Text 15251, 53 rader
Skriven 2011-03-14 20:13:10 av Lee Lofaso (1:323/120.0)
     Kommentar till en text av Robert Bashe
Ärende: Price honesty (was: Names
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Hello Bob,

>BA>People, especially people in this country, have no idea how much money
>BA>the governments are sucking out of their wallets. Sure, they SEE the
>BA>property tax bill and the incom tax bill, but nobody pays any
>BA>attention to the sales tax, for instance...

RB>Which surprises me particularly in the States, since the experience I have
RB>(Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio) is that prices in stores are stated _withou
RB>sales tax, and the tax then levied (and stated openly) at the checkout
RB>counter.

Unlike as in Europe, or as in any country in Europe, the USA does not
have a national sales tax (or value added tax).  That is one of the
reasons why taxes are not included in the sales price of an item that
is on display.  And that is as things should be over here, as tax rates
differ from state to state, county to county, and municipality to
municipality.

RB>Something listed, for example, at $1.99 may cost you $2.06 to actually buy.
RB>This is something that has irritated me since I was a little boy, since I
RB>consider listing prices without tax deceptive selling - and is also the reas
RB>the USA still has to continue making pennies. If sales taxes were included i
RB>the price _by law_, there would be no uncertainty, no irritation and mostly
RB>need for pennies in small change.

There is nothing deceptive about it.  The tax is added at the cash
register.  You then pay for the item, and given a receipt.  All the
items are listed on the receipt, and taxes are also listed.  In some
cases, separately.

RB>Here in Germany, there is a 19% VAT (essentially a sales tax) on nearly
RB>everything except basic foods (where it's 7%).

Now that is deceptive, and far more menacing to the poor than a sales
tax.  A vat is much different than a sales tax, and generates a heck of
a lot more revenue for the state - at the expense of the poor.  With
a vat, what folks wind up doing is paying taxes on taxes on taxes.

[..]

RB>Frankly, I prefer the German system, even though some could argue that it
RB>"hides" the tax (if you don't look at the cash register slip).

There is a reason why politicians love hidden taxes.  Keeps folks
ignorant about what those politicians do.  Remember the golden rule
of politicians - to get elected/re-elected.

--Lee

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