You were the one who complained that the cost to you of the tax was too much; I was agreeing with you, but apparently that was just an argument to justify not paying your taxes? If you can justify not paying taxes because they are just too hard, but you object to making it easier, then what, do you just expect Bill Gates to pay all the taxes so you could have a military to defend your freedom?
Yes, I am PRO-TAXES. I believe that we need a government, and I believe that we should actually pay for the government, and not just borrow the money and make our kids pay for it. I also think government for the most part is way too big, so our taxes should be lower, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't pay taxes.
I also believe that the sales tax is a good method for collecting some of the taxes we need to pay for the government we need; income tax is also a good tax for collecting a part of that money.
Unless you think we'd be OK without police, without a court system, without a structure to enforce the rights you have to your own property, without a military, without the ability to enter into treaties with other countries, you have to accept that there WILL be taxes. And if we are going to pay taxes, I want it to be as easy as possible. The pain is not in the PROCESS of paying taxes, it is in the dollars you see leaving your pocket.
With the sales tax, you see the money go away every time you buy something. That's not hidden, like the gasoline tax where they won't even display the taxes you paid when you filled up.
I appreciate this discussion, we agree on more than we disagree, and mostly a matter of emphasis.
Putting on my thinking cap (tm), it appears most revolutions, large and small, violent and non violent have begun over an issue of taxes. There may be other related issues, but the focal point has been taxes.
The Boston tea party didn’t start with the tea in the water. It was an isolated incident with a lot of incidents prior to it and after it that we don’t think about.
There were many other taxes and regulations the colonists accepted, but for some reason the tea tax stuck in their craw, maybe because they drank tea every day and maybe the way the tax was assessed but it was in their face. My history memory of this is that (I am willing to be corrected) people avoided the tax (they were dishonest) and refused to pay it. They started drinking coffee as their personal rebellion? Coffee did not come on British ship but maybe other ships so couldn’t be regulated. As the tax revenue dropped the British became more forceful in their collection of taxes, stopping other ships with coffee from trading. Making examples of those that did not pay the tax by destroying their business. They probably had posters/propaganda such as “This establishment supports the King, drink more tea.”
My point being that the people are not accepting this use tax as evidenced by comments in this thread. Revolution starts with not paying the tax. It may be a lawful tax (they all are).
Revolutions start with not paying taxes (intentional repetition). This use tax may be the straw for a lot of people. It may be the moment of history remembered for the revolution? It may depend on how burdensome the tax collection is.
My own prediction of this and I have posted before: The federal government is now receiving all your bank information and credit card information (obamas health care bill). This information will be shared with the states. A computer will sort through all this information and you will receive a bill itemizing all your out of state purchases with penalties and interest added on. A note will be attached stating if you don’t pay, a lien will be put on your property. If you don’t have anything, you will ignore it, if your do have something it will be taken away from you for the common good.
Not paying this tax is the only personal rebellion for many. It is not an issue of honesty and fairness as you project but it is an issue of liberty and freedom which trumps the other issues in my opinion.