Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. National Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look

[jeffrey]

With budget deficits soaring and President Obama pushing a trillion-dollar-plus expansion of health coverage, some Washington policymakers are taking a fresh look at a money-making idea long considered politically taboo: a national sales tax.

Common around the world, including in Europe, such a tax -- called a value-added tax, or VAT -- has not been seriously considered in the United States. But advocates say few other options can generate the kind of money the nation will need to avert fiscal calamity...

washingtonpost.com

[poundwise]

And so it begins.

"I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." - Barack Obama

Between the lines: That's right. We won't increase any of your current taxes. We'll just introduce new kinds of taxes.

(To be fair, he didn't say, "Read my lips.")

[simpleyme]

obama increased the cigarette tax that affects my employer,which in turn affects me i do not make 250 , nor does my employer I might add

I watched the huckabee show the other day he had the singer Dion (SP?)on his show Dion said"my dad would have loved obama ,my dad did not like to work " made me laugh

hey if you do not laugh you might cry ;-)

[Inkstain82]

Few options that don't include repealing the massive tax breaks the rich have gotten in recent years.

[tripods68]

We are now a SOCIALIST COUNTRY.

[RedThunderBird]

Originally Posted by poundwise

And so it begins.

"I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." - Barack Obama

Between the lines: That's right. We won't increase any of your current taxes. We'll just introduce new kinds of taxes.

(To be fair, he didn't say, "Read my lips.")
He should have just be truly fair , sometimes I wonder if he means well , and does know any better or is this simply politics as usual ===== I did not vote for him , but I pray for his success ==== I live , and love this county I do not want this country to stagnate

He should have just be truly fair , sometimes I wonder if he means well , and does know any better or is this simply politics as usual ===== I did not vote for him , but I pray for his success ==== I live , and love this county I do not want this country to stagnate

[RedThunderBird]

but is time to start looking at a different way of taxing

[Inkstain82]

Originally Posted by tripods68

We are now a SOCIALIST COUNTRY.

National sales taxes are a strongly right-wing idea in most parts. Although not universal, most leftists feel they are regressive.

[RedThunderBird]

and as a die hard republican start looking for 2012 as an opportunity for a republican president ===== no offense for my democrat posters

[Inkstain82]

Also, congratulations to everyone complaining about Obama in this thread for proving that they did not actually read the article.

Some are pushing for a national sales tax. The White House is reluctant at best:

"A White House official said a VAT is "unlikely to be in the mix" as a means to pay for health-care reform. "While we do not want to rule any credible idea in or out as we discuss the way forward with Congress, the VAT tax, in particular, is popular with academics but highly controversial with policymakers," said Kenneth Baer, a spokesman for White House Budget Director Peter Orszag."

[disneysteve]

Personally, I don't see what the big deal is. Except for a handful of states, there is already a sales tax. Some individual cities have an additional tax on top of their state tax. To the customer, it doesn't matter where the money is going. What's the difference if I pay 7% to the state or the fed?

In some ways, a sales tax is better than other taxes because those who consume less, pay less, so it encourages people to shop less and spend less. It can also encourage people to buy more stuff secondhand to avoid paying the tax.

[RedThunderBird]

economies are ruled by paradigms , without any political influences ==== and it should be the role of the government not to interfere ==== it took over 20 years to resolve the problem of the crash of 1929 , and the solutions became more a problem , that any thing else --- there were some good ideas === but over all the problems created are facing us straight on ---- the left tends to criticize the right , by calling them extreme right ==== I guess they have ran of excuses === but Adam Smith was right over two hundred years ago ----

[simpleyme]

I am trying to keep from watching any more news it really depresses me ,honestly it makes me fearful I physically feel ill

part of my problem is our governor kulongoski ,we call him taxme teddy

[RedThunderBird]

just look at the ex Soviet Union , and the countries under their influence or control ===== the economy program they planned never work , because they controlled demand and the products to be offered ===== and the so called left wants to bring the new socialism of the 21 century ---- crazy !

[RedThunderBird]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

obama increased the cigarette tax that affects my employer,which in turn affects me i do not make 250 , nor does my employer I might add

I watched the huckabee show the other day he had the singer Dion (SP?)on his show Dion said"my dad would have loved obama ,my dad did not like to work " made me laugh

hey if you do not laugh you might cry ;-)

hey you know I watched too , by accident but I was glad ----- and that bit about his father not working was hilarious

[RedThunderBird]

has not been seriously considered , that what I do not understand about Obama ---- just simply say ----- it is not going to happen , and that is

[RedThunderBird]

had not business in buying G.M with my tax dollars ----- no one was interested in buying it the way it was ---- but let us hope for the best

[RedThunderBird]

is our Country

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Personally, I don't see what the big deal is. Except for a handful of states, there is already a sales tax. Some individual cities have an additional tax on top of their state tax. To the customer, it doesn't matter where the money is going. What's the difference if I pay 7% to the state or the fed?

In some ways, a sales tax is better than other taxes because those who consume less, pay less, so it encourages people to shop less and spend less. It can also encourage people to buy more stuff secondhand to avoid paying the tax.

I have always wanted a mandatory" voluntary" tax for people who say this!
at the end of the year they estimate what the normal person earning ypour income spends and apply the tax
that gives the money the country needs leaving me alone to feed my kids without state help win -win


one year our state over collected taxes and the powers that be did not want to retun the money as it would not do anyone any good it was "not going to buy you a car,just enough to replace a muffle" funny they used that example as 2 days earlier my Dh had told me the muffler was shot ohn his work truck and we had to replace it
I hate politicians trying to steal my muffler ;-) and they do not live the way every one else does and do not realize we need our own money for things ,like mufflers!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

I have always wanted a mandatory" voluntary" tax for people who say this!
at the end of the year they estimate what the normal person earning ypour income spends and apply the tax
that gives the money the country needs leaving me alone to feed my kids without state help win -win

I'm just saying that I'd rather have a higher sales tax than, for example, a higher income tax. My income is what it is. But sales tax I can control to a certain extent by being frugal and not buying a bunch of stuff I don't really need or finding a way to buy things that doesn't involve the sales tax. A sales tax has a greater impact on people who spend more, thus encouraging people to save, something we should be encouraging in this country.