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- Dec 15, 2012
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- Libertarian
So then sales tax isn't a tax?
Yes it's a tax. You are forced to pay it if you buy something and buying things is as a practical matter unavoidable. You are forced directly to pay property taxes if you own property and indirectly if you rent. You are similarly forced to pay interest on a Federally guaranteed student loan if you take one out but you are not forced to take out student loans to finance your education. You have many other alternatives. That is a significant difference and what at heart makes interest on student loads not a tax.
And don't construe any of that to mean that I think student loan interest rates aren't too high - I have no opinion on the matter. I'm simply saying it isn't a tax given the normal usage of the term.