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I agree with your points--my point is that any % of someone's wealth who _can_barely_afford_basic_living_costs_ is significant. Income tax isn't even remotely on someone's mind who can't make ends meet. Sales tax _is_ neglible for most wealthy people so it is easy for them to forget about it and massively overrate the impact of income tax on non-wealthy people.

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If you can barely make ends meet, you do not pay income taxes in America. In fact, you get free money from the federal government once a year via the standard deduction rather than paying them.

If you're scraping by on, say, $500/month after rent is paid, $10 of that on sales taxes is insignificant imo.

Excepting rent, the remaining wages are going to go towards things that are more likely to have a sales tax. For most states that is ~5%. An extra Jackson a month adds up quick for someone in this position.

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