V.A.T.

I heard a commentator the other day suggesting that the time had come for an additional tax on things we buy.  Surprisingly, this is a normally quite conservative fellow and I think he is very much misinformed on the matter.
A great number of countries have now introduced a Value Added Tax into their systems, and I did a little checking on the history in England of such a beast.  It began in April 1973 at a lowly 10%, I actually remember it quite well.  Not surprisingly, the government at the time was socialist as those boys really do like to tax the heck out of as many people as they can!
I'm going over there in November, and recently I checked on hotels in London - always a lot of sticker shock for a place where I used to live.  Apart from the overall cost, one now has to add on an additional 20% for VAT.  So, Mr. Commentator, be careful what you wish for, or start adding 20% onto everything you  buy.  As you know, taxes once levied are virtually never removed and only go up.  Out here, I'm sure such a tax would begin quite modestly, say 1% or 2%, but how long before it reaches European levels?  FYI in Greece, it's 23% - that should give Ms. Pelosi chills of pleasurable expectation!