Alabama's Regressive Tax System

http://blog.al.com/press-register-commentary/2010/04/editorial_lawmakers_wont_let_go_of_grocery_tax.html

For the first time in a long time our local paper publishes an op-ed that does not seek to prop up the status quo in Alabama. The inability of our legislature to pass a repeal of the grocery tax, or offer a tax rebate for low income families to offset grocery taxes, is a stain on this state. The op-ed makes some great points, particularly the fact that taxing groceries has a disproportionate impact on the poor and stifles economic mobility to some degree. Beyond the pragmatics taxing groceries for the poor is fundamentally a moral issue. The "redistribution" of wealth that would occur from repealing/modifying this tax is infinitesimal and in the current proposed legislation would only effect a small portion of income earners (above $150,000 per year). In Alabama families making above that amount constitutes less than 1% of the state. Add to that the observation over the last 20 years that income inequality has been increasing, not decreasing in the state http://cber.cba.ua.edu/rbriefs/absum01_income.html