US house prices freefall continues

[Kuciwalker]

Why not? You'll fit right in with the Obama appointees.

[Drake Tungsten]

Speak of the devil...

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look
Levy Viewed as Way to Reduce Deficits, Fund Health Reform

With budget deficits soaring and President Obama pushing a trillion-dollar-plus expansion of health coverage, some Washington policymakers are taking a fresh look at a money-making idea long considered politically taboo: a national sales tax.

Common around the world, including in Europe, such a tax -- called a value-added tax, or VAT -- has not been seriously considered in the United States. But advocates say few other options can generate the kind of money the nation will need to avert fiscal calamity.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602909.html

[KrazyHorse]

Sales taxes
Double taxing previously generated wealth without introducing additional deadweight losses

[KrazyHorse]

Wealth transfers from baby boomers to young people

[Dinner]

If you can't avoid taxes, try evading them.

Sure, you can atleast for some. I'm a smoker and I hate the fact that they now want $65 for a carton in the US but since I live right on the border I can go to Mexico to buy a carton of the same cigs made in the same US factory for $18 so I do it. If a VAT passes then instead of shopping at Costco in the US I'll just go drive the extra 20 miles and go shopping at the Costco in Mexico.

[Patroklos]

Oerdin, .00001 percent of the reason why the California budget is in the ****ter

[Dauphin]

Sure, you can atleast for some. I'm a smoker and I hate the fact that they now want $65 for a carton in the US but since I live right on the border I can go to Mexico to buy a carton of the same cigs made in the same US factory for $18 so I do it. If a VAT passes then instead of shopping at Costco in the US I'll just go drive the extra 20 miles and go shopping at the Costco in Mexico.

That would be tax avoidance, not tax evasion. There is an important distinction.

[Dinner]

Oerdin, .00001 percent of the reason why the California budget is in the ****ter

I, and several family members and friends, also did the same thing when gas & diesel prices were high last year. Mexico subsidizes the price of gas & diesel to keep it affordable for people so that it was around $1.50 cheaper per gallon in the TJ then in California so we'd go fill up down there and fill up a few 5 gal cans as well. You could save a lot money doing that.

[Arrian]

You don't get to complain about nasty Republicans not wanting to pay for stuff, then, Oerdin. You're part of the problem. Not that I'm surprised.

-Arrian

[The Mad Monk]

That would be tax avoidance, not tax evasion. There is an important distinction.

If he's not declaring at the border it's evasion. It's also smuggling.

[Dinner]

Nope. No smuggling as each person over the age of 18 is allowed to bring back one carton duty free each trip. Just declare it to the border patrol agent at the border crossing and he'll let you through no problem. You are also allowed one regular sized bottle of liquor duty free (and several bottles of wine or beer) as long as you declare it.

Now if you try to bring in more then the legal amount or do not declare them then you are smuggling.

[Dinner]

Arrian, I pay lots of taxes thank you. This is legal and I do not exceed the legal amounts per trip. I see nothing wrong with using my legal rights.

[Patroklos]

I, and several family members and friends, also did the same thing when gas & diesel prices were high last year. Mexico subsidizes the price of gas & diesel to keep it affordable for people so that it was around $1.50 cheaper per gallon in the TJ then in California so we'd go fill up down there and fill up a few 5 gal cans as well. You could save a lot money doing that.

Oerdin, stealing from the mouths of impoverished Mexican children

[Dauphin]

Nope. No smuggling as each person over the age of 18 is allowed to bring back one carton duty free each trip. Just declare it to the border patrol agent at the border crossing and he'll let you through no problem. You are also allowed one regular sized bottle of liquor duty free (and several bottles of wine or beer) as long as you declare it.

Now if you try to bring in more then the legal amount or do not declare them then you are smuggling.

Only one?

I guess I am more used to the 'demonstrably for personal consumption' line of thinking that is usually applied within the EU and other trade blocs.

[Dinner]

Oerdin, stealing from the mouths of impoverished Mexican children

Hey, if it is for sale then I'm buying since I can recognize a deal when I see one.