I oppose the NRST in any form because as soon as you make one (1) product untaxable.. for any reason, no matter how humane or well intentioned the floodgates are opened to apply higher tax rates to "unpopular" products as well.
In Australia the tampon lobby (yes, "Big Tampon" believe it or not) comprised mainly of feminist nutcases, says it's unfair to tax women’s hygiene products, because it's a tax burden that only women alone have to bear.. Their answer? Don't tax tampons..
And as soon as you do that, then you just get open the door to fool with other items, like ammunition, firearms, tobacco, suv's and everything else imaginable.
It would be possible to tax an "unpopular" product out of sight and would become an engine for social engineering.
That's why I prefer the flat tax. It's fair, it doesn't punish success and everyone understands it. If you change the rate, you punish both the rich and the poor equally. No more divide and conquer.
regards..
I agree 100%, Jhoffa, that exempting any item(s) would lead to a massive lobbying industry, akin to the one we already have. Plus it would create another class of "favor" that pols could hand out.
Here's the deal...the national sales tax does not exempt a single item. Indeed it is written to prevent that from happening- for the very reason you state.
There is no exempting of ANYTHING. Does this cause you to reevaluate your position, or do you oppose it for other reasons?