Cain's apples and oranges.

[Raven]

I watched as much of the debate as I could stand to last night and was particularly struck by the exchange between Cain and Romney on the effect of 999 on states with an existing sales tax. It was pretty obvious that Cain's plan would pile the 9% sales tax on top of existing sales taxes and he doesn't seem to be the least bit bothered by that. I think Cain will die here in NH and that will be the end of him.

[Crazy Dave]

1. I used to think he was a smart guy

And I'm sure education-wise he is but the more we get to know him, he seems nuttier than Bachmann.

[dkf]

2. You get more money at the front end, then land up paying more sales tax.

A tax is a tax is a tax. And maybe we need to think more before we spend money.

Frankly the people who will be penalized are the savers as they already paid the big income tax earlier. But no one ever feels sorry for savers. They are the chumps.

[Raven]

3. NH has 0 sales tax and 0 income tax. There have been many

efforts over the years to impose a sales tax and/or an income tax. They always fail.

[SpiralHawk]

4. NH sits like a parasite on the back of what they deride as "Taxachusetts'

NH prides itself on 'low taxes' but reams everyone on fees, and sucks its lifeblood from the border state of Massachusetts.

In these perverse parasitic Republiconomics, NH (R) reveals the deranged soul of Republiconism.

[Raven]

6. That's a little harsh. Massachusetts' sales tax is Massachusetts'

decision. If NH happens to benefit, so be it. But you are correct that the absence of a state income tax places a great burden on the property tax and fees. I moved here from Massachusetts in 2003 and did an analysis of the tax burden. I may pay more per $1000 in property taxes but I don't have to pay the thousands for sewer/water that I did living in the MWRA District. It probably balances out.

[dkf]

5. Well they pay income taxes and payroll taxes and gas taxes and all the rest.

This is a restructuring of the federal tax. The relevant comparison is how much federal tax you pay now compared to how much you would pay.