National sales tax: Pros and cons?
Find a Conversation
National sales tax: Pros and cons?
| Tue, 09-07-2004 - 10:49pm |
I'm curious what everyone's opinion is on replacing our current tax code with a national sales tax.
I admit that I have not yet taken the time to do a lot of research on the pros and cons, but it sure sounds good to me so far.
One of my biggest beefs with the current tax code is that it penalizes higher earners just because they earn more. Not a good way to encourage productivity and self-reliability.
And it allows a lot of loopholes and uncollected taxes. A national sales tax might actually collect more taxes since fewer things could be hidden.
The main argument I can think of against it is that it would hurt the poor. But if clothing and food items were exempt (as they are in some states already), that should take away that argument.
What do you all think?
Carrie


Pages
I couldn't agree more. If everyone wrote that check and saw what they were paying they would be concerned with all this government bloat.
It amazes me, I ask people, what is your car payment, house payment, phone bill, utilities and they know to the penny. I ask how much was taken out in taxes from their last check and they have no idea. It is sad really.
Democrats ;)
True. However, the same is true for all taxes, income included. I agree with ferrin, I believe, who said that gov't needs to cut spending. But of course we know that can't happen.
It is becoming a universal truth: Government grows, with Democrats or Republicans, peace time, war time, in times of plenty or times of famine. Gov't doesn't shrink it just grows slower at times. Case in point...one party complains that the other is cutting spending on say education by 15%, but the truth is they only want to increase spending by 5%, not 20%. Only in gov't can a spending increase be called a decrease in spending.
I guess I'm just not ready to give up hope that some day Washington will actually represent the people and not special interests. I'm generally more of a realist, but I'd like to think that the American people will pull themselves out of their apathy and make Washington work for us, not the other way around.
I would never argue that...and I completely agree that there is much too much waste in government - at all levels.
True. However, the same is true for all taxes, income included.
Not necessarily.
C
All the items you listed are state responsibilities with some exceptions for homeland security and education. States make ends meet and most do it primarily with sales tax, some states don't even have an income tax and they pay for everything.
Why would we cut police and fire first? We wouldn't but it sounds dramatic.
Pages