As Massachusetts becomes a leading state in the "services economy" the question of weather or not a 5% sales tax on food purchases, clothing, landscaping services, plumbing services, daycare, hair styling, medical or dental visits, or accounting services should become subject to the Sales Tax.
             By putting a sales tax on food and clothing, this forces a huge and unfair burden on low and middle income families. For this simple fact alone food and clothing should not be subject to a 5% sales tax. Food and clothing both are a necessity to live. Groceries represent 1/5th of the budget of a family making less than $20,000 while it only represents 1/25th of the budget of a family making $70,000 or more. Without a tax on food, the average family would save enough money annually to buy a whole month's worth of groceries. As household income rises, a smaller portion of income is spent on food, clothing, transportation and other goods subject to the sales tax.
             Now same thing goes for medical or dental visits. These are necessities in life. You need medical attention and you need to go to the dentist for good health. You can live without them, but by putting a sales tax on these once again is unfair for the low and middle income families.
             Landscaping services, plumbing services, daycare, hair styling and accounting services are more like luxuries. Sure to look good you need your hair cut and your yard landscaped, but these are definitely not necessities. If you need a daycare you need to change your schedule around or should think about your time first before bringing a child into this world if you know their will be no time to take care of him/her.
             And for plumbing services and accounting services well that's somewhat borderline because if your sink needs a fixing and you can't afford that then you're going to run into some major problems and maybe even some permanent damages to your home w...