Re: shuttle disaster

[DvB <imasu@earthlink.net>]

Paul Johnson <baloo@ursine.dyndns.org> writes:

> On Sat, Feb 08, 2003 at 11:53:26AM -0600, DvB wrote:
> > > As far as "essential goods", who decides this?
> > > 
> > 
> > The commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently (unless things have changed
> > since I last heard) doesn't tax goods classified as "foo" and
> > "clothing." I support this despite the obvious drawback that people
> > don't pay taxes on the purchase of designer clothing and caviar.
> 
> Oregon lacks a general sales tax because there's no good way to make
> it not screw the poor, and Oregon has a lot of poor.  Revenue that
> other states collect with sales tax instead come largely from property
> and income tax and the state lottery.  The only items that have a
> sales tax are vices or luxuries, like tobacco, alcoholic beverages and
> gasoline.  
> 

I remember reading about that somewhere. I think it's a very good idea,
provided you can get the income from other sources (as Oregon appears to
be doing without too much trouble).