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Every few years, the GOP becomes enamored of the concept of a "flat tax" that would leave all Americans paying the same percentage of their income in taxes and greatly simplify the tax-preparation process.

And now GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry has become the latest candidate to propose one.

Perry has proposed a flat tax of 20% of income on all Americans. And he has promised that this will make filing your tax returns as easy as mailing a postcard.

The problem, from the perspective of those who love the idea of simplicity, is that Perry wants his flat tax to be optional. Under his plan, citizens will have the option of paying taxes under their current tax rates...or paying them under Perry's flat tax. Perry also wants to keep the mortgage-interest and charity deductions for those making under $500,000 a year.

What this means is that, for the majority of Americans, filing taxes will become even more complicated, not less. Because, to

You've heard of Greco-Roman wrestling. Now there's a Greco-Roman financial crisis. The headlines coming out of Europe are filled with talk of a banking and sovereign debt crisis in Europe. The problems, which had their origins in Athens, have now spread to Rome — and have become much larger in the process.

Why we should Americans care? It's simplistic to say, but we're all connected. U.S. banks -- and probably the one where you have an account -- have billions of dollars of Greek, French, and German government and private sector bonds on their books; many are active direct lenders in those countries. The Euro zone, taken together, is one of the largest economic forces in the world. Behind Canada, the European Union is the largest destination for U.S. exports, accounting for about 18 percent of the total. If you work in an industry that exports — agriculture, airplanes, tourism — a demand shock from the world's largest markets would be very bad news. In addition, European