I agree Ancona!! and the Euro sheep still sleep!
...pretty much the same way, as your average US sheep
, some are awaken, some will sleepwalk into financial slaughterhouse.
I don't think it is targeted, I mean, VAT is the same on MOST products (and indeed, varies from country to country - ze Germans, AFAIK, have 7% VAT rate on food - therefore, sucking in bulk-purchase retail customers from the surrounding countries, who do come in once a month or so, to bulk-buy anything they can store over the next month), so it is a general rip-off, not some targeted PM manipulation.
However, it is interesting/telling, that the gold, is VAT -exempt in EU. I wonder, why it is - maybe it has something to do with a "tradition", and making the "tradition", easy to follow, for banks, Central Banks, without making it too obvious to anybody, who would scrutinize VAT-receipts filings by the banks, what is actually going on in the gold market between CBs, banks, etc? I mean, gold would stick out as a sore thumb, from all other financial transactions (which are VAT exempt, surprise surprise
)
Personally, I think being forced to pay VAT, on everything, that you buy - on top of income tax, that you were robbed already, is a clear case of double taxation, it is outrageous, makes me sick (like so many things related to government/economic policy), but hey, what can I do? Start cheating on taxes? Give up work in protest, and become one of the state-sponsored parasites? Move to... I don't know, a Moon colony?
However, if it was VAT
only (with ABANDONED income tax), I think, it could be quite interesting and fair way to tax people, in it's own regard - because, it would effectively tax the CONSUMPTION - the more you consume (philosophically: the more you are getting out of the society), the more tax you pay. The more prudent, self-sufficient, savvy life you choose, the more tax savings you are getting.
That alone would provide HUGE, direct financial incentives, for conservative life styles. AND, it would be quite fair distribution - obviously, millionaires, consume more (per head), than middle class - they enjoy more things, that society has to offer - and the more they getting
out of it, the more taxes they pay, automatically. It would also eliminate most of the loopholes (bar direct tax frauds - relatively easy to keep in check)
Therefore, because it is relatively simple, fair, and would benefit prudent, over reckless & corrupted, it ain't going to happen. Unless AFTER the impending big reset.