Obama demanding a VAT for the USA

[War on Want]

I wish Obama wanted a VAT.

[War on Want]

I wish Obama wanted a VAT.

You like regressive taxation?

No, but as long as we are going to have regressive taxation in this nation, I will support a VAT over a retail sales tax.

I don't see what the problem with regressive taxation is if the increased revenue goes towards improved services, economic investment in the poor, the improvement of infrastructure etc. Not to mention essentials could be mostly exempted from the VAT and these essentials are exempted from the VAT in many countries that use it. Anyways Canada has a low VAT tax, where the rate is similar to our sales taxes and it has been a success.

[War on Want]

I wish Obama wanted a VAT.

You like regressive taxation?

No, but as long as we are going to have regressive taxation in this nation, I will support a VAT over a retail sales tax.

We don't have a federal sales tax at this point, and I'd like to keep it that way.

There are 5 states without a sales tax, and all 5 have very small populations so that doesn't mean much. I would rather that the federal government streamline the sales tax, so it is the same in all states and turn it into a VAT, which is preferable to a sales tax if it is kept low like in Canada.

[War on Want]

I wish Obama wanted a VAT.

You like regressive taxation?

No, but as long as we are going to have regressive taxation in this nation, I will support a VAT over a retail sales tax.

We don't have a federal sales tax at this point, and I'd like to keep it that way.

There are 5 states without a sales tax, and all 5 have very small populations so that doesn't mean much. I would rather that the federal government streamline the sales tax, so it is the same in all states and turn it into a VAT, which is preferable to a sales tax if it is kept low like in Canada.

That can't be done because the feds can't force states to repeal their sales taxes. And if all states did that would cause even more issues. A VAT can't work in a country as decentralized as the US.

I know but it would be the ideal imo. Because of issues like these, I dislike federalism.

[War on Want]

I wish Obama wanted a VAT.

You like regressive taxation?

No, but as long as we are going to have regressive taxation in this nation, I will support a VAT over a retail sales tax.

We don't have a federal sales tax at this point, and I'd like to keep it that way.

There are 5 states without a sales tax, and all 5 have very small populations so that doesn't mean much. I would rather that the federal government streamline the sales tax, so it is the same in all states and turn it into a VAT, which is preferable to a sales tax if it is kept low like in Canada.

That can't be done because the feds can't force states to repeal their sales taxes. And if all states did that would cause even more issues. A VAT can't work in a country as decentralized as the US.

I know but it would be the ideal imo. Because of issues like these, I dislike federalism.

Federalism is also why California can legalize marijuana and some states can have gay marriage. Works both ways. If it wasn't for this any serious progress on any issue would be held up by the south.

I only dislike federalism when it hurts our side.

I can see the huge value in federalism for a country like the United States but I just hate the arguments that moderate heros and the right wing uses in defense of outdated, stupid parts of our government/electoral system, like the senate and electoral college that involve federalism.