Posted: Jun 08, 2005 By: Paul Wassenaar

Subject: Consumption Tax for the Next Century- Tax Base of Natural Resources and Environment

Comment: The only way that a Consumption Tax will be approved by Congress is to recognize its transformative power.



You probably recognize that the greatest value of a consumption tax where consumers would pay a 13% to 14% value-added tax on their purchases would be to establish a mechanism to use the tax system of the US and, by example, the rest of the world to include in the tax base the specific value added from the contribution of specific components of the US’s and the world’s natural resources and environments. The revenue collected from the value added from the specific components of the US’s and the world’s natural resources and environments (currently taxed not at all or not uniformly through out the world) could be then used to enhance the value of the specific components of the US’s and the world’s natural resources so that they could make greater contributions to sustainable consumption. . Rather than an ad hoc localized US and world taxation system for natural resources based on principles of a century or more ago, the consumption tax administrative mechanism could then be used to regulate and enhance specific components of the US’s and the world’s natural resources for sustainable development.



Examples are many but fish farming is in the news. The tax could be applied to the determined or imputed value added to all fish by the ocean to grow and harvest the fish whether from a farm in the ocean, a natural farm of the US ocean or a natural farm in the international ocean. The thought, analysis, discussion, valuation, collection and spending policy become inspiringly positive and productive.



Would not the old adage of “The power to tax is the power to regulate” be attractive enough to appeal to both parties?