Khadaji - in the real world, the state does provide an educated workforce and commercial infrastructure that will give the wealthy woman a better return on her taxes if the only way of raising tax is a sales tax. To argue for a tax system on the basis that you don't think the state should provide education is to ask us enter a parallel universe.
And yet, people became wealthy thousands of years ago, with no
public education system whatsoever.
You asked what I think a fair system would be?
Until you define the term "fair" - we won't be speaking of the same topic.
In a democracy, I think a system that is has no impact on the spread of wealth and power in society is fair.
Then you aren't in favor of progressive tax systems... good to see you agree with me.
It doesn't matter if people make huge amounts of money or inherit it. It stinks if the tax system gives it to them just because they were born in the right place. That is my objection to ideas like flat taxes and sales taxes - they give a much bigger return on tax paid to those who need an educated workforce and a well run economy.
Oops... I guess you really didn't mean what you said. You
ARE in favor of a taxing system that inhibits the free growth of wealth & power.
If that growth in wealth is achieved by redistribution through the tax system, there has to be a very good reason for it. I don't see that there is a good reason to redistribute towards the wealthy so naturally I oppose any tax system that does just that.
In any case, a sales tax does not encourage the use of assets. A resource tax does. On that basis alone, its a no brainer as to which is the better tax.