Real redistributution in wealth.

Would a national sales tax be a better way to steal from the rich, and give to the poor?

Only if you make necessity of life goods and services exempt from taxes, or taxed at a reduced rate.

I don't understand how that would make any difference whatsoever. we already pay sales tax, but on a county level instead of a national level. how would it make a difference at all?

hungry - the thought is that ALL would be paying their fair share of taxes, no loopholes for the wealthy.

okay...but rich people DO pay their fair share of SALES TAX. it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, if you buy something in los angeles county, you pay 8.25% sales tax. that's it...no more, no less. I still don't see how a national sales tax would make a difference.

there would be NO income tax. Instead the sales tax would be substituted.
So...ALL the wealthy would pay on every purchase. No tax exemptions..
see...
currently the most wealthy receive the largest tax breaks. this way...everyone pays.
most would want an additional luxury tax, say on purchases of houses over $300,000, cars over $35,000, boats etc.

I think these days we seem to be losing our identity - we used to celebrate a person who made it to the top through honest hard work - big part of the American dream - we're getting less and less that ability to dream - you made it so you MUST have CHEATED, is the all too common cry - take it from him, take it from him !! - redistribute !!...Sad - condemned not celebrated.

I agree with amblessed to a degree. I do believe that punishing success, and rewarding laziness, is not fair. I am thinking about the struggling middle class. it just seems like we get screwed both ways. And who and the bllue fu-k voted in income tax?

Take our money from us before we even get a chance to see it? Good times. I bet if there was a national sales tax I wouldnt see as many escolades with spinning rims huh? And to answer hungarys q. Not every state has a sales tax. and a national sales tax would be an addiion to your state sales tax (I believe)

amblessed and rickd - to say that because you are wealthy, you are honest and hardworking
and because you are poor you are lazy...
that to me is sad, wrong, and judgmental.

Governments provide services to everyone. We all enjoy roads and bridges. We all benefit from police and fire departments. The government works to make our food and water safe etc. Rich people benefit from government programs as well as the poor.

When you look at all the ways we give money to the government, all taxes, fees, fines, and tariffs nearly everyone from the richest to the poorest pay about the same percentage to the government. Income tax is progressive but nearly every other way the government collects revenues is regressive so it generally evens out.

Those who call for a national sales tax or a flat tax want to remove the progressive income tax to shift more of the tax burden to the poor. Without our progressive income tax we effective would have regressive taxation.

"Those who call for a national sales tax or a flat tax want to remove the progressive income tax to shift more of the tax burden to the poor."

That's putting it simply. Many national sales tax proposals call for necessity of life exemptions and/or a system of rebates to reduce or eliminate this burden.

But a better alternative is the value-added tax, which does not place the burden of taxation solely on the consumer. Everybody involved in the transaction of goods shares the burden. The system would work for the US and would raise quite a bit of revenue.

The wealthy would be paying far less taxes with a sales tax system.

The poor and lower income families spend almost 100% of their income on consumer goods. The middle class probaly spends about 70% of their income on consumer goods, and the wealthy spend about 10%. That means the wealthy would only be paying tax on 10% of their income while the poor are paying tax on 100%.

The only fair way to do it is a progressive tax. And to those who claim hard work and such, a majority of those with wealth got there because they were born into it. And the wealthy have far greater influence and access to government than the average person, and for that reason they should pay a higher rate.

Good answers, thanks.