I recently had lunch with some neo-puritans who asserted that we consume too much in the western world. My reaction: If so, then raise the value-added tax (VAT, which is similar to the Goods-and-Services Tax [GST] in Canada). Raising the net prices of goods and services will reduce the quantity demanded.
And if you want to keep it revenue-neutral, lower the income tax. Doing so will have the double benefit of (a) keeping the VAT increase revenue-neutral and thus inhibiting the growth of gubmnt, and (b) inducing people to work more [more shades of the protestant work ethic].
Furthermore, inducing people to work more and save more will promote economic growth, which will have the additional benefit of helping poor people more than any other anti-poverty scheme.
Sounds like a win-win-win proposal to me.