Election 2010! How are you voting PNW?

[balooshinakus]

What you described is the nature of the beast. Naturally taxes pull in less money when the economy is bad. I'd rather put a less regressive tax in place.

[Joey Link]

Income taxes are the absolute worst form of taxation, as they tax production and creation of wealth rather than spending and the consumption of goods. If I had to choose between a sales tax and an income tax I would gladly choose a sales tax, though I would never vote to impliment one in Oregon unless other taxes were abolished in the same legislation. Reducing current taxes and adding a sales tax is not enough. We the people are not stupid enough to believe it would remain at a constant rate, anymore than we would let a serial killer off the hook for his crimes if he promises to stop. Politicians lie constantly, but history and voting records never do.

Any form of taxation can be progressive or regressive depending on how it's applied, so we can't use blanket statements for either. However, there is only one progressive tax that is also fair, and that would be the Fair Tax (a sales tax with a prebate up to the poverty level for everyone).

[87e30]

It would be political suicide to enact a huge tax on the middle/lower class. The money has to come from somewhere, income tax is much more fair then sales tax which is highly regressive. We should eliminate sales tax altogether and move to income tax in all honesty. The initiative will also help reduce the tax burdon on the lower/middle class by lowering their property tax. Meh.. Everyone wants change but nobody is willing to change. Income tax > sales tax, lets get the ball rolling!

It's more fair to take money from people than it is to charge people money for buying goods? Lets see here... one is a choice and the other is by force...

On a different note, you're delusional if you don't think the income tax would spread to the lower tax brackets given some time.

[Joey Link]

Exactly ^