What do you think of a national retail sales tax?

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by ixnay
I find sales taxes annoying enough when I go to other states. No way in hell I'd want to have to put up with one on a daily basis.

That must be very annoying. Having to pay more. The tag says the price is $2 and then they make you pay more. I think we get used to it here, but it's still bull****.

[DuncanK]

I'm for a single wealth tax only

[Boris Godunov]

Oh, great idea. Increase the tax on the people who can least afford to pay it, and reduce it on those who can most afford it. Brilliant.

[St Leo]

a lower price tag is psychologically better, even if you are just taking money elsewhere...

In Canada, the GST (and Ontario's PST) is added on top of the price tag because it doesn't apply to items under $4.00 and certain other things(?).

Actually, you people are making a good case for raising the corporate and income taxes and dropping the GST. That would probably be fairer.

[PLATO]

This is a plan by Conservatives to shift the tax base so that the rich and corporations pay even less taxes.

Sava, I think you are correct. The only exception that I'll make is that corporations do not pay income tax of themselves. They merely pass it on in the form of higher prices.

I would suggest eliminating all taxes except corporate income taxes and import taxes. This way individual income would be individual income and prices would be prices

[Sava]

When I'm dictator, I'm going to have primarily wealth, corporate, and capital gains taxes. I'll also have smaller progressive income taxes and some sort of small sales tax on specific goods. For instance, I'd tax marijuana and other drugs in order to pay for free public health programs that deal with addiction. I'd use sales taxes just for the purpose of manipulating supply and demand. Even though it might seem like a lot of tax, people won't have to worry about education, health care, and possibly some subsidized housing costs. There will be more disposable income for the lower and middle classes so they can spend and fuel the economy. IMO, the rich are more of a drain on the economy then they are help to it... they should carry more of the tax burden. It's all about finding a good balance between a good network of social programs and economic freedom.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by St Leo
Actually, you people are making a good case for raising the corporate and income taxes and dropping the GST. That would probably be fairer.

corporate taxes are really like sales tax, because the cost is passed on to the consumer.

[mactbone]

So the rich never start businessess, buy expensive items (i.e. boats, houses), and invest their money in the economy?

What a burden on society...

[Buck Birdseed]

Sure they do. Doesn't mean they're not money-grabbing, evil expoitative bastards with an unfair share of societal waelth though.

[mactbone]

Wouldn't that be a pretty big generalization? Care to rephrase that? Care to tell me why people who work hard and/or have good ideas don't deserve to bear the fruit of their labors?

Not that I disagree that there are plenty of rich people that do squat and wring money from everyone - but I know that's only a certain group.

[DuncanK]

Originally posted by MacTBone
Wouldn't that be a pretty big generalization? Care to rephrase that? Care to tell me why people who work hard and/or have good ideas don't deserve to bear the fruit of their labors?

Not that I disagree that there are plenty of rich people that do squat and wring money from everyone - but I know that's only a certain group.

I doubt if Buck is arguing that people who work hard shouldn't be able to keep the fruits of their labor, just that some people get an unfair share.

[monolith94]

I think we should have a 100% tax on golf clubs, mansions and yachts.

[mactbone]

How would Tiger have learned the game then?

[monolith94]

[senator thurmond mode]
he could have stolen it. he's black, isn't he?
[/senator thurmond mode]

[Zkribbler]

Sorry, there's no way to deactivate the Strom Thurmond mode once it's activated.

And no, Tiger's a blend. IIRC: African-American, Asian-American, Native-American and some other stuff. Kind of a United-Nations-type of guy.