Article 1

Summary:

The article discusses whether the U.S. should switch to a flat tax system, where everyone pays the same tax rate.

Here are the main points:

• Pros: A flat tax could help the economy grow, be more fair, and be easier to understand. Some countries, like Estonia, saw their economies grow quickly after using a flat tax.

• Cons: It might not share wealth as well, could be harder on middle and lower-income families, and could lead to tax rate wars between countries. Some people don't think a flat tax is the only reason for economic growth in countries that use it.

The article concludes that it's unlikely the U.S. will switch to a flat tax system soon, as it currently uses a tiered tax system.

Article 2

Summary: 

The article discusses the downsides of flat income taxes, where everyone pays the same percentage of their income, compared to graduated tax systems, which tax higher incomes at higher rates.

Here are the main points:

• Flat taxes can be unfair, causing wealthier families to pay a smaller portion of their income in taxes compared to middle and lower-income families.

• Income taxes help balance out other taxes, like sales and property taxes, which can also affect lower-income families more.

• Claims that flat taxes boost the economy or make the tax system simpler are not supported by evidence.

The article concludes that flat taxes increase inequality and are not good for government budgets or most families.

Critical Response:

Both articles make good points, but they have different opinions. The first article talks about the pros and cons of a flat tax, suggesting it would help the economy grow and be simpler, but also acknowledges it might not be fair to everyone. The second article focuses on why flat taxes might not be a good idea, saying they can be unfair to lower and middle-income families and that they don't necessarily boost the economy.