Well, maybe. But their hope is that through the VAT they can avoid all that. The tax is invisible to the consumer.
Yes, but even the dumbest neandertal out there will notice prices jumping up drastically, while their paychecks stay the same—I remember inflation from years ago, and while the majority of Americans apparently have a very short memory about it, they WILL wake up when they find a loaf of bread costing $5 and a gallon of milk costing $10!
I’m telling you, there will be riots. I may start buying stock in sign making materials because there’s going to be a run on Home Depot and Lowe’s to make “IMPEACH OBAMA NOW!” signs for those riots! ;-)