Unless you're talking about data intensive apps like video editing, DTP and the like, most business software is incredibly mundane. The vast majority of cubicle dwellers do not need anything more than a well designed web app. Data entry hardly requires a fat client.
Terrorists use Google Maps to look for targets? If they're looking for schools couldn't they just use, I don't know, the phone book? What does the detail level of the image have to do with anything?
It's worse than that. Once states get their piece, counties and cities will want to get in on it as well.
I work for a company which does direct sales all over the US, and we collect taxes on all of it to any jurisdiction. Between tracking and remitting taxes to every potential entity we spend A LOT of money just keeping up with taxes at numerous levels. And that's when we're not being audited. Add a tax audit and the work involved becomes insane.
Compliance costs would completely drive small web shops out of business. As with most things government does "for the good of the people" the unintended consequences of online taxes would help out massive corporations everywhere who could easily eat the costs involved while punishing the small business.
That may well have been the original impetus to work with a publisher long ago. Now that we have publishing cartel's who have perfected the art of creative accounting and confusing contracts, they own the creators rather than simply providing a service. The standard model of these cartels is to have the copyright assigned to them so the creator never gets it back, cook the books so it looks like there was no profit, send the creator a bill for $500.00 and laugh all the way to the bank.
Slashdot Mirror
For every band who gets "rich" due to the record labels there are dozens who are poorer than when they started with the label.
It's a cliche at this point but http://www.negativland.com/albini.html
Unless you're talking about data intensive apps like video editing, DTP and the like, most business software is incredibly mundane. The vast majority of cubicle dwellers do not need anything more than a well designed web app. Data entry hardly requires a fat client.
So you believe that it's the place of government to protect people from themselves?
Mynd you, moose bites Kan be pretti nasti...
I pay about $50/mo for 20Mb/768Kb service. Qwest also has a 12/768 and a 7/768, I believe they're around $40 and $30 respectively.
Prosecuted as monopolies? WTF are you talking about? They're monopolies blessed by the government.
Supply and demand is a capitalist concept, not communist.
If that was an attempt at being funny, you failed miserably.
We did away with leaded gas long ago but we still ended up with reality TV. Apparently it's something other than lead making [people stupid.
So they're going to block online gaming? I don't think Sony and Microsoft will sit around and let that happen.
Terrorists use Google Maps to look for targets? If they're looking for schools couldn't they just use, I don't know, the phone book? What does the detail level of the image have to do with anything?
Bladerunner had Cityspeak long before Firefly. ;)
Cityspeak here we come!
Like a smurf on a bender?
So your solution to an inability to pay your bills is to take a loan to pay the bills?
All of those people who can't afford their mortgage should just take out a loan to pay the morgtage?
There's nothing real about spending trillions of dollars we don't have by both parties. In fact that money is the exact opposite of real.
It's worse than that. Once states get their piece, counties and cities will want to get in on it as well.
I work for a company which does direct sales all over the US, and we collect taxes on all of it to any jurisdiction. Between tracking and remitting taxes to every potential entity we spend A LOT of money just keeping up with taxes at numerous levels. And that's when we're not being audited. Add a tax audit and the work involved becomes insane.
Compliance costs would completely drive small web shops out of business. As with most things government does "for the good of the people" the unintended consequences of online taxes would help out massive corporations everywhere who could easily eat the costs involved while punishing the small business.
Keep in mind that those monopolies gouge their customers with the full blessing of government.
You also have AIDS from sleeping with a prostitute. And now your wife knows about it.
What do you mean you didn't get AIDS from a hooker?
Oh, I guess that was Vortrann who has AIDS. Oh well, better luck next wife.
Government regulation created the monopoly/duopoly. Try again.
You mean like the monopoly of government? How do you intend to break that?
Except that cities and states have created monopolies which give those company ownership of the lines rather than retaining ownership themselves.
Those government entities have created the problem, so how do you expect the same government which fucked everything up to now fix it?
You do realize, of course, that it's government regulation which maintains the duopoloy.
So are you going to craft laws which regulate the existing regulatory laws?
Wow, that messed up. Not even the traditional phone call? If that's not evidence of a police state I don't know what is.
Finally, somebody talking sense!
That may well have been the original impetus to work with a publisher long ago. Now that we have publishing cartel's who have perfected the art of creative accounting and confusing contracts, they own the creators rather than simply providing a service. The standard model of these cartels is to have the copyright assigned to them so the creator never gets it back, cook the books so it looks like there was no profit, send the creator a bill for $500.00 and laugh all the way to the bank.