How else do you explain the politicians who self-identify as "conservative" who are so eager to expand the size and power of government?
That's an easy one. The core philosophy in conservatism is maintaining the existing power structures in society. The size of government is immaterial, and will be increased when necessary and decreased when unnecessary to the achievement of this aim. The existing power structure in the USA is based around the military industrial complex, which dictates big, big, big government (but which spends very little on actual social programs). The power structure in Canada is based around the resource economy, which dictates government small enough that the energy, mining, and forestry companies can override popular opposition. That pretty much explains everything you need to know about the differences between American and Canadian conservatives.
The core philosophy in conservatism is maximizing individual liberty.
The problem is there aren't anymore American conservatives left.
Yes, I know about the use tax, and I never said it was an untrue statement. The problem with your argument is when you say "merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer". This is absurd--there is nothing "mere" about doing that.
By all accounts there is currently little or no compliance with the use tax. One of the big reasons people buy online is to avoid the extra expense of taxes. Price is always one of the biggest considerations in purchasing anything. To accept your view, I would have to believe that the economy is static and that all demand curves are inelastic and that all the purchases made online would have been made anyway if they had only been available at brick & mortar retailers. Sorry , just can't buy that argument.
"Merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer", plans will change the entire landscape of online commerce and not for the better.
"Again, this measure creates no new taxes, it merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer. (And would also vastly increase compliance with the existing tax)"
As someone born and raised in Oregon I always felt superior to the overly parochial leftist rubes that inhabit Minnesota, my home for the past two decades.However, this is just another example of some of the destructive public policy initiatives that come out of the Beaver State. I had planned to move back to Oregon to get away from the six months of siberian winter we have here in the Twin Cities, but there is no way I would ever consider it now. Oregon has degenerated to the point where it is even worse than MN--i never thought it could happen. Too bad, its a beautiful place. Can't say the same for MN. Call them what you want: fascists, bureaucrats-on-steroids, Orwellian, Green Party, Neo-Stalinist...they are all the same--no matter what issue they talk about its really not the issue, their only issue is control. Welcome to the Matrix.
The future of IT and our economy is too important to be left in the hands of free market zealots. With apropriate laws and planning by the state we can have a just and equitable planned economy that is more fair for everyone.
This law is the right approach, and hopefully just the beginning of a planned approach of innovation and creativity that is better for everyone. Why should Microsoft, Intel, IBM etc. get all the breaks, or worse yet some geek that by sheer luck stumbles on to a new idea that will line his pockets with millions. Let the state do it and we will all benefit.
First the argument that we already have sales tax so why shouldn't internet purchases be taxed also--fair is fair. Then after we set up our new model to span state lines and various local and state rates the argument will be that since we have this system already in place for internet purchase, and since its is in effect really a national sales tax, it would only be fair to have a national sales tax too.
They will even take the pennies from our eyes.
Slashdot Mirror
How else do you explain the politicians who self-identify as "conservative" who are so eager to expand the size and power of government?
That's an easy one. The core philosophy in conservatism is maintaining the existing power structures in society. The size of government is immaterial, and will be increased when necessary and decreased when unnecessary to the achievement of this aim. The existing power structure in the USA is based around the military industrial complex, which dictates big, big, big government (but which spends very little on actual social programs). The power structure in Canada is based around the resource economy, which dictates government small enough that the energy, mining, and forestry companies can override popular opposition. That pretty much explains everything you need to know about the differences between American and Canadian conservatives.
The core philosophy in conservatism is maximizing individual liberty. The problem is there aren't anymore American conservatives left.
Get real. That is one HELL of a stupid suggestion.
Chickens don't have fingers.
Do chickens have talons?
Hitler was (supposedly) a vegetarian. So does that mean that vegetarianism is somehow tied up with facism?
Uh, gee lets see...ever spend five minutes talking to a member of PETA?
Yes, I know about the use tax, and I never said it was an untrue statement. The problem with your argument is when you say "merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer". This is absurd--there is nothing "mere" about doing that.
By all accounts there is currently little or no compliance with the use tax. One of the big reasons people buy online is to avoid the extra expense of taxes. Price is always one of the biggest considerations in purchasing anything. To accept your view, I would have to believe that the economy is static and that all demand curves are inelastic and that all the purchases made online would have been made anyway if they had only been available at brick & mortar retailers. Sorry , just can't buy that argument.
"Merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer", plans will change the entire landscape of online commerce and not for the better.
"Again, this measure creates no new taxes, it merely shifts the burden of collection from the consuemer to the retailer. (And would also vastly increase compliance with the existing tax)"
Idiotic statement.
As someone born and raised in Oregon I always felt superior to the overly parochial leftist rubes that inhabit Minnesota, my home for the past two decades.However, this is just another example of some of the destructive public policy initiatives that come out of the Beaver State. I had planned to move back to Oregon to get away from the six months of siberian winter we have here in the Twin Cities, but there is no way I would ever consider it now. Oregon has degenerated to the point where it is even worse than MN--i never thought it could happen. Too bad, its a beautiful place. Can't say the same for MN. Call them what you want: fascists, bureaucrats-on-steroids, Orwellian, Green Party, Neo-Stalinist...they are all the same--no matter what issue they talk about its really not the issue, their only issue is control. Welcome to the Matrix.
The Road to Serfdom
by F. A. Hayek
The future of IT and our economy is too important to be left in the hands of free market zealots. With apropriate laws and planning by the state we can have a just and equitable planned economy that is more fair for everyone.
This law is the right approach, and hopefully just the beginning of a planned approach of innovation and creativity that is better for everyone. Why should Microsoft, Intel, IBM etc. get all the breaks, or worse yet some geek that by sheer luck stumbles on to a new idea that will line his pockets with millions. Let the state do it and we will all benefit.
Wellness and Equity, and Social Justice...
First the argument that we already have sales tax so why shouldn't internet purchases be taxed also--fair is fair. Then after we set up our new model to span state lines and various local and state rates the argument will be that since we have this system already in place for internet purchase, and since its is in effect really a national sales tax, it would only be fair to have a national sales tax too. They will even take the pennies from our eyes.