Europe, Boring Until it's Not

[SuburbanFarmer]

I pay tax on food every time I buy it. Maybe that's different in the Northwest or something?

It's State by State but I thought that one was universal. Look on your grocery receipt next time: "Taxable Items" are marked. (Liquor, for example. Cleaning supplies. Paper products. Candy in some States.)

Hmm.. guess you're right about that. I still have to pay tax at restaurants though, which angers me.

[Martin Hash]

I pay tax on food every time I buy it. Maybe that's different in the Northwest or something?

It's State by State but I thought that one was universal. Look on your grocery receipt next time: "Taxable Items" are marked. (Liquor, for example. Cleaning supplies. Paper products. Candy in some States.)

Hmm.. guess you're right about that. I still have to pay tax at restaurants though, which angers me.

Sales Tax is the most Regressive tax there is. Absolutely criminal. The next most Regressive Tax is Medicare, followed by SS. And, remember, I'm a Spend & Tax Liberal.

[Montegriffo]

Solid point. So what's a tv cost over there? mid-range car, etc? Not the base price, but tax included?

Dunno about new cars really, my sister is about to waste her money on a new Masda MX5 soft top coup which I think is around £12-15k depending on the extras.
My last TV which is 26'' high def LCD with built in DVD player was £100.
My laptop which is an HP Pavillion i5 cost a little under £300.

Sounds about the same, then... But you're paying 20% on top of that?

No that's tax included, like you asked.....

[SuburbanFarmer]

Dunno about new cars really, my sister is about to waste her money on a new Masda MX5 soft top coup which I think is around £12-15k depending on the extras.
My last TV which is 26'' high def LCD with built in DVD player was £100.
My laptop which is an HP Pavillion i5 cost a little under £300.

Sounds about the same, then... But you're paying 20% on top of that?

No that's tax included, like you asked.....

How the hell is that car 15k?? We're paying $30+

[SilverEagle]

It's State by State but I thought that one was universal. Look on your grocery receipt next time: "Taxable Items" are marked. (Liquor, for example. Cleaning supplies. Paper products. Candy in some States.)

Hmm.. guess you're right about that. I still have to pay tax at restaurants though, which angers me.

Sales Tax is the most Regressive tax there is. Absolutely criminal. The next most Regressive Tax is Medicare, followed by SS. And, remember, I'm a Spend & Tax Liberal.

Property Tax is the one that pisses me off to no end. You should pay a tax on it during the purchase but that is it. Being taxed year after year after year on the same land is horse shit! You never truly own land....you just rent it from the State. When you purchase land you are really just buying the leasing rights of the land/property until you sell it. Now that is a fucking racket!

[SuburbanFarmer]

Hmm.. guess you're right about that. I still have to pay tax at restaurants though, which angers me.

Sales Tax is the most Regressive tax there is. Absolutely criminal. The next most Regressive Tax is Medicare, followed by SS. And, remember, I'm a Spend & Tax Liberal.

Property Tax is the one that pisses me off to no end. You should pay a tax on it during the purchase but that is it. Being taxed year after year after year on the same land is horse shit! You never truly own land....you just rent it form the State. When you purchase land you are really just buying the leasing rights of the land/property until you sell it. Now that is a fucking racket!

This. It's disgusting.

[Montegriffo]

Sounds about the same, then... But you're paying 20% on top of that?

No that's tax included, like you asked.....

How the hell is that car 15k?? We're paying $30+

I dunno, tariffs on imported cars?
30k buys me a Lotus Elise with cash left over.

[Martin Hash]

In my year living in Britain, things were a bit more expense but the quality was lower at comparative price levels.

p.s. Google it, the U.S. is the cheapest advanced nation in the world to live.

[SuburbanFarmer]

No that's tax included, like you asked.....

How the hell is that car 15k?? We're paying $30+

I dunno, tariffs on imported cars?
30k buys me a Lotus Elise with cash left over.

Hash, they're playing money games here.. why do our cars cost double, if they're being taxed to death?

[Montegriffo]

Actually I just looked it up a Lotus costs from £36k.
I can get a Ford Mustang for £32k