As a newly minted CPA, you obtain your first significant position as a tax professional: senior tax accountant for one of the offices of a regional accounting firm. Of course, the firm runs a notice of your hiring in the local newspaper. A few days later, the editor of the newspaper calls you and asks if you might be interested in writing a monthly column for the newspaper on tax issues. Figuring that it would be a good way to get your name out in the community as an expert in the field (and a little free advertising to boot!), you tell him that you would be more than happy to do so. "Great! " he says. "By the way, I have already blocked out space for this column in the next edition of the paper. Is there any way that you can get me your article by the end of the day today?" After you commit to doing so, he also proceeds to tell you that you will not be paid for these articles. "I figure that it is just a sort of public service that you could offer to the community. I am sure you understand." (And so it begins...get used to a lot of this.) You spend the next 10 minutes thinking about what you could discuss in your first article. You would like to shake people up a little bit, and perhaps challenge their opinions about some issues of tax law. That way, you could perhaps build up some interest in your column, which, as you know, will be difficult to achieve under the best of circumstances! (After all, who wants to read newspaper articles about taxes?)

Finally, you decide on a topic: You will argue to the readers that the federal income tax should be abolished and replaced with a national sales tax. Required: Write an article arguing this position. You may or may not agree with this proposition. However, based on the materials covered in this course and the discussions that have occurred in the Discussion areas, you should be able to articulate a cogent, persuasive argument in support of this proposition. In particular, you should focus on reference theories, concepts, justifications, and anticipated economic, social, and/or other benefits that would result from such a system. To the extent that you think strong contrary arguments could be made, consider raising those contrary arguments and then persuasively arguing against them.

Your answer to this question will be evaluated based on the thoroughness, professionalism, substance, and persuasiveness of your argument.