1.   The tax should raise high and reliable yields.

2.   At that point, unless the system is changed, benefits will have to be cut or payroll taxes raised.

3.   But the tax raises a considerable amount of money for the government.

4.   Currently, the tax raises more money than Social Security needs each year to pay benefits.

5.   For years, the tax has raised more money than Social Security pays out each year in benefits to retirees.

6.   Money would be raised by taxes on working Americans and, to the extent not needed to pay immediate benefits, invested in safe government bonds.

7.   Spending would have to be cut further or taxes raised to make up the difference.

8.   The small carriers contend that the House tax will raise their fares and wipe out their profits.

9.   The taxes also would raise money for tourism promotion, youth sports and the Cactus League.

10.   There are two basic ways to make a flat tax raise more revenue.