Well, here I am again, on my soapbox, complaining about government...this time it is our wonderful, Home Sweet Home, Alabama that is on my mind.
Have you considered where you spend the most on tax during the year? One could say, "I think it was on my car," and that could be true this year but over how many years can that tax be spread, five years? Six Years" Ten Years? Maybe once in your lifetime? You don't buy cars everyday!
What about those appliances? The washing machine, the dryer, the refrigerator,perhaps an airconidioner? Yes, those are all things that we pay a sales tax on, but again, not every week, month or for that matter every year.
I guess what I want to say is the one thing everyone pays tax on, and pays it every day or at least once a month, food!
Let's say that you spend, as we do, about $35.00 each on food each week. Now that isn't a bunch of frivolous foods like chips and dips, special desserts, or beer and wine...I mean the meat and potatoes type stuff, that food stuff group that people need to stay healthy. Do you realize that you are spending $35.00 for groceries and an additional 8% or $2.80, each week? Let's see now, if we spend $35.00 a week and another $2.80 per week on taxes to eat, I guess we are spending about $145.60 per person per year. If you are a family of four, that is about $582.40 per year for the right to eat.
Don't misunderstand what my meaning here! I am not saying there should be no tax at all, although in many states staple foods are not taxed. But would it not be nice if you had perhaps a 2% tax instead. You would actually have an additional $436.80 per year or $8.40 per week for those needed vegetables, fruits, or what ever your meal plan may require.
Maybe, just maybe, our legislature people just don't understand that the one thing everyone in this state has to have is food. Again I am not talking about chips and dips, although I sometimes think that is about what a lot of our families live on these days. I mean real food.
Let's all push for a tax reform that addresses the needs of our people. What do you think?
