"becomes too easy for the government to nearly invisibly turn up the tax rate"
Or not.
Source. I live in a country where the vast majority have income taxes handled by their employer. It would still be front page news if income tax rates increased or decreased.
That's not my experience. The UK has automatic taxation but the current government lowered effective tax for most people this month and parties make tax-rate pledges during election campaigns.
How many days is it reasonable for something to be front page news? Personally I'd prefer 365 different headlines then the same one for 4 months straight.
Or not.
Source. I live in a country where the vast majority have income taxes handled by their employer. It would still be front page news if income tax rates increased or decreased.
Painful transparency is just pain.