The Flat Tax: Why It Won't Work for America [Paperback]

Scott E. Hicko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

On the surface, the concept of a flat tax sounds good-it would simplify tax preparation and lower most people's taxes. However, according to Scott E. Hicko, a flat tax would increase taxes for the average worker and destroy the American dream. Under such tax legislation, the super wealthy would pay less tax while the nations's working class sould carry the nation's tax burden. First introduced in the 1970's, the flat tax concept will continue to be debated as the government seeks ways to streamline, says Hicko. And, most people do not understand the realities of it. The Flat Tax: Why it Won'T Work for America is the first book to outline the negative impact a flat tax sould create on the American economy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Scott E. Hicko is a certified public accountant and financial planner. He has worked with virtually every facet of federal income taxation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Addicus Books (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886039283
• ISBN-13: 978-1886039285
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Apologist for Waste and Parasitism, April 15, 2008

By 

D. W. MacKenzie (New London CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Flat Tax: Why It Won't Work for America (Paperback)

The idea that the Flat tax can't work for America is indefensible. Europe has a VAT tax, many states have sales taxes, and the US functioned with revenue tariffs for much of its history. There are many ways to finance the operations of government, and no one method is indispensable. Some methods are less onerous than others.

The Federal income tax code is needlessly complex. There is no practical need for the many thousands of pages of tax regulations and exemptions. These measures are in place to keep the tax compliance industry intact. Hicko is a member of this industry. Hicko and his peers would lose their jobs if we adopted a flat tax. Hicko defends the tax code for personal reasons, and without valid arguments.

Scrapping the tax code makes sense even from the perspective of a social democrat or welfare state liberal. There are far simpler and more effective ways of transferring wealth from rich too poor (not that I favor such things). The poor can be exempted from income taxes with one (and only one) standard exemption, of lets say 10,000$. A single tax rate single exemption system would save productive members of society the bother and expense of dealing with our current tax code. A single tax rate single exemption system would also render parasites like Hicko unemployed- all the more reason to do it...

Not only would a flat tax work, it would improve economic conditions and be more just and fair. The economic case for the flat tax is simple and correct: heavy complex tax systems cause much economic waste and hinder economic development. There is a strong moral case for the flat tax too: Americans should be equal before the law, and we should not be leeched off by CPA's. Hicko is an apologist for an inefficient and immoral system, plain and simple.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A cynical defense point of view, August 5, 1998

By 

"ildiko" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Flat Tax: Why It Won't Work for America (Paperback)

Hicko defense the current tax system of USA in a very cynical and rough way. The book takes you through in his myths based on the proposed new flat tax system by Alvin Rabushka, Dick Armey, Robert Hall, Robert Eisner and Herbert Stein. However, you will have moments during reading when you can laugh about his viewpoints of defense. Before you read the book, it might be better being at least a bit familiar with some other books, like: Robert Hall, Alvin Rabushka, The Flat Tax; and/or Dick Armey, The Flat Tax; and/or ISBN 0-8447-3987-1 Fairness and Efficiency in the Flat Tax. Just to mention some. Me personally, I would recommend to read the book of Scott E. Hicko, because it is always good to see opposite viewpoints as well, in order to evaluate more correctly. You do will have fun.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hicko has motives, August 23, 2005

By 

Harry Schuihmacher - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Flat Tax: Why It Won't Work for America (Paperback)

Throughout this book the same thought kept occuring in my brain: The author, Hicko, is an accountant and tax preparer by trade. Of course he doesn't want a flat tax. His profession is the only one that loses under a simple tax code. This book is just a bunch of class warfare dribble that went out of style in 1975. Forbes' book, Flat Tax Revolution, is much better.