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National Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look; Rahm Emanuel's brother advises 10% VAT...
Washington Post ^ | 5/27/2009 | Lori Montgomery

Posted on 05/27/2009 5:38:44 AM PDT by GreaterSwiss

With budget deficits soaring and President Obama pushing a trillion-dollar-plus expansion of health coverage, some Washington policymakers are taking a fresh look at a money-making idea long considered politically taboo: a national sales tax.

Common around the world, including in Europe, such a tax -- called a value-added tax, or VAT -- has not been seriously considered in the United States. But advocates say few other options can generate the kind of money the nation will need to avert fiscal calamity.

At a White House conference earlier this year on the government's budget problems, a roomful of tax experts pleaded with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner to consider a VAT. A recent flurry of books and papers on the subject is attracting genuine, if furtive, interest in Congress. And last month, after wrestling with the White House over the massive deficits projected under Obama's policies, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee declared that a VAT should be part of the debate.

"There is a growing awareness of the need for fundamental tax reform," Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said in an interview. "I think a VAT and a high-end income tax have got to be on the table."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: added; bigteapartyjuly4; donttreadonme; fairtax; lping; nationalsalestax; obama; rahm; salestax; tax; taxes; taxincreases; teapartytime; time2partyagain; value; vat
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1 posted on 05/27/2009 5:38:44 AM PDT by GreaterSwiss
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To: demoskowitz

Is it over yet? Make it stop!


2 posted on 05/27/2009 5:40:11 AM PDT by TheRake
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To: demoskowitz

“I think a VAT and a high-end income tax have got to be on the table.”

What’s the plan when the rich decide to pull up stakes and leave this country?


3 posted on 05/27/2009 5:40:21 AM PDT by Slapshot68
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To: Slapshot68
What’s the plan when the rich decide to pull up stakes and leave this country?

Well, you see, THAT'S when the government will build "the wall".

4 posted on 05/27/2009 5:41:24 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (We are a ruled people, serfs to the Federal Oligarchy -- and the Tree of Liberty thirsts)
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To: demoskowitz

I figure, directly and indirectly, with all hidden taxes passed on to me, I am in the 60% bracket. So, of the money I have left, they want another 10%?

We need a revolt.


5 posted on 05/27/2009 5:41:32 AM PDT by Leisler ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged."~G.K. Chesterton)
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To: demoskowitz

So now we’re getting a national sales tax AND keeping the income tax, too? Incredible.


6 posted on 05/27/2009 5:41:51 AM PDT by livius
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To: demoskowitz

“I think a VAT and a high-end income tax have got to be on the table.”

no mention of cutting spending?


7 posted on 05/27/2009 5:42:28 AM PDT by bill1952 (Power is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: demoskowitz

Sure! That’s what Americans are clamoring for, more taxes! Let’s be more like those ultra sophisticated Europeans!


8 posted on 05/27/2009 5:42:42 AM PDT by Obadiah (Obama: Chains you can believe in!)
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To: demoskowitz

Guess what? There is no better way to put a freeze on consumer spending than a value added tax. Dumb idiots.


9 posted on 05/27/2009 5:42:53 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys--Reagan and Bush)
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To: demoskowitz

The leftists need to coordinate better. They are still reciting the “95% of taxpayers will get a tax cut” talking points.


10 posted on 05/27/2009 5:44:44 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Obama's multi- trillion dollar agenda would be a "man caused disaster")
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To: Leisler
We need a revolt.

The ultimate revolt would be to stop filing income tax returns. Stop sending the pukes more of OUR money.

What are they gonna do, send us all to the Gulag?

11 posted on 05/27/2009 5:45:33 AM PDT by unixfox (The 13th Amendment Abolished Slavery, The 16th Amendment Reinstated It !)
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To: demoskowitz
That idea ain't going to fly even with a Democratic controlled Congress! You don't want all attract even MORE people to anti-tax groups.

This is all the more reason why FairTax is such a great idea.

12 posted on 05/27/2009 5:45:40 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: demoskowitz

Don’t ever confuse how they tax us with how much they tax us.


13 posted on 05/27/2009 5:45:43 AM PDT by umgud (Look to gov't to solve your everday problems and they'll control your everday life.)
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To: demoskowitz

This will be on top of the income tax if it’s being put forward by the commie rats.


14 posted on 05/27/2009 5:45:48 AM PDT by pgkdan ( I miss Ronald Reagan!)
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To: demoskowitz

Oh great! A national sales tax ON TOP of the federal income tax!

“The Road To Serfdom.”


15 posted on 05/27/2009 5:45:57 AM PDT by Travis McGee (--www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Leisler
We need a revolt.

It happened already but in the wrong direction.

16 posted on 05/27/2009 5:46:52 AM PDT by Dahoser (The missus and I joined the NRA. Who says Obama can't inspire conservatives?)
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To: ClearCase_guy

No, the rich and the government team up to make the people slaves, which is what we have now. Why do you think the classic party of the rich, the investors class, the Republicans don’t fight?

You think people who are worth 10, 100, a billion dollars are going to take on Uncle Sugar and lose it all ....FOR YOU?

Come on. Get real.

All the rich want is a heads up so that they can dump their assets being destroyed in value, before the public knows it, and buy the new assets before the government drives like cattle customers to it. Like GE with its support of Cap and Trade. GE wants to be first, then after making the investment, push Cap and Trade on its TV stations and support politicians to make its investment come true.


17 posted on 05/27/2009 5:47:19 AM PDT by Leisler ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged."~G.K. Chesterton)
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To: yldstrk

Drop the income tax, cut spending, and put a national sales tax of 10%, and thats IT for taxes, I am all for it. Add it to the already levied taxes and fees we currently pay, and I think it may be the catylist to a revolt. Too many of the rich will leave, and I don’t blame them. Soyent green should be re released in theaters nationwide........


18 posted on 05/27/2009 5:47:43 AM PDT by wombtotomb
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To: demoskowitz

these tax and spend demoncRATS are like Wiley E Coyote falling off the cliff hitting bigger and bigger things on the way down only to go splat on the black top and then hit by a truck with their never ending desire to add new tax upon new tax on Americans. When will the brain dead American people who vote for these loons wake up and end the madness by voting these idiots out of office?


19 posted on 05/27/2009 5:47:51 AM PDT by MAD-AS-HELL (Hope and Change. Rhetoric embraced by the Insane - Obama, The Chump in Charge)
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To: wombtotomb

*catalyst


20 posted on 05/27/2009 5:48:34 AM PDT by wombtotomb
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