National Sales Tax to Replace Income Tax

[OzzyKP]

It depends on how they handle it. If you exempt items like food, clothing and housing, and perhaps have a higher rate on luxury items then perhaps it would be ok.

Also, so-called sin taxes on cigarettes and alcohol are regressive in effect, hurting the poor more than the rich, but I don't hear liberals shedding a tear over these.

[MRT144]

sin taxes on the other hand are voluntary. you do not have to smoke or drink. the taxes on food are not voluntary because you do have to eat food.

Although i dont think that there really should be excessive taxes on alcohol.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

why do we need sin taxes? if you wanna do it, why should gvt tell you whats right and wrong? why should u be punished for hurting yourself?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
It depends on how they handle it. If you exempt items like food, clothing and housing, and perhaps have a higher rate on luxury items then perhaps it would be ok.

However you handle it, you have a couple trillion a year in revenue to raise from it, so for everything you tax at a lesser rate or make exempt, you have to tax something else at a higher rate. Great way to "simplify" things.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
why do we need sin taxes? if you wanna do it, why should gvt tell you whats right and wrong? why should u be punished for hurting yourself?

It's a voluntary donation.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

It's a voluntary donation.

yeah, but why tax goods at all? why even have a sales tax?

[Az]

yeah, but why tax goods at all? why even have a sales tax?

to pay for government: roads, police. some commies might even suggest education and healthcare.

[MRT144]

azazel, cmon buddy, youre talking to lawrence here.

[Agathon]

Also, so-called sin taxes on cigarettes and alcohol are regressive in effect, hurting the poor more than the rich, but I don't hear liberals shedding a tear over these.

In most countries taxes from cigarettes and alcohol go towards fixing the problems that these things create.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

to pay for government: roads, police. some commies might even suggest education and healthcare.

you dont need sales tax to do that.

[Agathon]

you dont need sales tax to do that.

Yes, but targeted taxes mean that the people who are voluntarily imposing larger burdens on healthcare and the police are paying for it. If you lowered the tax, people would simply smoke and drink more.

[Berzerker]

Imran -

Um... you neglect to count the taxes and regulations on foriegn businesses. They may have a disadvantage.

Um...you stopped reading after 1 sentence?

Here is what I said after that:

Of course, we'd have to calculate the cost of doing business in those other countries to get the total effect, but the current tax structure favors foreign competition.

[MRT144]

no, WE NEED A LOTTERY! A LOTTERY CAN FUND IT ALL!

[Berzerker]

User fees would make up the bulk of taxes

[PLATO]

FLAT TAX !!

1st $50K exempt. Set the level at what you need above that. No exemptions. Simple...protects the poor...doesn't f*ck the rich.