Between sales taxes and income taxes, most of the workers I hear discuss the issue prefer the sales tax. At least with a sales tax, you feel like you have some choice in the matter. And, in most states, the typical expenditures low-income people make are not taxed: food, rent, (and in Pennsylvania clothing.) With income taxes, there's no choice about it at all. And, I think most people would agree that it's harder for the wealthy to get out of paying sales taxes (by crook or by hook), so there's a feeling that all are sharing the burden.
I rarely read or hear right-wingers say that sales taxes are not regressive. There is some notion, though, that over a person's lifetime of spending, sales taxes track pretty well with earnings. Certainly they're less regressive than social security taxes and obviously more regressive than income taxes.
I'm not taking a stand in favor of sales taxes over income taxes. I'm just suggesting that the difference is not substantial.
James in Philly
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