Well we do know that sales taxes are regressive. ..so when you and others say certain segments of society pay no taxes...you are incorrect.
The better off pay the majority of their taxes via progressive tax...the federal income tax and the less fortunate pay taxes via regressive taxes.
It is misleading to say the less fortunate pay no taxes.
Our system is set up to tax both segments. ..albeit differently.
Originally Posted by WTF
The Federal Government tried to rectify some of this a few decades ago by introducing the “luxury tax”, the idea being upper income people by more expensive things gs, so it would be easier to just declare what those things were and charge accordingly.
It went over like a lead balloon.
I agree that items such as sales tax, toll road fees, property tax, etc do hurt poor people more than those well off. If I go to Kroger and by $200 worth of groceries, the tax I pay is such a small part of my income that I hardly notice.
But to a poor family, that tax represents a much greater percentage of income.
I today’s modern computerized world, if the Government wanted, they could impose a graduated tax on purchases. The problem is identifying those that are standing in line at Kroger as being “wealthy”.
A chip in ones arm would be the Governments solution. The checkout scanner would identify this chip and adjust the tax rate accordingly on each purchase.
Now, that sounds like something straight out of 1984. But don’t think the Government wouldn’t do it if they thought they could.
My question is how many of all of the followers of AOC, Bernie Sanders and their Ilk would think this is a great idea? It wasn’t but a few years ago when the thought that 51% of Americans believed Socialism was a good thing would be unheard of.