Sure it would make the US more competitive. And it would put a lot of ppl out of work that benefit from this clusterf*ck. I am not saying we shouldn't do it. But as they say follow the money. The general population isn't disgusted enough, except for Gnome , to demand change. The IRS said I was 1 day late past max extension filing my corp. taxes last year and they wanted to hit me with a $600 penalty. My CPA, who is an enrolled agent with the IRS got them to drop it.
There would be so many damn jobs created by companies coming here to set up shop (no corporate taxes), it would be like 1999 all over again.
They'd never do it. The OECD agenda is to bankrupt Western Democracies with entitlement, war, and bureaucratic largess so they can safely force Totalitarian-style Government on the West. To think otherwise, assumes that the only people bright enough to understand the coming debt bubble are Peter Schiff, Marc Faber, Jim Rogers and posters at EliteTrader. At the top, the Government employs a ton of smart people. They know what's coming.
In California I am paying 50% in taxes: 36% Federal Income Taxes (going up next year) 10.3% State Income Taxes 9% Sales Taxes 1.25% Property taxes on the total value of my home every year Highest gasoline taxes in the country etc. etc. I know that some of these taxes are deductible expenses, but I am still owned by the government. If we didn't have two happy kids in schools that they love, we would not only leave the state, we would leave the country.
I've never seen anything that would support this theory, so at least for now, I have to believe that the voting booth still works and if we put the right people in office, we can at least have a chance at positive results.
I think I am understanding The reason VAT is supported so much here is because most people here are in high income tax bracket Keep paying taxes because poor people needs it. You don't need to buy a Benz or a 6 bedroom house. Luxury is waste. Period If you don't pay these taxes, US wil turn into a 3rd world country. It is the income and property taxes collected from rich people that prevents a big gap between rich and poor in USA. I lived in a 3rd world country where there is no IRS and no income tax and no property tax and only VAT That is the worst system EVER. Also, I don't understand the frustration about tax codes. Why don't you guys use software programs to deal with this?
Things that you call "luxury" and "waste" create good jobs. I don't need to buy new cars as often I do, but what if people like me started buying cheap cars and keeping them for ten years? Thousands of people would lose their jobs building cars. I don't need to take my family out to dinner as often as we go, but if the people in our neighborhood give up this "luxury," the employees who work in the local restaurants will lose their jobs. We didn't need to add onto to our house, but when we did, we employed dozens of skilled people at top wages. We don't need to send our daughters for ballet lessons, but if everyone gives up that "luxury," the ballet school will go out of business. I don't mind paying taxes. The government needs money to provide services. But when the government takes over 50% of someone's income, it's time to move away or simply retire. I'm seriously considering both options.
What kind of logic is this? You are comparing creating jobs based on waste and luxury to feeding poor people and paying tuition for students. You are on the wrong side my friend. A little humanity please