Taxes

Bruce Bartlett interviewed by Ezra Klein on taxes here. The most frustrating thing for economists, is the truism of this statement:

One reason I've been more sympathetic to a carbon tax than other conservatives is that if you did it right it would be pretty close to a VAT. One of the objections a lot of us have to cap-and-trade is that it's too easily manipulated. It sounds good in theory, but once in the political meat-grinder, its failures become overwhelming.

How many times can we say that? Its a good idea in theory, but the political process will make a mess of it. When will demand our politicians take the time to understand a little economics?