Tax reform is a major issue in the upcoming presidential election. The interest of the public was sparked by the campaign of former candidate Steve Forbes, whose rhetoric brought the concept of the flat tax to the forefront of political debate. Both Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican candidate Bob Dole have publicly voiced their support for a fairer, simpler tax system. Although media attention has centered on the flat tax, legislators have proposed a wide variety of measures aimed at overhauling the country’s tax code.

The problem with America’s current tax system is that it is complex, burdensome, and some insist, unfair. Taxation in the United States has a long history. Unfair taxation was the rallying cry that led to the American Revolution. After its successful resistance to British authority, the Founding Fathers…