The Sales Tax on Food is in my opinion the most inequitable - repressive and unfair tax which is imposed upon the average citizen. This part of our tax system structure is what needs some serious reform.
I am talking about the foods purchased for preparing meals in the home, the 'staple' items, raw foodstuffs. Extras - snacks & treats - restaurant meals should be taxed, they're nice to have, but not necessary.
In my opinion, we can not eliminate all taxes if we want government. Just because we have the old cliché of "You can't avoid death and taxes" and everyone knows we can not reform death, but we can and should reform taxes. An epitaph on a tombstone describing the death of someone is carved in stone. Tax Codes are written on paper and not that difficult to rewrite. It may be very difficult to get agreement on this from affluent politicians who are not impacted by the sales tax on food as much as it effects the average citizen.
When you read our State Code of Laws - Regulations,
Section: §12 - 36 - 2120 & 2130 Exemptions From Sales Tax,
You'll know other things are exempted from the sales tax.
So why not exempt basic wholesome food from sales tax?
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ARTICLE 21. MAXIMUM TAX AND EXEMPTIONS, to view 2120 and 2130.
To: S.C. Code of Laws Title 12 Chapter 36 The South Carolina Sales And Use Tax Act
If you hear of a politician saying he/she would like to limit the growth of the Education Lottery, VOTE AGAINST that rascal. It's probably someone who doesn't believe in majority rule. Let'em know that it is a hands-off-issue, reserved for the people. If the lottery gets out of hand, We The People can and will make adjustments.
You can make the wheel squeak. Send an e-mail to your State Representative and State Senator, and to any candidate seeking one of those positions. Bookmark this page or make it a Favorite Place and simply include it as a link in the e-mail. Or, you can Drag/HiLite-Copy-Paste this address in the body:
http://www.f11view.net/vote/no-to-sales-tax-on-food.htm
or short address: www.f11view.net/vote
Don't forget The Governor and candidates for governor. I believe they DO NOT personally read their e-mail and
delagate - relegate it to someone on their staff. However, when the same subject continues to come up,
the staffers will start keeping count and make sure their boss hears about it, that's their job, and if they don't do it they'll be out of a job.
Getting politicians to agree may be near impossible. Getting their attention on how voting will go will get some action! My belief is they'll vote the way they think it will keep them in office or will get them elected. Make sure you tell them your name and postal service address or you may get ignored. All politicians want to know what their constituency wants to vote on, how they'll vote, and what they support. Which way the wind is blowing controls a lot of action.
Do something to get people involved, make them aware of a grassroots movement.
Talk to others about this subject, e-mail them, telephone them, write them a letter.
Post a sign somewhere. www.f11view.net/vote
E-mail me the reasons of why you would like to make an issue of this repressive tax.
Put up a web-page for others to view, send me the address and I'll advertise - link to it.
Call the talk radio hosts.
If you don't like the Sales Tax on Food and don't do something about it, then it will continue to take a higher percentage of the income of the average citizen than those with an above average income. It is very repressive on lower income citizens. Remember, one vote is one vote, nobody gets more voting power than another, let'em know how you feel and what you want them to vote for.
I was for David Beasley in 1994, but, I voted against him in 1998.
Good Ole Boys and Lobbyist do have a lot of influence on Legislators. But remember, just like on the lottery issue, it's one vote at a time in the ballot box. The average citizen has equal if not more power with the ballot box than the high-powered influential when a politician smells which way the wind is blowing. There are many - many more average people than there are high-powered people and when the majority of average citizens vote together on an issue,
THE MAJORITY AVERAGE WINS.
If you ever see a Petition to get a Referendum on the Ballot for No Sales Tax on Food,
MAKE SURE YOU SIGN IT!
If we can not get The Law changed we can vote for a
Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Sales Tax on Food.