December 13, 2012 - 11:03 am
We have come for your Internet purchases…
Governors are urgently pressing Congress to pass Internet sales tax legislation in the coming weeks, saying states cannot afford to wait to collect billions of dollars from online retailers.
Washington state Governor Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, a Republican, wrote to Senate leaders on Tuesday urging them to pass legislation granting states the authority to collect sales taxes from online businesses. The letter was released on Wednesday.
It is truly a sad state of affairs in America when Jerry Brown is providing the ideas for flailing attempts at financial solvency.
But, hey, it’s easier than working on responsibly balancing a budget.
Retail sales tax is common to the American way of life. Why not in fairness level the playing field of retail and collect sales tax on “ANY” retail sales transaction? There is NO rational excuse not to!
You are, of course, entirely wrong. There are many rational reasons not to.
First, if I live in New York and I order something online from California why should I pay California tax? I don’t live there. I use NONE of their local services. My kids don’t go to their schools, they don’t pick up my trash and their cops don’t protect me. The state will get their cut of the profits from that sale when the business owner pays his taxes, and they’ll get it from the party to the sale that DOES use their services.
Also, since I can’t vote in that other state this would be a clear example of “taxation without representation”, which you may recall is an outrage that helped spur the creation of this country in the first place.
Finally, people like you need to get into their head that the tax code isn’t supposed to exist to “level the playing field”. It’s to collect revenue to fund the government, period. Sadly we keep electing people to lead us who can’t grasp that simple concept.
You offered NO rational reason(s) whatsoever!
Until such time as the states and federal government repeal the tax codes, they are the law of the land.
If you went to Californina for any reason and made retail purchases would you simply tell them “I’m from New York so you can’t tax me for these purchases.” Geesh!
Actually, I can’t think of any other common law business statutes that do not apply to all legitimate U.S. online business except for inter-state taxes. Even customs statutes apply.
There should be taxes on all online purchases based on either a U.S. point of sales or distribution location. All other sales outside the U.S. would be covered under customs statutes.
how about let’s not raise any more revenue at all. how about let’s cut spending. how about let’s forget about leveling the playing field. entirely.
Thats sacred ‘conservative’ mantra in these times but…..
I’m pretty certain you’d not like the results one little bit. You see most who sing that mantra haven’t a clue how government handouts effect and affect their daily lives at the levels they’re so accustomed to and would/do demand. Most haven’t a clue how government handouts effect and affect their various jobs. In fact, most simply haven’t a clue on much of anything concerning the government and matters of the economy!
well, i see we’re in total agreement then. you smarmy a-hole.