Greedy bastards! I don't think internet shopping has that much to do with loss of tax revenues. I usually shop for the best price and to get exactly what I want, not to avoid the sales tax.
I think this could have a detrimental effect to internet commerce.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9919420-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
With the increase in Internet commerce, we will see a tax sooner or later. I did not think it would be at the state level, because of restrictions on how states can impose taxes and tariffs, but have not studied the laws closely.
We probably need to come up with something that addresses the issue of sales tax and Internet commerce.
I also shop online to get exactly what I want, at a good price. More often than not, considering my tastes in movies, Amazon and other online sellers are the best place to find the DVDs I am after.
The thing I hate about being an atheist is that it doesn't allow me to believe that there's a hell for these people to burn in for all eternity. Cheating my government? What, out if its hard earned tax revenues? These are the same politicians who stand up on the podium telling the biggest lies the world has ever seen? Cheating them? The same ones who gleefully got this country ten trillion in debt so a large chunk of my tax dollars goes to pay interest to rich investors and foreign governments? Cheating them?
AAARGH!!!
Karma, Jack.
I don't know how the tax system works in the States, so forgive my ignorance. But if you buy something from a website that's based in another country, does that mean you still have to pay tax on the goods?
We have a GST (Goods and Services Tax) which was quite controversial when it was introduced. But when you pay, say $3.50 for something, the tax is already calculated in the cost, so you just pay $3.50 at the check out. On the receipt, it will state how much tax is part of the total.
We've never had to pay extra for anything at the check outs. The tax has always already been calculated. But the GST changed the tax structure, so things that were cheaper, ended up being more expensive and vice versa. Also, if something costs $2.99, you'll pay $3.00 at the check out. Everything is rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, because we don't have one or two cent pieces in our currency any more. It sure makes it easier to calculate how much things cost.
Of course, I still think the government is making out like bandits at our expense.
Quote from: Jack on April 16, 2008, 01:35:37 PM
The thing I hate about being an atheist is that it doesn't allow me to believe that there's a hell for these people to burn in for all eternity. Cheating my government? What, out if its hard earned tax revenues? These are the same politicians who stand up on the podium telling the biggest lies the world has ever seen? Cheating them? The same ones who gleefully got this country ten trillion in debt so a large chunk of my tax dollars goes to pay interest to rich investors and foreign governments? Cheating them?
AAARGH!!!
Try being Agnostic, I can damn them to hell but do they really go to hell?
And your right there are a lot of bad politicians out there, but keep in mind there are some honest ones too.