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Originally Posted by RDaneel54

I didn't say I don't like paying taxes, but rather that I do it when required. Lost state income is a state by state issue and should be addressed by each state. What California and Amazon agreed on is outside my concern as it is not my state (Ohio).

Unfortunately because we have 50 separate state governments and 50 state tax systems it makes it easy for businesses to play one state against another.

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

Can a state go bankrupt? If so, I don't see it as the U.S. as a whole responsibility, although our government will probably assume it if it happens.

Unfortunately history has shown that not to be the case and the constitution forbids states from declaring bankruptcy.

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

My concern is not with any current US Congress action, but future interference into what is a state issue. The more the line is crossed, the less autonomy the states have.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by RDaneel54

I would not want to see a VAT in the US because I think it would supplement rather than replace our current income tax system. I wouldn't want to see a national sales tax supplementing either.

A valid fear. In any case, a VAT would be almost impossible to legislate in the USA because, unlike Europe which only has to deal with one government to try to make changes, the USA has to deal with 50 different governments. Still there are many types of VAT ideas that can be considered. I am curious about the possibilities in any quest to revise the entire tax code.

Thanks for your replies.