VAT Coming to U.S.?

I have a lifetime supply hidden away. I stocked up back when homeland security told us to buy duct tape and plastic sheeting.

It gets magnified when you realize what a lot of those thieves consider wealthy. A couple of professionals, say a cop and a schoolteacher, a nice comfortable house and a couple of kids and they get tagged as wealthy.

I think if they instituted a VAT in the US right now, whatever happens in SL would be the *least* of our worries! Adding a draconian tax like that to our existing economic problems would financially ruin this country!

No, they would just get added to the public assistance rolls, funded by the new taxes, and creating more people who will keep voting for those that are keeping them in the poor house, "out of gratitude".

"See, you need us to survive. You can't make it on your own, poor dears".

Mmmmmm... We haven't had a jolly good tea party in... what, 236 years?

From that same article:

As for liberals, the article says:

You might also check this comment from the Republican National Conservative Caucus: http://www.repconcaucus.com/posts/2009/05/27/vat_option

What's all the fuss about? Really. This thread is turning into a "them vs. us" struggle, and fighting over whose political viewpoint is the better will never end well. As the saying goes, never discuss politics or religion [at least in public].

VAT will never happen in the US. It's implementation is way to complex and the tax code will never, ever be overturned. If it does, I'll eat a roll of duct tape.

As much as I would enjoy wringing some cash out of a few fat cats, there is a basic problem with this premise. First, when you institute a tax of this magnitude, the only people who can really afford to dodge it are the wealthy. When you focus such a tax on the wealthy, they will do one of two things: Simply leave, taking all the jobs they generate with them; or they simply pass the expense on down to the consumers. One way or another, the fat cats would just find away to avoid it and deflect it to those less able to handle it.

I seem to recall we've already experimented with Robin Hood -style taxation. The end result was hundreds of US-based companies outsourcing their parts and labor overseas, costing Americans hundreds of thousands of jobs over time.

Including those of us who don't WANT the government involved in our health care. I pay for my own, I want to continue to do so.

It also takes away the prospects of the rest of us becoming wealthy as well. There is nothing wrong with becoming rich and successful through hard honest work. And if you achieve that, it should not be taken away from you by force to be wasted by people who are totly irresponsible with it.

You are 100% right. But that is the MO in Washington. Get us fighting amongst ourselves while they go on with their merry pranks. But I'll put aside a roll of duct tape for you, just in case.

I happen to agree, at least with the premise and principle of a consumption tax. Instead of taxing people based on how much they're able to make for themselves, an across-the-board flat sales tax would not only simplify the tax code, save the government millions in the resources currently being wasted on enforcing our existing tax code, it would also more fairly distribute the tax burden among the population. Groceries and services necessary for basic survival would be exempt.

Please read the article more carefully. It says no such thing. What it says is:

As it happens, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel served in the ethics section of Clinton's Health Task Force. Whether he's a registered Democrat is besides the point, as he's not a politician in the way his brother is. Nor does his support for the VAT constitute evidence that it's a liberal thing - certainly not to the extent of my previous link to the Republican National Conservative Caucus.

the shape things are right ow they are going to be throwing all kinds fo ideas in the hat..

they have tried to get a state tax passed in Tennessee more than once and people gather in droves to let them know..you vote for this you won't be back..
it's about all it takes and then it fails again

Almost spews wine on monitor.

When the 10% GST was introduced in Australia several years ago, all prices increased immediately by at least 20%.

10% was supposed to be imposed at the checkout but it seems everyone from manufacture, down the line to delivery, added 10% to their pockets.

And yeah, it's great! The confusion still reigns.
The gov got a huge benefit from the tax.. VERY HUGE! Much much more than they expected.

Totally agree.

My quote was in response to this:



I agree with the above poster that the middle class is being redefined, if not almost obliterated, rapidly. And it is the middle class who primarily bears the burden of tax & spend programs.

I was disagreeing that a VAT would *only* hurt the wealthy. When I said "lower incomes" I was thinking more of middle class as opposed to wealthy, not poverty level, so agree with your post.

Of course...if things continue as they are...the current middle class may be in the poverty level soon.

Yep! That's the "Fair Tax Bill" (or one of the names for it). I would love to see this enacted.

sif
those americans died off hundreds of years ago. todays american would grudgingly comply. all the gov would need to do is either threaten their credit ratings or perhaps print cheesy bumper stickers equating taxation with patriotism and the americans would positively lap it up.

They won't even need that. They'll just do it because the Teleprompter in Chief, along with the media lackeys tell them to.

THIS



And BTW- did anyone see the article about our "President For Change" wanting to do away with gays in the military?

*feigning shock* But I thought he was the "president" for EVERYONE'S rights???


FYI: I dont care if you're gay & in the military- if I'm being shot at & need back up, I dont think your preferences will matter.

Sadly, the once "Proud" USA has become a nation of sheep, following whatever crap lies & stories gets put before us.

I would not be so sure about that. Americans are already nearing breaking point where the economy and taxes are concerned, nearing the point of revolt.

The State of California recently held a special election. On the ballot were six initiatives - all of which were directly aimed at trying to fix California's massive budget deficit. Five of the six, seeking to fix the budget by fund reallocation, tax increases, tax extensions, and the like, all failed miserably, barely garnering 25% approval. The sixth initiative, aimed at holding legislature pay during budget crises passed with a resounding near-80% approval. In the weeks leading up to the election, California's governor warned that if these measures did not pass, than he'd be forced to make deep, heavy cuts in spending on programs to include public health, education, and safety. The voters were not swayed by these threats. They have clearly had enough with the budget mess.

they'll just call it a corp bailout and make us take it like the last one..we're past the lapping it up stage ..it's the yes we are taxing you stage now..
choice is over..it's all decided in congressional meetings now..and on tv to top it off lol

25% wouldn't even come close to fixing anything anyways..

Basically the citizens of California used one of Arnold's most famous lines against him.
More of this needs to be done. These crooks have had an open checkbook all these years and they can't make do.They have to be told the bank is closed and they have to start doing their jobs with what they have.