My parents live (and I spent several years as a teenager) in a previously-rural-now-semi-rural area just outside the Minneapolis metro area. Their zip code has changed no less than three times in the past couple decades as the city has grown out around them.
You do realize of course, that in every one of those states, counties and municipalities (of which there are tens of thousands) not only does the rate differ, but the rate applies to different classifications of products in different ways, often in quite complicated ways. Food is not taxed in City X. Great, so no tax on this soda pop. Wrong, soda pop is not food, it's a snack. OK, so these potato chips are taxed. Nope, those are considered food because they're made from potatoes.
Seriously, if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, go sit down and let the people who do have a discussion.
It's always nice to see someone else who actually understands how ridiculous sales tax laws are. Most people are painfully naive about the complexity of the laws. "Just write software to do it!" Yeah, just like a colony on the moon is easy. All you have to do is send people to the moon. What's so difficult?
We should probably get rid of the concept of countries altogether. Surely if a large national government is good, one world government is even better. Which country do you think we'll end up most like? The Chinese and Indians sure have a lot of votes.
I don't care where you live, no store has the selection of a company like Newegg. I have a Microcenter locally and while they have a lot better selection of computer components than Best Buy, it's still a miniscule fraction of what's available online.
Except that in our top down government where power is centralized in Washington DC, and government power and scope is at an all time high, corporate power is greater than ever. If libertarian ideas are so wrong, then as we get further from them and government gets bigger and bigger, why do corporations now run this country? Could it be that massive centralized government isn't the answer?
And the left doesn't understand that an investment purchased for $100 and sold for $200 after holding it for 30 years was not profitable. After taking into account inflation, that investment actually lost money but you still want to tax them on the $100 gain.
The imbecilic calling others uneducated. That's rich.
And this is coming from someone who believes we're going to find alien radio stations no less. Wow. You're a real piece of work.
The people who are able to do the translation could just play the game in it's native language, since they speak it anyway. They gain nothing. What this free translation does is allow Valve to profit by selling to customers it could not previously serve.
Great post, and something fearful people never think of. It's not just a matter of cost, it's a matter of opportunity cost. Yeah, it's terrible that 9/11 happened, but honestly it was only 3,000 people. How many millions of Americans die every year from things other than terrorism? Wouldn't that money be better invested in other areas if the goal is to save lives?
Of course we all know that the goal is not to save lives, but to create new areas of government control and sow fear in the population so government can keep growing, giving the power brokers more and more power.
And how does that do anything for the actual wealth that society produces (money is not wealth, goods and services are, let's get that straight right away) that Las Vegas and Atlantic City don't already provide?
The stock market is a way for companies to raise capital for expansion and for investors to buy into companies they see having future growth.
That's false. While the artist may sometimes choose to retain the copyright on the lyrics and music, assuming they wrote the song themselves, the actual recording is quite frequently the property of the studio. Most big label musicians can't choose to give away their albums for free download even if they wanted to, because the recordings don't belong to them.
And the reason the price was so high to begin with? Because the hospital knows the insurance company is going to pay a fraction of the cost. Healthcare is broken in this country. I don't know that a government run system is the answer, but what we have now certainly isn't working.
Why should I do anything for the community? I get the same result whether I bust my ass in the fields or sit around and sleep under a shady tree all day.
If everyone did what you suggest the world economy would collapse. The modern economy is built on people buying lots of stuff. The collapse of the world economy would leave hundreds of millions starving, due to the lack of oil shipments and leaving crops to rot.
So do you believe that Free Markets haven't failed mankind, that mankind has failed Free Markets? If everyone acted altruistically, there'd be no need for Communism because everyone would act just as perfectly in Free Market system. If people were perfect, then either system would work. Why so hung up on Communism?
Then maybe trademarks shouldn't persist after acquisition, because new owners mean it's not the same company anyway. They themselves cause the confusion, consumers shouldn't be suckered into buying products from a different company under the old name any more than they should be suckered into buying knockoffs by a completely different third party.
Slashdot Mirror
My parents live (and I spent several years as a teenager) in a previously-rural-now-semi-rural area just outside the Minneapolis metro area. Their zip code has changed no less than three times in the past couple decades as the city has grown out around them.
You do realize of course, that in every one of those states, counties and municipalities (of which there are tens of thousands) not only does the rate differ, but the rate applies to different classifications of products in different ways, often in quite complicated ways. Food is not taxed in City X. Great, so no tax on this soda pop. Wrong, soda pop is not food, it's a snack. OK, so these potato chips are taxed. Nope, those are considered food because they're made from potatoes.
Seriously, if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, go sit down and let the people who do have a discussion.
It's always nice to see someone else who actually understands how ridiculous sales tax laws are. Most people are painfully naive about the complexity of the laws. "Just write software to do it!" Yeah, just like a colony on the moon is easy. All you have to do is send people to the moon. What's so difficult?
We should probably get rid of the concept of countries altogether. Surely if a large national government is good, one world government is even better. Which country do you think we'll end up most like? The Chinese and Indians sure have a lot of votes.
I don't care where you live, no store has the selection of a company like Newegg. I have a Microcenter locally and while they have a lot better selection of computer components than Best Buy, it's still a miniscule fraction of what's available online.
Do you think there are more or fewer tax laws than there were 15 years ago?
And the Obama administration has begun going after legal marijuana dispensaries in California. What's your point?
So it's for THE social platform for nerds? I'm sure Facebook is weeping at your departure. I guess they'll have to suffer through 90% marketshare.
Except that in our top down government where power is centralized in Washington DC, and government power and scope is at an all time high, corporate power is greater than ever. If libertarian ideas are so wrong, then as we get further from them and government gets bigger and bigger, why do corporations now run this country? Could it be that massive centralized government isn't the answer?
And the left doesn't understand that an investment purchased for $100 and sold for $200 after holding it for 30 years was not profitable. After taking into account inflation, that investment actually lost money but you still want to tax them on the $100 gain.
The imbecilic calling others uneducated. That's rich.
And this is coming from someone who believes we're going to find alien radio stations no less. Wow. You're a real piece of work.
You know what makes me feel "warm and fuzzy?" Getting paid for my efforts, especially when my efforts make somebody else money.
The people who are able to do the translation could just play the game in it's native language, since they speak it anyway. They gain nothing. What this free translation does is allow Valve to profit by selling to customers it could not previously serve.
Great post, and something fearful people never think of. It's not just a matter of cost, it's a matter of opportunity cost. Yeah, it's terrible that 9/11 happened, but honestly it was only 3,000 people. How many millions of Americans die every year from things other than terrorism? Wouldn't that money be better invested in other areas if the goal is to save lives?
Of course we all know that the goal is not to save lives, but to create new areas of government control and sow fear in the population so government can keep growing, giving the power brokers more and more power.
You fool, you know what happens when TSA and anti-TSA come in contact don't you? It could be the end of the universe!
And how does that do anything for the actual wealth that society produces (money is not wealth, goods and services are, let's get that straight right away) that Las Vegas and Atlantic City don't already provide?
The stock market is a way for companies to raise capital for expansion and for investors to buy into companies they see having future growth.
Millisecond speed trades are for gambling.
That's false. While the artist may sometimes choose to retain the copyright on the lyrics and music, assuming they wrote the song themselves, the actual recording is quite frequently the property of the studio. Most big label musicians can't choose to give away their albums for free download even if they wanted to, because the recordings don't belong to them.
And the reason the price was so high to begin with? Because the hospital knows the insurance company is going to pay a fraction of the cost. Healthcare is broken in this country. I don't know that a government run system is the answer, but what we have now certainly isn't working.
http://news.yahoo.com/longshoremen-storm-wash-state-port-damage-rr-144921214.html
We could just buy all our illegal immigrants a one way plane ticket to Norway. I'm sure they could absorb millions of low skill workers.
Why should I do anything for the community? I get the same result whether I bust my ass in the fields or sit around and sleep under a shady tree all day.
If you want to live the life of a plant or animal, go right ahead. Their lives are short and brutal.
If on the other hand, you want things like modern medicine and that computer you're using to browse Slashdot, their has to be a medium of exchange.
If everyone did what you suggest the world economy would collapse. The modern economy is built on people buying lots of stuff. The collapse of the world economy would leave hundreds of millions starving, due to the lack of oil shipments and leaving crops to rot.
... via regulation?
So do you believe that Free Markets haven't failed mankind, that mankind has failed Free Markets? If everyone acted altruistically, there'd be no need for Communism because everyone would act just as perfectly in Free Market system. If people were perfect, then either system would work. Why so hung up on Communism?
Then maybe trademarks shouldn't persist after acquisition, because new owners mean it's not the same company anyway. They themselves cause the confusion, consumers shouldn't be suckered into buying products from a different company under the old name any more than they should be suckered into buying knockoffs by a completely different third party.