Here in Michigan sales tax is 6% but they do not charge you tax for food in the grocery store or non-alcoholic beverages. Food at restaurants has to pay sales tax. But you're definitely right that it varies widely from state to state. I understand that in Nevada there is no state income tax, but their state sales tax is 20%. That way they get most of their sales tax money from tourists. I'm sure that's nice for the people that live there.

But the bottom line is, once the government starts taking in that money you're going to have to pry it out of their cold dead fingers to get it back.