I see nothing communist about a VAT (that's not to say I like the concept of a VAT - I don't, but that's another topic altogether). In fact, I'd argue that it's profoundly uncommunist, since there's really no concept of value left by the time communism takes over. But don't let facts get in your way...
Oregon, where I live, does not have a sales tax. It is one of five states without sales tax. The other four are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire. The consequences of no sales tax in Oregon are relatively high income and property tax rates as compared to other states with a sales tax. For a good state by state taxation comparison check out this interactive map:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/89702927.html.
A sales tax is considered a
regressive tax. A regressive tax, is a tax that takes a larger percentage from low-income people than from high-income people. A regressive tax is generally a tax that is applied uniformly. This means that it hits lower-income individuals harder. This would be because lower income people spend a greater portion of their income on everyday goods a services as opposed to being able to invest it, save it or give it away to charity.
As you stated VAT is the opposite of Communism. I guess some folks simply don't understand what they are saying when they post and they apparently don't bother to find out before they post either so they won't look like idiots. I think we know who I am speaking of. The person I have in mind likes to boast that he has a degree in economics from a top 20 University...hmm. He says he is a published author too....double hmm.
There are some good aspects of sales tax. The main thing is that no one can escape paying it. There are no loopholes around paying a sales tax. Well, aside from the fact that a lot of folks on the border between Washington and Oregon, shop in Oregon to avoid paying sales tax. Likewise some folks who work in Oregon, live in Washington to avoid paying Oregon's higher income and property taxes. For those living in Vancouver and working in Portland, they get to sit in grid-lock traffic half their lives. Personally, I wouldn't make this trade off....too aggravating.