Tax Polling

Some new polling on the proposed changes to Mexico's tax structure: Mitofsky shows that only 6 percent of Mexicans support the 2 percent consumption tax, and only 16 percent were supportive of a general tax that excluded food and medicine. It's not a huge surprise to find the public opposed to new taxes, but 6 percent is a sobering figure. There was decidedly more support for telecom taxes (11 percent in favor), increasing the maximum profit tax (21 percent), and cigarette and alcohol taxes (39 and 41 percent, respectively).

Also, Buendía and Laredo has a poll in which more than 70 percent of respondents rejected the 2 percent consumption tax and the 4 percent telecom tax. Excélsior today reports that Calderón and co. are planning a final push on the 2 percent proposal, but the above numbers, not to mention the dogged opposition of the PRD and the PRI, have to make you wonder if they wouldn't be better off letting it die.

One other interesting note: I've seen no specific polling on the LyFC takeover, but the Buendía and Laredo poll showed 70 percent supporting laying off federal government employees as a cost-saving mechanism. That would seem to indicate a public well disposed to Calderón's sabadazo.