringing my hands and cut to the chase: Why exactly are flat-tax proponents wrong? Let me count just three of the ways... Continue »

The Bull Argument »

 This Week's Duel