taxes, planning, social engineering, autos & boats

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 03/23/2000 8:08:02 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

<< Now the luxury taxes are being fazed out, the industries are booming and 
US 
 Government now boasts surpluses instead of deficits >>

Post hoc ergo proctor hoc?  I think not.

The intended use of the tax revenue really has nothing to do with whether the 
tax itself is ill-advised, as in the example of the US luxury goods tax.  In 
that case, experience shows the tax itself was a bad idea (counterproductive, 
as pointed out), but it would have been equally a bad idea if the intent had 
been to use the revenue for "social engineering," to paint a battleship, to 
rewallpaper the White House, or for any other reason.

On a brighter note, here in CA, the registration fee cum excise tax on autos 
is based on their "value" -- so almost any Alfa is a real bargain to 
register, certainly a boon to notoriously cheapo Alfisti.

In another state where I used to live, as I recall the annual excise tax was 
based on the gross weight of the vehicle, so it remained constant compared to 
CA, where the tax goes down each year until it hits some floor, I believe.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA
Taxes? Yes, we have those.

Charlie

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