Thanks to the work of volunteers, supporters, and allies across the state, the Tennessee state legislature passed the first ever reduction of the state food tax scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008. Because the reduction is only a modest cut of a half-cent, bringing Tennessee's average state and local food tax from 8.35% to 7.85%, much work remains to be done. We'll be back in 2008 to keep fighting!
Why cant you americans ever be happy, millions of people die from not having any food each year and what do you guys do.... Moan that you have to pay a bit of tax on it.
If you dont like paying food tax in tenesee move somewhere else for gods sake, nobodys forcing you to live there.
Dear microspark (what an appropriate name for the likes of you!) Do all of us Americans a BIG favor, will you? Whatever country you currently reside in, please, Please, PLEASE STAY THERE!! We here in the USA do NOT need any more complacent do-nothings like you. (The name microspark, i.e.: "insignificant fizzling dud", fits you to a tee!).
It is because of the fact that we are never satisfied with the way things are, that we are still the worlds largest producer of food this planet has ever known. It is also the reason that we enjoy one of the highest standards of living that this planet has ever known as well. And unlike you, we are not content to let others run our lives for us without question, Sheep like you are only good for getting shorn.
As for your feeble attempt to cause any of us here to feel guilty, "millions of people die from not having any food each year", may I remind you that we give away more food to the rest of the world than most countries produce in a year. Instead of looking to us with your critic's eye, why don't you try getting down off your high horse and see what you can do to help the starving millions to grow their own food for a change, or give them some of yours?
I severely doubt the united states of america gives away more food than Great Britan makes in a year. Also the irony of you as a probably fat overweight and lazy American telling me to get of my high horse is incredible. Ive spent the last two summers teaching kids in Africa to read and write and bringing water to villages that have o walk miles normally. Think next time before you spout something so crap next time mate.
I grew up in Tennesse and didn't know that other states didn't tax for as hight as Tennessee. I moved to Georgia for college and went the grocery store and my tax on essential food items (which includes almost everything) was 2% and 7% on "luxury" items. If there is an alternative to high food tax (ie the swap everyone is talking about) I say Tennessee should take it. Everytime I visit my parents I thinks its absolutely absurd how high the food tax is.
But Tennessee is one of the 7 states with no income tax. If, as the video states, 80% of states have no food tax, that's 10 states that do, and as
I just stated, 7 have no income tax, so are there states that are both one of the seven and one of the ten at the same time? Are there any states that have managed to avoid _both_ a food tax and an income tax? It seems like you could have one or the other but not both. I'd like to see more factual evidence.
There is no correlation between states that have income taxes and states that tax food. Of the 9 states without a broad-based state income tax, only 2 tax food: Tennessee and South Dakota. Of the 41 states with an income tax, 13 tax food.
BTW - There are actually 15 states that tax food, but most of them are relatively small sates population wise. The 80% number is the number of Americans that do not pay a food tax... not the number of states that do not level a food tax.
The reason there is no correlation is that the food tax represents less than 2% of the state budget. That's so small it can easily be made up elsewhere, even without a state income tax, as the Tax Swap does by using a modest increase in the cigarette tax to pay for a reduction in the food tax.
Finally, all of this is to say that the food tax issue is separate from the income tax issue. That's not to say we don't ultimately need an income tax, but that's another debate for another time.
There are 5 states, including Georgia, that have no state food tax, but allow local governments to level a sales tax on food. That's the 2% food tax you see at the register in Georgia.
WOW ! I did not know this information. I am going to wake up and start monitoring politians on this issue. I thought everybody paid high taxes.
Thanks for showing us all what needs to be done.
A retired Vietnam veteran in Tennessee, who is paying high FOOD TAXES......that should not be....!!!
TennesseeCraig
tennesseecraig 4 years ago
Thanks to the work of volunteers, supporters, and allies across the state, the Tennessee state legislature passed the first ever reduction of the state food tax scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008. Because the reduction is only a modest cut of a half-cent, bringing Tennessee's average state and local food tax from 8.35% to 7.85%, much work remains to be done. We'll be back in 2008 to keep fighting!
taxfairness 4 years ago
Special thanks to the volunteers who made this video possible, including:
Video Editing: Gene Cotton
Director: Glenn Phillips
Videography: Bruce Mosher, Gene Cotton, Wayne Robertson, Bill Howell, Margaret Howell
Department of Revenue Enforcers: Glenn Phillips, Marcus Short, Wayne Robertson, Bill Howell
Grocery Shoppers: Marnie Cotton, Margaret Howell, Jean Harrington
Department of Revenue Inventory Agent: Jean Harrington
Costume Acquisition: Phil Schoggen, Gene Cotton
taxfairness 4 years ago
Why cant you americans ever be happy, millions of people die from not having any food each year and what do you guys do.... Moan that you have to pay a bit of tax on it.
If you dont like paying food tax in tenesee move somewhere else for gods sake, nobodys forcing you to live there.
Winge Winge Winge *sigh*
microspark 4 years ago
Dear microspark (what an appropriate name for the likes of you!) Do all of us Americans a BIG favor, will you? Whatever country you currently reside in, please, Please, PLEASE STAY THERE!! We here in the USA do NOT need any more complacent do-nothings like you. (The name microspark, i.e.: "insignificant fizzling dud", fits you to a tee!).
FoxWood2222 4 years ago
It is because of the fact that we are never satisfied with the way things are, that we are still the worlds largest producer of food this planet has ever known. It is also the reason that we enjoy one of the highest standards of living that this planet has ever known as well. And unlike you, we are not content to let others run our lives for us without question, Sheep like you are only good for getting shorn.
FoxWood2222 4 years ago
As for your feeble attempt to cause any of us here to feel guilty, "millions of people die from not having any food each year", may I remind you that we give away more food to the rest of the world than most countries produce in a year. Instead of looking to us with your critic's eye, why don't you try getting down off your high horse and see what you can do to help the starving millions to grow their own food for a change, or give them some of yours?
Fox.
FoxWood2222 4 years ago
I severely doubt the united states of america gives away more food than Great Britan makes in a year. Also the irony of you as a probably fat overweight and lazy American telling me to get of my high horse is incredible. Ive spent the last two summers teaching kids in Africa to read and write and bringing water to villages that have o walk miles normally. Think next time before you spout something so crap next time mate.
microspark 4 years ago
"we are still the worlds largest producer of food this planet has ever known". LOL maybe that explains why 1 in 3 Americans are critically obese.
microspark 4 years ago
I grew up in Tennesse and didn't know that other states didn't tax for as hight as Tennessee. I moved to Georgia for college and went the grocery store and my tax on essential food items (which includes almost everything) was 2% and 7% on "luxury" items. If there is an alternative to high food tax (ie the swap everyone is talking about) I say Tennessee should take it. Everytime I visit my parents I thinks its absolutely absurd how high the food tax is.
Catbuk 4 years ago
Well, that's much more of a sound argument then. Thanks for clarifying.
lpennock 4 years ago
But Tennessee is one of the 7 states with no income tax. If, as the video states, 80% of states have no food tax, that's 10 states that do, and as
I just stated, 7 have no income tax, so are there states that are both one of the seven and one of the ten at the same time? Are there any states that have managed to avoid _both_ a food tax and an income tax? It seems like you could have one or the other but not both. I'd like to see more factual evidence.
lpennock 4 years ago
There is no correlation between states that have income taxes and states that tax food. Of the 9 states without a broad-based state income tax, only 2 tax food: Tennessee and South Dakota. Of the 41 states with an income tax, 13 tax food.
BTW - There are actually 15 states that tax food, but most of them are relatively small sates population wise. The 80% number is the number of Americans that do not pay a food tax... not the number of states that do not level a food tax.
taxfairness 4 years ago
The reason there is no correlation is that the food tax represents less than 2% of the state budget. That's so small it can easily be made up elsewhere, even without a state income tax, as the Tax Swap does by using a modest increase in the cigarette tax to pay for a reduction in the food tax.
Finally, all of this is to say that the food tax issue is separate from the income tax issue. That's not to say we don't ultimately need an income tax, but that's another debate for another time.
taxfairness 4 years ago
I would have to say that some do. Georgia has a state income tax and small tax (2%) on food items.
Catbuk 4 years ago
There are 5 states, including Georgia, that have no state food tax, but allow local governments to level a sales tax on food. That's the 2% food tax you see at the register in Georgia.
taxfairness 4 years ago
No Tennessee Revenue agents were harmed in the taping of this video.
marghowell 4 years ago
As a Tennessee Resident and Mother of 3 children, I'm all for it! I will definitely email this video to EVERY Tennessee Resident I know!
scadgrad98 4 years ago
If everyone who sees this would contact their legislators and the Governor, the food tax / cigarette tax swap would pass for sure.
TNCitizen 4 years ago
Great message and funny too. Let's cut the food tax!
dariagere 4 years ago