Apparently I need to hire a lawyer to remove any ambiguity in my posts before responding (to anyone), but I'll take my chances...
No, just don't argue with someone who argues for a living
I honestly don't feel it's right that some people get a "get out of argument free card" or that we should just take their word as indisputable because of their profession. Maybe that's just me. I don't break every argument down into mathematical algorithms and debate the merits of said posts based on my profession as a programmer. This is a forum and anyone would tell you that you don't argue with others using legal doctrine. Legalese has a place, but it's not in casual conversation. Leave work at the office....
This seems like it would encourage even more cheaply made but replaceable goods. "They're charging me a larger tax on my higher quality but more expensive shoe that comes from a decently taxed country? Well, I guess I'll be saving even MORE money, since the taxes are lower on these cheaply made sweatshop shoes. They might only last me 3 months, but at least they seem cheaper than those shoes that would likely last years, and the taxes are lower now too!"
It might, but that's easily "satiated" with an import tax. It would encourage lower retail prices to negate the tax overhead, but I don't believe it would be as detrimental as buying a 3 month shoe vs. a 1 year shoe. The difference in taxes at that level would be meaningless.
Value added tax is a pain in the UK. It has varied over the years within certain EU boundaries and now sits at 20% of most purchases. Some things are exempt from VAT - Luxury items are meant to be fully taxed at 20% and essentials are meant to be VAT free. Until 2001 Sanitary Towels were deemed a luxury under tax law and subject to full VAT. Jaffa cakes were a bit of a running joke as originally they were fully taxed as a chocolate biscuit (luxury item apparently), but moved to the cake category after a review which is exempt from VAT (cake isnt a luxury - "Let them eat cake...")...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_the_United_Kingdom#Value_added_tax
What I suggested was a sales tax on all goods at a graduated rate.
Cheap foods (like most staple products) would be very low/no tax while vehicles, trucks, etc would be a taxed investment.
But I guess the point is that it would have to be graduated or on a sliding scale to prevent excessive taxation for corporations and find a sweet spot where people don't feel overburdened when purchasing clothing, shoes, food, etc. but you increase the taxes over the length of the cost scale.