NationStates Jolt Archive

The paradise part is obvious: the US Virgin Islands are among some of the most beautiful islands in the entire Carribean. Apart from Greneda, they are my favorite to go to. They have beautiful beaches, pituresque bays, and scenic interiors. And something else, the part that makes it paradise and a half.
I personally hate shopping, as I am a man, and genetically preconditioned to do so. But shopping is an allure of the islands, or at least Charlotte Amalie. They have the best bargains, and the widest selection in the Carribean. I could almost say that they rival New York or LA in their selection, but when it comes to price, no one compares.
You see, when the Danes had the islands, they declared St. Thomas a free port, making it a tax free, duty free shopping mecca. When the US bought the islands in 1917, they kept on the tradition.
The results? Asside from Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands is the wealthiest and most developed in the Carribean. The only comparable ones in the area are the smaller British Virgin Islands, with an economy tied to its larger neighbor.
That led me to wonder if the entire US should become just that: a tax free, duty free zone. How about the world? It may be bad for the USVI, as they lost their special shopping appeal. But overall, the world could become a wealthier place if we did away with sales taxes. So what do you guys think?
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/vq.html

I voted 'other' because I think we should all burrow underground and become mole people.

I voted other because I have no idea what you said and liked the mole people thing

I voted 'other' because I think we should all burrow underground and become mole people.
I wanted to use that as Plan B. The only problem is that people can't eat fast enough. A mole snatches its prey at a fraction of a second. We humans have to jump through hoops to kill anything using our God given tools (being limbs).

I voted 'other' because I think we should all burrow underground and become mole people.
Already did it. I'm in The Underworld of the Molepeople!

I notice that a lot of non US residents voted no on this. I'm sorry I stated it that way. I just thought that the US would be the next logical step after St. Thomas. Now I realize that the US would become far too economically powerful, making all other nations look like the third world. I should've asked if the entire planet should be a tax free and duty free zone. My apologies.

The mole people idea is defanitely the Best Course of Action.

So no one is taking this seriously?

It would seem not!

It would seem not!
Well, I guess no one is ready to realize their full potential.

clicky (http://www.andgor.com/AA%20AndGor%20Images/81Moleman.jpg)

clicky (http://www.andgor.com/AA%20AndGor%20Images/81Moleman.jpg)
ughhhh!

I voted no, because it would be bad for Canada. I don't think it is that practicle for the world to be totally duty free. I rather have taxes on goods and services but not on income.

I voted no, because it would be bad for Canada. I don't think it is that practicle for the world to be totally duty free. I rather have taxes on goods and services but not on income.
I think, however, that consumption is more important in the modern economy than production is. The world laughs at the US trade deficit, but they do not realize that our spending is the only thing not plunging the economy assunder. Europe, on the other hand, has a huge production base, and for the first time ever, Germany surpassed the US in value of exports. However, if the trade deficit didn't exist, the German economy would be in the shitter. Repealing sales taxes recognizes that reality.

Err... If there are no taxes at all, where does the money that keeps the gov't running come from?

Err... If there are no taxes at all, where does the money that keeps the gov't running come from?
They can get everything done with the kindness of people's heart? Really, I don't want to abolish taxes. I just want to get rid of sales taxes.

They can get everything done with the kindness of people's heart? Really, I don't want to abolish taxes. I just want to get rid of sales taxes.

That's one of the reasons that Internet commerce is growing in leaps and bounds... because there is a federal moratorium on sales taxes for products purchased on the Internet (excluding products where the origination company is in the same state or province as the consumer.)

I already said this in another thread but it would be great if we could cut government back to the point where it could be funded through private donation: "They can get everything done with the kindness of people's heart?"

That's one of the reasons that Internet commerce is growing in leaps and bounds... because there is a federal moratorium on sales taxes for products purchased on the Internet (excluding products where the origination company is in the same state or province as the consumer.)

I already said this in another thread but it would be great if we could cut government back to the point where it could be funded through private donation: "They can get everything done with the kindness of people's heart?"
It would be. But that could only happen in a perfect world, and we aren't there yet.

I don't think it would ever work in an economy the size of the States.

The Virgin Islands' economy runs almost exclusively on Tourism. If the tourist trade disappeared, the Islands' economy would collapse. What tourism does is bring in money to the government, from people that don't require government services.

If the US became tax and duty free, there would be absolutely no government services, which would be very, very stupid.

I don't think it would ever work in an economy the size of the States.

The Virgin Islands' economy runs almost exclusively on Tourism. If the tourist trade disappeared, the Islands' economy would collapse. What tourism does is bring in money to the government, from people that don't require government services.

If the US became tax and duty free, there would be absolutely no government services, which would be very, very stupid.
You do know that I only mean sales taxes. Even the Virgin Islands has income and property taxes.

I voted for reduction not elimination, since I figured you meant all taxation.

Ideally it would work without any taxes, but a little bit isn't a big deal. And change must come slowly.

And now I'm thinking about going to the Virgin Islands. Mmm... virgins...

I voted for reduction not elimination, since I figured you meant all taxation.

Ideally it would work without any taxes, but a little bit isn't a big deal. And change must come slowly.

And now I'm thinking about going to the Virgin Islands. Mmm... virgins...
Sorry to spoiil the fun, but it was founded by Christopher Columbus on the feast day of St. Ursala, noted for fighting pagans in England with over a thousand fighting virgins, hence the name.

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