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I like the idea of a national sales tax because a consumption based tax would be fairer all around. If someone wants to live the high life, they would pay for it. My reservations with it are that it might discourage consumerism in this country, and encourage people to seek out the higher end items in other countries (via mail or other methods) and essentially avoid the tax. I also wonder if it would create a black market for high end items.
Would eliminating income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax be a good idea?
Makes it tougher for the faux Robin Hoods to keep the peasants in their place...
Makes it tougher for the covetous covey with compulsions to count the other guy's coin.
I love the idea.. It would convince people to save more money when they saw just how much things cost
The problem is twofold though
The government would probably take less money in, which would cause things to be cut
A national sales tax would probably lead to large job losses, if people decide to save more money, that means less money going out for things
I like the idea of a national sales tax because a consumption based tax would be fairer all around. If someone wants to live the high life, they would pay for it. My reservations with it are that it might discourage consumerism in this country, and encourage people to seek out the higher end items in other countries (via mail or other methods) and essentially avoid the tax. I also wonder if it would create a black market for high end items.
And we don't have that black market now? "Augment," maybe, but certainly not "create."
There already is a black market for high-end items.
No, I think if you add on, say, x% tax on like all non-essential items, the people with the most money would still spend the most money and pay the most taxes. Leave the tax off the 'essentials,' and you won't be unfairly overtaxing the 'poor.' Essentials could include unprepared groceries (like many states already don't tax this) and meds.
Any additions to this already highly progressive tax system has already got me thinking about curtailing my own consumerism...taxing the rich usually means they spend less money anyway, so I don't think you need to worry about that. And I think it has the additional effect of getting people to prioritize where, when, and how they spend their money.
There already is a black market for high-end items.
No, I think if you add on, say, x% tax on like all non-essential items, the people with the most money would still spend the most money and pay the most taxes. Leave the tax off the 'essentials,' and you won't be unfairly overtaxing the 'poor.' Essentials could include unprepared groceries (like many states already don't tax this) and meds.
Any additions to this already highly progressive tax system has already got me thinking about curtailing my own consumerism...taxing the rich usually means they spend less money anyway, so I don't think you need to worry about that. And I think it has the additional effect of getting people to prioritize where, when, and how they spend their money.
Stan,
Seems like you are saying that a receding tide lowers all boats. I agree. Punitive taxation hurts everyone.
As far as excluding essentials, I would prefer the "tax it all" and "prebate" to cover essentials.
I'm not wild about a "prebate," (and I dislike the term) as it creates another dependency, but I think it is inevitable with a National Sales Tax.
Fact is, there would need to be some sort of general welfare to replace the EITC, and so there will be government checks issued anyway.
I love the idea.. It would convince people to save more money when they saw just how much things cost
The problem is twofold though
The government would probably take less money in, which would cause things to be cut
A national sales tax would probably lead to large job losses, if people decide to save more money, that means less money going out for things
It seems to me not many people are able to save much with the current tax structure. At least I would have the choice whether to spend my money on the big screen t.v. or put it in savings. The government probably would take in less money, but maybe that would encourage the government to spend less money on wasteful programs.
Would eliminating income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax be a good idea?
Yep. Would be much more ethical to that punishing people for working.
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