it's really quite simple. The poor and aspiring to be rich spend 100% of their money on consumption. And the sales tax advocates want them to be taxed on every penny that they spend. Why? To discourage consumption? I can tell you when I was starting out I wanted nothing more than to have some money that wasn't needed by consumption.
The only ones who can reduce their tax rate with a so called "fairtax" are those who make more money than they need to spend each month on consumption.
Oh yeah, once you get to the point where you make more than you spend a consumption tax would be great. I've heard all the crazy schemes to even it out, things like a rebate for the poor. Well, there goes your simplification. Then everybody has to file to prove they are poor to get a refund. Typical big government solution. Tax everybody the same regardless of income, and then once the government has that money in their hand, THEY can decide who should get it.
I'm very happy with only 50% of the people paying federal income taxes. Yes many if not most will always stay in that 50% who doesn't make enough money to pay taxes, but a few will succeed, and they will succed faster and better if they are allowed to get their feet on the ground and established before they pay back society.
Our job is to help or at least not hinder anyone from succeeding. And if that means paying more once I've made it so be it.