Our Confusing Sales Tax

[Beenhere4ever]

The Right has complained about the income tax since I got here in the 1960's. One product of that was the imposition of the original sales tax in the 1960's. Since then it has just crept up and crept up. No one ever says "it will drive off the job creators", at least not until Mark Dayton proposed extending it to professional services. Finally the upper crust saw themselves in the crosshairs and weren't going to take it passively like the poor always have. Who would really cry if all sales taxes were repealed and all the money collected by a progresive income tax?

[Globe199]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Who would really cry if all sales taxes were repealed and all the money collected by a progresive income tax?

The same people who cried bloody murder over the B2B tax proposal. That is, the almighty, uber-holy Chamber of Commerce. Somehow a non-human entity gets a vote. I haven't figured out yet how that works.

[Beenhere4ever]

Went to another co-op today, bought the same exact bar as I bought in Minneapolis. And it was taxed. First case of consistency. Both co-ops had the same code, evidently for this brand of food bar. Beyond that, things are just unpredictable. I have to ASSUME certain foods are taxable and select where I buy them based on the tax laid upon all taxable items in that city. In other words, it is all trial and error. I do think Minnesota's ridiculous system does encourage inconsistency and human error. I can see cany and sugary pop. But beyond that, food should not be taxed at all. It is aimed straight at the poorest consumers. Property tax relief which goes predominantly to people who can afford houses should not be financed by taxing necessities bought by people who can't afford houses.