>I'll try again. What percentage of what you make do you think the government has a right to take?
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>You mean including Property taxes, Federal Income Tax, State Income tax, City Income Tax, Sales Tax, Captial Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax? What does it matter what I think? I reckon that the governent, gets around 40% of what you and I make when you take all the forms of taxation into account. That is already too much without adding even more new taxes.
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>Personally, I think it would be much more fair to have a sales tax of 17 and 1/2 percent like they do in England and lower all the other taxes. At least, that way, people who want to buy big ticket items and who can affort them, get to pay the taxes. BTW, there is no VAT in England on food (as long as you do not eat in a restaurant), books and childrens' clothing.

Fair? Sales tax is the ultimate regressive tax, i.e. falls disproportionately on those with lower incomes. Those who are poor or just-barely-getting-by middle classers aren't socking their money into investments or 401Ks. They are paying bills and buying things.