Obama suggests value-added tax may be an option

[Admiral Yi]

Fucking Tamastard.

[Palisadoes]

You don't have VAT in the USA? Hmm... I thought everyone had it. Probably why things are relatively cheaper out there?

[Grey Fox]

We don't have a VAT in Canada either. We have Sale taxes but they aren't VATs.

[Admiral Yi]

You don't have VAT in the USA? Hmm... I thought everyone had it. Probably why things are relatively cheaper out there?

One of the reasons.

[Tamas]

Okay, so you have a single example of a noticable welfare cut. But we are not talking about the USA here, at least not exclusively. My sweeping point is raising alarm over the europification of the States. That is far from being a clearly good thing.

[Fate]

You don't have VAT in the USA? Hmm... I thought everyone had it. Probably why things are relatively cheaper out there?

There are sales taxes. Like Texas doesn't have a state income tax, so it has sky high property taxes and 8.25% sales tax because it tricks Conservatives into thinking they have low taxes. DERP HERP INCOME TAX EVIL DERP.

[Zanza]

Okay, so you have a single example of a noticable welfare cut. But we are not talking about the USA here, at least not exclusively. My sweeping point is raising alarm over the europification of the States. That is far from being a clearly good thing.

Germany had drastic welfare cuts in the last decade too. So it is possible in Europe as well.

[grumbler]

Okay, so you have a single example of a noticable welfare cut. But we are not talking about the USA here, at least not exclusively. My sweeping point is raising alarm over the europification of the States. That is far from being a clearly good thing.

"Europification" () of the US is neither good nor bad.  It is good when European solutions to US problems work better than alternatives, and bad when they work worse than alternatives.  Sweeping hansifications almost never make the hansificator sound smart, though.

If you are truly worried about the US, wake me up when Americans start tackling other Americans just because they are carrying guns.

[Grallon]

There are talks here to switch to a VAT system which, according to many economists, is much simpler to operate and more fair for the populus...  It does seem that taxing consumption is indeed fairer since you have a choice to consume or not whereas taxing income leaves one with no choices.  But I'm no economist so I can't really comment further.




G.

[Zanza]

There are talks here to switch to a VAT system which, according to many economists, is much simpler to operate and more fair for the populus...  It does seem that taxing consumption is indeed fairer since you have a choice to consume or not whereas taxing income leaves one with no choices.  But I'm no economist so I can't really comment further.

You don't really have a choice but to consume stuff either, do you? It's not like you can live without food, shelter, energy, clothes etc. all of which can be taxed with a VAT. All your income is worthless if you don't consume some of it eventually.

[Brazen]

a new value-added tax on Americans

Surely that depends if I eat Americans in or take away?

[Tamas]

We have both income tax from around 16% upwards, and 20%-25% VAT

[Razgovory]

You don't have VAT in the USA? Hmm... I thought everyone had it. Probably why things are relatively cheaper out there?

We do.  In Michigan.  That leader in fiscal practices.

[Grallon]

You don't really have a choice but to consume stuff either, do you? It's not like you can live without food, shelter, energy, clothes etc. all of which can be taxed with a VAT. All your income is worthless if you don't consume some of it eventually.

You do have a choice when it comes to buying your 3rd car, your 5th blue ray player and all that excessive crap though.  Presumably the essentials are less taxed than the luxury items? 

Either way it cost money to operate a government and that money has to come from somewhere.  So it's either income or VAT or a mix.

Abolishing the govt isn't an option for anyone but the nutcases who'd rather live in chaos than pay their due to society.




G.

[Barrister]

We don't have a VAT in Canada either. We have Sale taxes but they aren't VATs.

GST is a VAT.