"Andrew Gideon" wrote in message
online.com...
[...]
By aggregating several purchases, taxes do (rather: could in theory)
provide
efficiency.

If only it were done well.

Not sure if you really believe this or not, but your suggestion makes the
assumption that taxes are only about paying for services. They are not.
Much of the complexity found in tax law is about social engineering and
catering to special-interest groups.

It would be hard to simplify taxes while still preserving those goals, held
dear by those who control tax law.

Pete