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Sales taxes, especially on groceries and clothing, disproportionately affect the poor compared to having just a progressive income tax (where you get a personal tax-free allowance, and you pay a lower rate on lower levels of income which are used moreso for basics of survival.)
Aren't most groceries exempt? As for other things, most spending on clothing and discretionary items is a choice. I don't feel too bad for poor people who choose to spend more money than they need to...they should pay the same tax as everyone else. There is also a tax free weekend that people could take advantage of to avoid paying the tax.
In the end it doesn't matter who gets taxed for what if the governments can't control their budgets and spending...there will never be enough.
Sales taxes, especially on groceries and clothing, disproportionately affect the poor compared to having just a progressive income tax (where you get a personal tax-free allowance, and you pay a lower rate on lower levels of income which are used moreso for basics of survival.)
EXACTLY. And this is where my disgust with the way our officials allocate entitlement $$ in the budget crosses with my equally great dismay that folks who are not qualified to receive those liberally distributed entitlements are the working poor! They are folks doing their best to be good citizens - do any type of job, pay their rent without subsidies, buy their groceries without food stamps, and often do without healthcare (since they can't qualify for Medicaid) - and then they get whapped with some of the highest taxes in the nation ON FOOD! Like these folks deserve that much of their disposable income going to taxes annually.
Something is very wrong in this city and it starts with who has carved out what slice of the pie for whom -- and at taxpayers expense.
Wouldn't it be cool to say... you know what, I have a personal budget shortfall because I can't control my spending. Therefore I'm going to propose a .25% raise at work. Do this everytime the budget fails.
Just like modern society. We want to fix the symptoms of the problem, instead of fixing THE problem.
Wouldn't it be cool to say... you know what, I have a personal budget shortfall because I can't control my spending. Therefore I'm going to propose a .25% raise at work. Do this everytime the budget fails.
Just like modern society. We want to fix the symptoms of the problem, instead of fixing THE problem.
Mecklenburg charges 2% on most groceries but there is a list of items like soda, candy etc that is charged a higher rate.. If the food is prepared like a rotessarie chicken, then you pay the 9.25%. Anything that is sold hot is subject to this higher tax. There are special rules if you are a party selling agricultural products at a farmers market.
Mecklenburg charges 2% on most groceries but there is a list of items like soda, candy etc that is charged a higher rate.. If the food is prepared like a rotessarie chicken, then you pay the 9.25%. Anything that is sold hot is subject to this higher tax. There are special rules if you are a party selling agricultural products at a farmers market.
Thank you for sharing that info, Lumbollo. I knew there were differences in the way items are taxed but didn't know what they were!
I have always felt it is wrong to tax groceries - at least - the staples. I don't have a problem with soda and candy . . . but bread, milk, eggs, flour, salt, etc. should not be taxed in any society, even if other grocery items are taxed. I have always found it disturbing that we tax our citizens on staples.
Thank you for sharing that info, Lumbollo. I knew there were differences in the way items are taxed but didn't know what they were!
I have always felt it is wrong to tax groceries - at least - the staples. I don't have a problem with soda and candy . . . but bread, milk, eggs, flour, salt, etc. should not be taxed in any society, even if other grocery items are taxed. I have always found it disturbing that we tax our citizens on staples.
I also think taxing soda and candy is one thing, but I think it is inhumane to tax staples. Food is a necessity there is no way around it, and it already can be very expensive. There is no excuse to add the burden of tax to an already expensive grocery bill. It seems very common to tax groceries in the southern states, and a few states in other regions of the USA. Taxes are part of life. I understand and agree with many of them but not on food.
I also think taxing soda and candy is one thing, but I think it is inhumane to tax staples. Food is a necessity there is no way around it, and it already can be very expensive. There is no excuse to add the burden of tax to an already expensive grocery bill. It seems very common to tax groceries in the southern states, and a few states in other regions of the USA. Taxes are part of life. I understand and agree with many of them but not on food.
Well put. It is an especially heavy burden on those making the least money. I wish we would eliminate taxes on staples as it does not seem like a fair tax overall - and perhaps even punitive for those folks in the most fragile financial circumstances.
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