Why are prices shown without tax in the USA? Actually, scratch that - why aren't they shown without tax in
Europe? In the American system, the price on the label is not what you pay at --
Nevermind, I'm just going to assume you know how taxes work. I used to think the European worked better; it's
more opaque, the customer knows exactly how deep they will have to reach in their wallet to take their goods
home. However, as I have grown more skeptical of the government, I started to realize that the American system
makes much more sense. On the label, the customer sees the price the merchant will receive for that good. The
difference the customer spends on that product goes to the government.
This way the customer is always acutely aware of how much of it's hard earned money is going to the top. Tax increases do not in- or decrease the price shown on the label; only when the establishment actually increases the price. This way, the government can be held more accountable: the customer knows whether a price change is the effect of the corporations, or the government. In Europe, the taxes are a black box - apart from a line on the receipt (who reads those anyway?), you have little idea how much you are paying. Of course, you could just learn your local rates; but I don't want to bother.
Back to the subject. Again, I'm going to assume you are aware every corporation under the sun (or moon) is using offshore accounts, shell corporations, suspect rental agreements and other, some likely unknown to everyone else, methods of avoiding tax payments. They are using your country's infrastructure and real estate, but rarely even pay a dime. The only tax which they do (in a sense) pay, is the income tax from their employees; at least the people without illegal tax structures and an army of attorneys to help them out. Therefore, the corporation owes you something! After all, if it paid taxes, you likely would have much lower taxes, or at least much higher quality of life.
So why should you pay taxes? People and corporations much wealthier than you don't, and owe you for it; so why would you pick up their slack? You should be trying to squeeze as much value out of your hard earned money as possible. The only problem: when the tax evading class recognizes an untermench trying to climb into their ranks, they get upset: they can somehow smell it on people, and will villify you immediately. You will have to face the courts and might lose everything.
But at least it sent a message, is what I would say if I believed that it would: in reality, this will only cause the government to crack down harder. They will realize how much money there is to be made in persecuting tax evaders without access to a legal team. So if you do start to take what you rightfully deserve, don't get caught.