Now the feds can ruin the net too
The era of tax-free e-mail, Internet shopping and broadband connections could end this fall, if recent proposals in the U.S. Congress prove successful. State and local governments this week resumed a push to lobby Congress for far-reaching changes on two different fronts: gaining the ability to impose sales taxes on Net shopping, and being able to levy new monthly taxes on DSL and other Internet-service connections. One senator is even predicting taxes on e-mail.
Pro-tax advocates this week advanced a flurry of proposals pushing in that direction. A bill was introduced that would usher in mandatory sales tax collection for Internet purchases. Then, during a House of Representatives hearing the same day, politicians weighed whether to let a temporary ban on Net access taxes lapse when it expires on November 1. A House backer of another pro-sales tax bill said to expect a final version by July.
The response to the moves in CNET News.com’s TalkBack forum was overwhelmingly negative, mostly along antitax convictions. However, some readers took a bigger-picture approach to the situation.
“Half the reason the Internet has become so successful is because the government has had little involvement.”
– CNET News.com reader
Indeed.
If this is what we get for electing democrats- an endless war and now, f’n up the net- then we need to add “None of the above” to our ballots, because this just bites.
May 29th, 2007 at 6:52 am
meaning several things.
the ‘net is only accessible to those who can pay for it.
the ‘net can only be occupied by those who can pay for it. their voices silenced by greedy politicians.
government then dictates content.
and more time for me. because the more government propaganda content on the ‘net, the less likely i’m going to surf. freeing up endless time for other endeavors.