What the poor need are adequate jobs, so they can afford decent housing, food, clothing, and education. They don't need an email account that they have to 'wait in line' to use.
What they DO NOT need is to have money that could be used to provide essential services wasted on another idiotic plan.
As someone smart enough NOT to live in Houston, I just have to shake my head and wonder.
Here's another of Lee P. Brown's money wasting projects. He doesn't have enough money to pay for fire fighters, he did absolutely NOTHING during the floods after Allison (except stay calm), and he's too busy building a 7 mile toy train on Main St. The city budget is a disaster, and his career as mayor of Houston has been one embarassment after another.
There are PLENTY of free email services available to anyone who wants them. WHY WASTE taxpayer dollars on this? There are computers connected to the internet in every Houston Public Library, and anyone so motivated can walk in and sign up for a Hotmail account if they're so eager to use email.
If it weren't for Napster, there would be several CDs I'd NEVER buy, since I wouldn't know they existed. For example: One time I was driving through Central Texas, and was listening to a public radio station. Didn't know which station it was, and it didn't matter: I didn't have anythingh to write on or with as I hurtled down I-35 at 75 mph. I heard some songs by a guy from Canada. I really liked them, but had no way of writing down the artist's name or the station. One day, I stumbled on some of the same tunes while searching through Napster. I found the artist's name, more of his work, and even his website. I was able to make contact, and even order some of his CDs. Score one for Napster! Some times, as I sit here at work I search for different Classical composers. Especially for some of the more obscure ones. As I listen to their work, I can make lists, get on the web, and order their CDs. Sure, some people abuse Napster. I like to think of it as a brilliant Marketing tool that helps me find the music I want, and SELLS more CDs for the music industry!
IANAL but it seems to me that it should work just like mail order. If I purchase something from a catalog and the company is in another state, I don't pay sales tax UNLESS the company has a presence in my state. If the Feds want a piece of this action, then let's abolish the income tax and move to a national sales tax!
I believe that (as far as the US is concerned) that the same laws governing mail order and phone orders should apply: if you don't live in the same state where a company does business, you shouldn't pay taxes. It amounts to taxation without representation otherwise.
I think that the BEST solution (again, US wise) would be a national sales (consumption) tax instead of an income tax.
International sales? Why should I pay taxes to a foreign government? When I travel overseas, I can get my VAT tax dollars back before I leave the country.
Slashdot Mirror
Since I quit eating undercooked pork, I haven't had to worry about worms....
While I won't comment on the morality of hunting
Even so, you still insinuated your ideas on te subject, didn't you?
Do you really believe that letting animals over-populate and starve to death is somehow more 'moral?'
(continued)
What the poor need are adequate jobs, so they can afford decent housing, food, clothing, and education. They don't need an email account that they have to 'wait in line' to use.
What they DO NOT need is to have money that could be used to provide essential services wasted on another idiotic plan.
As someone smart enough NOT to live in Houston, I just have to shake my head and wonder.
Here's another of Lee P. Brown's money wasting projects. He doesn't have enough money to pay for fire fighters, he did absolutely NOTHING during the floods after Allison (except stay calm), and he's too busy building a 7 mile toy train on Main St. The city budget is a disaster, and his career as mayor of Houston has been one embarassment after another.
There are PLENTY of free email services available to anyone who wants them. WHY WASTE taxpayer dollars on this? There are computers connected to the internet in every Houston Public Library, and anyone so motivated can walk in and sign up for a Hotmail account if they're so eager to use email.
What the less fortunate need is adeq
Name ONE appointee to any position whose appointment was NOT "politically motivated."
If it weren't for Napster, there would be several CDs I'd NEVER buy, since I wouldn't know they existed.
For example: One time I was driving through Central Texas, and was listening to a public radio station. Didn't know which station it was, and it didn't matter: I didn't have anythingh to write on or with as I hurtled down I-35 at 75 mph. I heard some songs by a guy from Canada. I really liked them, but had no way of writing down the artist's name or the station.
One day, I stumbled on some of the same tunes while searching through Napster. I found the artist's name, more of his work, and even his website. I was able to make contact, and even order some of his CDs.
Score one for Napster!
Some times, as I sit here at work I search for different Classical composers. Especially for some of the more obscure ones. As I listen to their work, I can make lists, get on the web, and order their CDs.
Sure, some people abuse Napster. I like to think of it as a brilliant Marketing tool that helps me find the music I want, and SELLS more CDs for the music industry!
IANAL but it seems to me that it should work just like mail order. If I purchase something from a catalog and the company is in another state, I don't pay sales tax UNLESS the company has a presence in my state.
If the Feds want a piece of this action, then let's abolish the income tax and move to a national sales tax!
Get over it.
I'm a worried a WHOLE lot less that a private company has this than I would be if my Government had it!
I think that the BEST solution (again, US wise) would be a national sales (consumption) tax instead of an income tax.
International sales? Why should I pay taxes to a foreign government? When I travel overseas, I can get my VAT tax dollars back before I leave the country.
HAHAHAHA!
Very funny, Jon! following some rather thoughtful replies with an anonymous validation of your point!
You're not fooling me!
AMEN!
They SHOULD have been shut out of the American marketplace altogether for that one.
It's news like this that REALLY makes me want to lock the doors, close the curtains, and hide under the bed all day... with a shotgun.