The government has to have a source of income, and it has to get that from productive activity. However, there is a trade-off in these cases. Look at the examp

The government has to have a source of income, and it has to get that from productive activity. However, there is a trade-off in these cases. Look at the examples you gave: personal taxes are progressive and sales tax is regressive. I think they are discouraging whether or not you want them to be. In this case there was a distinct purpose behind the tax (helping those who cannot afford housing costs).