> This mention of a consumption based tax is relevant to sustainable
> agriculture if it means a tax on the consumption of nonrenewable resources
> at the point of that initial consumption. This is the direction all taxes
> should go, in the opinion of a significant number of ecological economists.
>
> If what you mean is exchanging a progressive income tax for a regressive
> sales tax, then it's a reactionary idea.
>
> Hal
>
> Hal Hamilton
> Center for Sustainable Systems
> 433 Chestnut St., Berea KY 40403 USA
> Phone: (606) 986-5336; Fax: (606) 986-1299
> hhamilton@centerss.org
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu [mailto:owner-sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu]On
> > Behalf Of Heidi.A.Busse@Lawrence.edu
> > Sent: Friday, November 06, 1998 4:12 AM
> > To: Andy Clark, SAN Coordinator; sanet-mg
> > Cc: Tom Green
> > Subject: consumption-based tax
> >
> >
> > i need a better understanding of the "consumption-based tax" -- a friend
> > and i were discussing the recent elections, and he (a quasi-democrat)
> > mentioned that he would vote for a republican if s/he supported a
> > consumption tax. I furrowed my eyebrows at my friend and queried
> > "consumption tax . . . what is that?" He vaguely responded that it is
> > "a tax on the amount of goods an individual consumes. I would like to
> > see this replace the income tax because I think that it would give
> > people more control over their money, force people to evaluate and
> > probably reduce the goods that they consume, and not penalize people for
> > working, but reward environmentally-responsible consumers."
> >
> > Is this accurate? Are there any politicians promoting this tax (or AT
> > LEAST discussing it)? Are there any countries that implement a
> > consumption tax? Is it a feasible alternative? My friend mentioned
> > that there has been (by whom? i don't know) discussion about the
> > consumption tax, and that its opponents fear what would happen to the
> > economy the few months before it is implemented, because they expect a
> > surge in spending . . . any thoughts on this?
> >
> > I'll toss out something else that he mentioned . . . (sorry i keep
> > jumping around) . . . jeff (oh, that's my friend) thought that this
> > might be an option for companies with reduced sales after the
> > consumption would be implemented: a greater promotion for investments
> > in companies (how would this work? i don't know because i possess an
> > anthill of knowledge regarding the economy . . . ).
> >
> > How would a consumption tax affect salaries? minimum wage? How would
> > it affect international trade? local businesses?
> >
> > I'm really curious about this idea and i suspect that there are others
> > who already have discussed the consumption tax. If so, please let me
> > know your thoughts.
> >
> > heidi
> > Heidi.A.Busse@Lawrence.edu
> >
> >
>
Harold Henderson
hs@niia.net
219/324-2620
Chicago Reader
cityfile@chicagoreader.com
312/828-0350
"When all else fails, read the directions."
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