Raising taxes on consumption hits the poor the hardest (relatively speaking). I guess that is why such a tax hike is considered more serious then raising taxes on high incomes or wealth.

This is not to say that there should be no taxes on consumption, only that the damage to the poor should be offset with raised subsidies and lowered income taxes on the lowest incomes. Such a package would then land the tax burden on the middle and rich segments who can better afford it, but I guess that would be unserious.

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