My statements are in regard to proposed measures. None of which could viably be used as examples yet.
My “coke tax” statement was simply an illustration of consumer-based taxes.
Just call the supplier a “consumer” and the general populace is then simply paying for the initial costs plus tax. (and those pesky resale scammers foot the bill regardless)
Well, it’s true that the resaler is the one who foots the tax. However, since virtually everything in the US is resold (that is, it’s not the manufacturer who sells it directly), resellers have a lot of clout, and the first producer to lower his prices to reflect his changed tax status will be besieged by resellers.
I have been dealing with a foreign business where the producers sell the item themselves and therefore give very minimal discounts to resellers. But anybody in the US who has to compete for resalers is going to realize that he has to give his price some serious consideration, since he will no longer be liable for many taxes that were automatic before and his buyers will know this.
My other complaint about our current system is the massive insecurity it generates (I never know what my taxes will be until the end of the year or actually, until my accountant has done them) and the fact that a large percentage of any tax we pay now under our current system goes to enforcement.