While the bank tax upset Austrian and Italian banks and their governments, this new round of taxes spreads the pain across Europe.
In the early 1930s, the nationwide Civil disobedience movement against the British Salt tax spread to Bombay.
And assume, as European officials say they hope will happen, that the tax spreads to other major markets, something Europe is trying to encourage by offering to share the tax revenue with other countries that impose a similar tax.
Even in the current antitax climate, we'll probably see new, significant soda taxes soon, somewhere; Philadelphia, New York (city and state) and San Francisco all considered them last year, and the scenario for such a tax spreading could be similar to that of legalized gambling: once the income stream becomes apparent, it will seem irresistible to cash-strapped governments.
Were the tax burden spread more equitably, taxes on rental units in the city would drop by between $1,200 and $1,500 annually on average, according to an earlier study cited by the Furman Center.
Cuts in direct taxes will spread across central Europe in 2004 as governments compete for investment and growth.
Mr. McCain has been sounding the traditional Republican tax-cutting theme, trying to convince voters that Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee, wants to increase taxes and spread the wealth like a socialist.
McCain tried to stoke fears that Obama would raise taxes and "spread the wealth" but as of now voters at every income level – from those making less than $15,000 a year to those making more than 200,000 – are backing Obama.
The government said it wanted to "simplify" the tax system and spread tax relief across everyone, regardless of age.
What many were calling for was a rapid and radical rebalancing of rates as a general business tax – as opposed to a property tax – to spread the burden more proportionately.
