Thread: All things being equal would you vote for a VAT?

Originally Posted by singlewedge

The question is one of how to pay for everything that we as a country like to buy and spend for. Increase the taxes on those making over $250,000 a year (sorry if there is anyone here in that catagory), decrease them for those making less and add a VAT to everything except food.

here in the UK vat works fine. its useful to add though that we don't vat everything and food isn't the only exception. books, and baby clothes are another couple i can think of. also, for those saying it's unfair, there is a system in place so that people like farmers can claim their VAT back. and quite honestly, retailers will after a while just drop their prices a bit so you can still have the $1.99 headline despite the vat.

Ciao,
MisterDavid


EDIT: also, it's quite amusing how many people go on about less and less tax...tax is very necessary, and I'm happy for everyone to pay it. there is no legitimate argument for the government using tax as a way of population control (i.e. have more/less kids) there was an argument her in the UK for a while as to whether things that are bad for you should be taxed more etc....NO. tax is a way of generating income so that government and society can effectively function. that means yes we should pay tax so that we can have public transport, art museums, roads and power when we flick the switch, to name but a few, but poorer people should definitely pay less, otherwise they are not being allowed to effectively function. strike a balance. however, no-one should ever pay more than 45% tax.

Originally Posted by MisterDavid

that means yes we should pay tax so that we can have public transport, art museums, roads and power when we flick the switch, to name but a few, but poorer people should definitely pay less, otherwise they are not being allowed to effectively function. strike a balance. however, no-one should ever pay more than 45% tax.

If poorer people make enough money to function after they pay their taxes that argument would be void. may be the lower taxes that they pay are partially responsible with them being happy with lower salaries?
The past few weekends i went to a lot of great museums, only one was paid by my taxes. since that prevents them from charging money for entrance they still have booths where you get your ticket and are asked to give a donation in exchange for it. You don't have to do it, but I didn't see anybody who didn't. The suggested donations were also more expensive than at the other museums which do not get government support.
There are many ways to get effectively the same result and the pro- or against- arguments often make no sense to me.