Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Internet Tax Imminent?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the everybody-freak-out-like-the-last-fifty-times dept.

jhigh writes "Proposals to tax the Internet are gaining steam as state legislators see a giant pot of money just waiting to be dipped into. "At the moment, states and municipalities are frequently barred by federal law from collecting both access and sales taxes. But they're hoping that their new lobbying effort, coordinated by groups including the National Governors Association, will pay off by permitting them to collect billions of dollars in new revenue by next year.""

7 of 505 comments (clear)

  1. Where have I seen this before? by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 5, Informative

    Now where have I seen this before? Oh yeah, here! And it's even a link to the exact same article...

    --
    This guy's the limit!
    1. Re:Where have I seen this before? by DaveTuck · · Score: 5, Funny

      Never mind taxing "the internet" - They should start taxing Slashdot editors for each dupe story.

      --
      Launch each 'sig'.
    2. Re:Where have I seen this before? by ReptilianSamurai · · Score: 5, Insightful

      wow, an impressive dupe, and even less information than before!

      Same great article, now less filling!

      But seriously, we can laugh now, but I wouldn't put this past our government. They've passed worse (DMCA anyone?) The Internet needs to be kept free and international - belonging to no single nation. And that means no nation should be able to tax it.

      --
      I installed Linux on a car, but it crashed due to bad drivers...
  2. Say what? by tomstdenis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I already pay PST/GST on my net connection, and I pay taxes [or duties] on packages bought online. They want to tax on top of the tax I already pay?

    How the hell do you tax email? What if you run your own server?

    Step 1. Understand technology
    Step 2. Legislate it
    Step 3. Represent your constituents.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  3. Re:Good by tomstdenis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Question: Why are brick and motar stores better? it's less efficient to browse a huge store than to use the net and order from a warehouse. Why can't you have local stores run shops on the web?

    I think given the choice of ordering from Ottawa, and ordering from Hong Kong, I'd rather order from Ottawa given the selection, price, and reputation are up to it. I doubt I'm alone in this thought process.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  4. Re:Wrong. by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Problem is, what if you can't afford it but need it? What about legal protection, from police to courts? Should you only be allowed to get a fair trial or be able to defend your rights in court if you can afford it? Should a policeman first of all check your liquidity before keeping the robber from mugging you? What about emergency healthcare? Should you die if you can't pay the bill?

    I'm not really in favor of "have the state provide for everything", but there are a few essential key liabilities that a state is here for.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Re:Wrong. by tyler.willard · · Score: 5, Informative

    Communism is all about having an all-powerful government...

    No, it isn't. That would be Socialism. In theory, Socialism gives way to Communism; i.e., where the means of production are owned and controlled collectively. A government is supposed to be unnecessary.

    All those Soviet, Chinese, Cuban, etc Communist parties you hear about aren't actually practicing Communism. Pretty much in the same way the US doesn't actually practice Laissez-Faire Capitalism.