Personally, I am more in favor of higher sales taxes and lower income and property taxes. One thing many people do not understand is that when you raise taxes on any business owner they pass as much on the consumer as possible, since all are taxed the same, theoreticly, the market will sustain this because all the good providers took the same increases until the economy stops because nobody has the money to buy anything.
Example: Increase the income and property tax on a property owner. He will in turn increase his rent to sustain a profit and not go broke. He too is entitle to feed his family and receive a reasonable return on his investment. Now the renter will in turn increase his prices to deal with the added cost of doing business. The consumer will have to pay higher prices to receive the same goods and services, plus pay higher income and property taxes. Therefore requiring more money to purchase necessities on less after tax income.
A consumption tax would provide for state services, allow you to decide if you want to pay it and encourage savings and create a stable economy that is less dependent on low interest rates that increase inflation. The state could manipulate various things by adjusting the sales tax, such as lowering the tax on building supplies to encourage the real estate market, or only tax vehicles after a certain price point, therefore applying less financial penalty to lower income purchasers without slowing consumption of necessary manufactured goods. If you are a millionaire, you probably won't care about 2% higher tax on your new BMW. Of even lower the sales tax on US made goods, or instate manufactured goods to encourage job stimulation.
Would you be more likely to buy a vehicle from a local dealer providing jobs if it saved you money and promoted jobs elsewhere in your state?
The point is, we need to think outside the box and stop being nay sayers whining about who has what you don't and expecting them to give up more so you don't have too. Someone you know, thinks you are probably wealthier than them and do they deserve what you worked for because they chose not to participate in our society or make poor financial decisions in thier own life?
I would love to hear differing intelligent opinions, not personal attacks. Give some facts if I am wrong.