North Carolina's tax collectors VS Amazon (and us)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rmm200

One thing this will do is make states like Oregon, with no sales tax, even more appealing. Remember - sales taxes are not an act of God - voters put them in, and voters can eliminate them.

Robert

If a state doesn't have sales tax, I'm sure it makes up the shortfall by having higher taxes on other things, so I'm not sure it is "appealing". The revenue needs to be raised by some means or other.

[rmm200]

Say what you will - my total tax load in Oregon is one third what I was paying in California. For power I pay 6 cents per KWH. Thanks to California's power contracts I was paying 60 cents per KWH. I won't mention the California politicians...

Robert

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by rmm200

Say what you will - my total tax load in Oregon is one third what I was paying in California. For power I pay 6 cents per KWH. Thanks to California's power contracts I was paying 60 cents per KWH. I won't mention the California politicians...

Robert

Not sure Californicators are typical. IIRC total tax load in Oregon (no sales tax, but with income tax) is about the same as Washington (sales tax, no income tax). As you point out it's the total tax load that matters. One difference is income/spending habits. Someone with a good income who doesn't spend a lot locally is probably better off in Washington. (By not spending a lot locally I'm thinking, for example, vacations. I have some friends who live as cheaply as possible so they can spend their money traveling for two months each year. I prefer to stay home, myself, and live comfortably year-around. So I'd probably be better off in Oregon, except I'd need to change jobs.)

[MovieBird]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If a state doesn't have sales tax, I'm sure it makes up the shortfall by having higher taxes on other things, so I'm not sure it is "appealing". The revenue needs to be raised by some means or other.

This assumes the same services are being provided in both states, and that they cost the same amount of money per capita, a dangerous assumption.

California gives more money away in services than Oregon, as well as supporting more bureaucracy for things like the California Air Resources Board. All worthy and necessary bureaucratic entities, as long as you agree with their purpose.

For things like power, we're also still paying off things like PG&E's bankruptcy in 2001 and voter mandated things like increased funding for green power. Once again, all wonderful things if you feel that the majority knows best and should spend your money for you.