Should the sales tax be abolished?

[Endangered Specie]

Poll question: Should the sales tax be abolished?

It was tax free day not long ago for me.

[JohnKleeb]

1. I like the idea of no sales tax and a higher income tax

[Lefty48197]

2. The sales tax is inherently regressive, so it should be abolished

and replaced with a property tax, or a tax on upper income levels.

[Warpy]

4. A sales tax can be made more progressive

with necessities untaxed and a surtax on luxury items. It would have the benefit of pulling in the underground economy of working under the table and working at illegal activities. The problem is that it would decrease consumption of everything except necessities and foul the economy up even more than it is.

The progressive income tax is the only way to fund this country, along with tariffs to protect American jobs and industries. All income, corporate and private, earned and investment, has to be subject to it. Everybody suspects this is true, but the only way we'll get to it is by having the stake of another depression driven through the heart of supply side, deregulatory, free trade dogma.

The hard part is that I think that's exactly what's coming.

[Cleita]

7. I like your idea best.

[Shoeempress]

3. I'm in "tax free" NH, no sales tax, no income tax. Crazy property

tax, Court orders regrading distribution of money for education due to inherent unfairness. Too f*d up for Words. Guess what, Repuke Governor, and Legislature. Big surprise.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

8. NH is a mess-if you include prop taxes, their tax burden is higher than MA

and we're known as "Taxachusetts". :eyes:

[Joy Anne]

5. Pennsylvania sales tax is good

It doesn't apply to food bought in grocery stores or to clothing.

[Cleita]

6. Only on basics, like food, medicine, school supplies etc.

I would triple it on Hummers, Yachts, real jewelry, and other such extravagances. Also, services should have a sales tax. All these rich people who can afford pricey accountants, lawyers and plastic surgery should be made to pay a good hefty service tax charge. If we taxed consumption for the rich maybe we wouldn't even need income taxes anymore.

[Ilsa]

9. I can't believe I found myself explaining "regressive sales tax"

why we don't deserve a flat tax, etc to a freeper type the other day. Also had to explain how the wealthy are also users of government welfare, mostly in protection of the banking and financial systems, ibfratructure, regulation of consumer and environmental concerns, military, etc, to protect their wealth and lifestyle. They said they had never considered that! Duh.

I think the luxury tax would finally work if it was clear from the beginning that it wasn't a "trial", like the last time. When it was tried in Bush41's residency, they knew if they complained enough it'd be reversed. If it is there to stay, they'll ante up and pay it because they can freaking afford to.

We have food, certain medical, and certain ag products (seed, I believe) exempted from sales tax in Texas, but the rest really adds up.