setting aside for a moment the argument over whether taxes are good at all...
one day, i will learn to stop mentioning taxes to Washington residents.
everyone gets all up at arms about the sales tax, but me, i'd rather pay 8.8 percent sales tax, considering that i don't buy as much stuff, than, oh, say, when i was living in California, paying state income tax of 9.3 percent AND sales tax of 7.25 percent. (yes, Washington is listed as 6.5 percent on that chart; i believe the rest of the 2.3 pecent is county and local taxes, but i'm not sure and don't want to take the time right now to look.)
merph. people are silly.
what's your preference, assuming that you have to pay taxes of some variety? higher sales, no sales and higher income, straight up luxury tax... or something else?