The problem with taxation.
Toll
Tariff
Taxation
Are all the same. It’s declaring that others owe just for the luxury of having access to that which they are being charged a fee to use.
The question of , can we tax or should we tax are long past and now it’s only a question of what and how to tax next.
If we can’t escape the slavery of taxation, it should be tied to the economy in a way that provides instant feed back to the legislators regarding their affect on the economy. The tax should be a fixed rate and only on sales of new , non-essential goods and materials. Every level from the city to the fed should be limited to collect for sales that cross their borders, much like a tariff. That way, their tax schemes will directly reflect the effect they have with in their local economy.
There should be no taxation on transaction within the jurisdictional borders of a city, county, state or Federal Gov. Cities only tax transaction that cross their city limits. The county, state and US Gov would do the same. This would limit Government to only collect taxes on import/export transactions and not US citizens.
Anyway, that’s my opinion.
Two biggest reasons why states lost sovereignty to Federal government is the popular election of senators & the income tax, which makes us citizens-taxpayers of the USA. Before that, the Federal gov’t was financed only by tariffs, duties and excise taxes. The Federal government properly should tax the STATES, not the citizens of those states—and that would give states leverage instead of the divide and conquer income tax effects. Excep t for inheriting or finding money, most taxes are a tax on an EVEN TRADE. people trade work for money or they trade money for work or they trade money for goods or services or vice-verse, where it’s an even trade where both sides profit by the trade but nobody makes money . Property tax is one tax that is completely one sided and is not on an even trade. I profit by owning a home & people profit by selling a home —ie, an even trade, ...but property tax is not a tax on the trade, it’s a tax on the value of the property if you sold it..which is a private matter and is none of the business of the government. But the homeowner is already making payments on the home, with interest...and utilities and maintainence & upkeep costs, and furnishings and appliances....which all rise with inflation. Property tax is probably the worst tax of all. And they all are bad. But when Bill Gates kids benefit from being his kids all their lives, then get to inherit all his billions as tax-free income without having to make an even trade or give up something of value in exchange.....that’s bit unfair considering when people trade work for money they pay income and payroll tax and property tax......and their employer pays income and payroll tax on the same work! We tax WORK a lot in this country, but not so much trading stock or a vulture capitalist business or inheriting money they did not trade work for.