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Calling B.S. On Amazon's Taxation Arguments
theodp writes "Over at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Michael Mazerov carefully picks apart Amazon's arguments against collecting sales taxes, arguing that they simply do not withstand scrutiny. While Amazon officials say collecting sales tax in every state would be excessively burdensome, Mazerov notes the e-tailer already collects sales tax in virtually every state for numerous other companies that sell on its website. Mazerov also finds it disingenuous for Amazon to argue that it should not have to help support public services in states in which it has no physical presence when the company fails to support public services in most of the states in which it does have a physical presence. Finally, Mazerov isn't buying Amazon's argument that its opposition to collecting sales tax is not driven by a desire to gain a price advantage over competitors, which he finds at odds with the company's own actions and SEC filings. By claiming sales-tax immunity, says Mazerov, Amazon has enjoyed an unfair 5%-10% price advantage over local retailers, while also depriving states and localities of hundreds of millions of dollars of legally due revenue each year."
The ability to tax, while necessary, is not a revenue generating act. Taxes reduce revenue generated by the citizens of a political entity. Taxes are a burden and reduce the ability reinvest and gain more revenue. While, citizens using a government to provide basic services, by presenting a non-voluntary tithe, is legitimate, in no way should taxes be considered revenue. It was not earned, it was seized. I understand the need for taxation. I just want government employees to realize they are taking my money against my will, and not earning my money with their good works. I don't pay for the police or fire department to show up at my door when I call, I don't pay for the roads and airports, health inspections, or supporting welfare moms. A percentage of my income is seized so my elected representatives can be good stewards and provide required services.
Ah, so you're going to enjoy your Mad Cow burgers while planning to work into your late 70's since your retirement plan was annihilated in the Ponzi scheme known as Wall Street, and Social Security & Medicare have been repealed. Your kids will happily play with their toys from China that are covered in lead paint while munching on peanut butter & salmonella sandwiches. The fully deregulated power company will quadruple your electric bill while you shop for used hovercrafts so you can skim over the broken, unmaintained roads on your way to work at Wal-Mart.
After you finish your double shift (one for a cleaning contractor, so no overtime), you stock up on fire extinguishers, first aid kits and shotguns to make up for the loss of public fire departments, police departments, and ambulance services. You herniate a disk while shoveling your own dike to protect you from flooding, which your insurance company promptly denies coverage for (you didn't disclose the fact that you had acne as a teenager) so their CEO can be worth three quarters of a billion dollars.
Which blows your water purification fund, which you were saving so you could remove the mercury, arsenic and cholera from your drinking water. But you can bask in the marvels of the free market AND mob rule, all the while saving yourself the cost of moving to that ultimate Libertarian paradise, Somalia.
Low taxes have high costs.
>>>Someone please mod the parent up!
(Score:-1, Troll). They didn't listen to you.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall