There are two sides to the argument, at least.   I lived in Juneau for many years.   We had relatively high property taxes and a 5% sales tax on just about everything, though while I lived there seniors were exempt, something I think they just changed.   The net result of the taxes was that we like most residents only bought gas, oil, groceries, and sometimes building materials in Juneau.   We bought things by mail order and later online; Amazon and I have a close, personal relationship.   We had an account with AML so we could get free shipping to Seattle and then only pay shipping from SEA to JNU.  I don't think I owned a stitch of clothing bought in JNU.  Most of our furniture was bought Outside.   I understand why the merchants oppose a sales tax.