I think you're right, Dogfish. Once the tax goes in, it never comes out, and the base will expand. Both sales and income tax will put us all in the poor house, and unless the system is changed, the budget deficit will continue to increase all the while.

I personally think we should repeal sales taxes and go to an across-the-board income tax. To me, that's the most honest, fair way to collect taxes. Besides that, relative to sales tax, an income tax would allow for much more accurate revenue forecasts, thereby closing the door on a lot of new programs for which the budget, which assumes revenues that may or may not (generally will not, in this economy) materialize from sales taxes.

We must desist from the pattern of allowing unrealistic forecasts to determine whether or not new programs get implemented.