I’ll play the devils advocate here. In some sense, if you don’t pay the tax, aren’t you really cheating? It’s like downloading music online - chances are you won’t get caught, but that doesn’t change the nature of what you are doing.
From a purely practical point of view however, unless the sales tax is deducted at the point of sale, it’s not likely to be collected.
Legally, perhaps, but morally, no. Are they trying to say that there are no limits to the authority a California government can maintain over its citizens, regardless of where they do their shopping? I can't help but compare this to Dred Scott; it's a loose comparison, but an apt one, I think. Where do the limits of a state's authority begin and end?
When out-of-staters come to California and buy things retail, they really shouldn't have to pay sales tax, correct? It's based on where one lives, not where one buys things?
So where is the big effort by California to make sure these people get their tax refunded? Where is the "morality" in the state keeping revenue it doesn't deserve? It all evens out in the end.
Blood-sucking tyrants have always abused people's sense of fair play and "morality" to separate them from their money. When that doesn't work they send in men with guns and clubs.
Great question!
Let me play your game “D.A.”. Do you ever drive faster than the posted speed limit? Do you close the cover on a pack of matches before striking match?
Smiles to you!