| The commercialization and taxation of the internet |  |   
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 Elodin 
  
   
        
Promising 
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Free Thinker  
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posted May 07, 2013 07:23 AM | 
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The commercialization and taxation of the internet
  You tube is going to start charging money for access to some videos. Wave bye-bye to a lot of free user made content as the internet is becoming more commercialized.  
 
On a not entirely unrelated note the US Senate just passed a bill to allow taxing of things sold over the interet. Internet sales were previously tax free (and some still will be, at least for now) as dems look for more money to pay for social programs. 
 
Obama favors taxing internet sales but the measure may not pass the Republican controlled House. 
 
Congress has even though about taxing the sale of virtual (in-game) items and even imposing a "death tax" (inheritance tax) on them. 
 
You Tube Cashing In 
 
 Senate oks taxing internet sales 
 
Tax on virtual items
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Revelation
 
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 Darkshadow 
  
  
        
Legendary Hero 
Cerise Princess 
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posted May 07, 2013 07:56 AM | 
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Well what can you expect when you have a system based on corporate greed?
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 Warmonger 
  
   
        
Promising 
Legendary Hero 
fallen artist 
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posted May 07, 2013 08:20 AM | 
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Quote: On a not entirely unrelated note the US Senate just passed a bill to allow taxing of things sold over the interet.
   
This is absolutely normal in Europe. Anything that's sold is taxed, why would it be any different? Internet shopping is already cheaper and more convenient in many cases, even with taxes. 
Quote: You tube is going to start charging money for access to some videos. Wave bye-bye to a lot of free user made content as the internet is becoming more commercialized. 
   
This is all right if the quality of these videaos is going to be extraordinary. Most internet services offers basic functionality for free and some EXTRA content for money. It's not like you're going to be suddenly cut off from videos.
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The future of Heroes 3 is here!
 
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 blizzardboy 
  
     
         
Honorable 
Undefeatable Hero 
Nerf Herder 
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posted May 07, 2013 08:54 AM | 
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Daaaaaaw, I love exploiting online shopping.  
 
This was inevitable though. No way online retailers could enjoy the no-sales tax forever. This has good odds of going through.  
 
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no sales tax at all so this won't affect them except when shipping and selling goods outside of the state. People outside the state can sell **** within said state without having to peg on the sales tax. Appetizing. 
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
 
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 xerox 
  
   
         
Promising 
Undefeatable Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 10:40 AM | 
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It is fortunate then that YouTube will get a lot of competition if they start charging for too much.
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Over himself, over his own  
body and  
mind, the individual is  
sovereign.  
- John Stuart Mill
 
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 Corribus 
  
  
Hero of Order 
The Abyss Staring Back at You 
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posted May 07, 2013 02:06 PM | 
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Edited by Corribus at 14:07, 07 May 2013. 
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I've got mixed feelings.  Tax-free shopping at Amazon kills local businesses.  On the other hand, I benefit greatly from it. 
 
Bigger issue I have is any kind of federal sales tax at all.  I have this feeling that if it's passed on online shopping, it'll only be a matter of time until we have a federal sales tax levied on everything - on top of local and state sales tax.  I agree that tax-free online shopping is a little bit of a loophole that probably should be fixed, if only to benefit local retailers.  However as in many things I don't think this is the federal government's matzo ball to chew on. 
 
When will politicians realize that taxes hurt commerce?  Where I live in Illinois, the sales tax is almost 10%.  TEN PERCENT.  I don't buy anything here at all because of it.  And though it's not sales tax, I don't know who in their right mind would want to live in California.  The income tax here in Illinois is bad enough.  In CA it's like 12% or something.  WTF?
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg 
 
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 JollyJoker 
  
     
         
Honorable 
Undefeatable Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 02:36 PM | 
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Never come to Europe then. Within the EU, Denmark and Sweden are highest with 25%, Germany with a whopping 19% being the lowest after the great powers Luxemburg (15), Malta and Cyprus (18 each). 
 
Of course there ARE reduced taxes (for example for food) - except in Denmark.  
 
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 Doomforge 
  
      
         
Admirable 
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Retired Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 03:16 PM | 
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Quote: When will politicians realize that taxes hurt commerce?  Where I live in Illinois, the sales tax is almost 10%.  TEN PERCENT.  I don't buy anything here at all because of it.  And though it's not sales tax, I don't know who in their right mind would want to live in California.  The income tax here in Illinois is bad enough.  In CA it's like 12% or something.  WTF?
   
 
Cor, imagine now you get your glorious 300$ per month like me (oh wait it's 400$ now, can't whine nyuck nyuck), and the sales tax is 23%   
 
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
 
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 xerox 
  
   
         
Promising 
Undefeatable Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 04:42 PM | 
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You complain a lot about Poland but when I was there, the people looked really happy and well-fed. 
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Over himself, over his own  
body and  
mind, the individual is  
sovereign.  
- John Stuart Mill
 
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 Salamandre 
  
      
          
Admirable 
Omnipresent Hero 
Wog refugee 
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posted May 07, 2013 04:56 PM | 
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 khalbrae 
  
  
    
Adventuring Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 10:22 PM | 
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 Hobbit 
  
  
       
Supreme Hero 
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posted May 07, 2013 10:31 PM | 
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We, Poles, are used to have less money and high taxes. That's our main advantage over the rest of Europe and USA.  
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Horn of the  
Abyss on AcidCave
 
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 Tsar-Ivor 
  
   
        
Promising 
Legendary Hero 
Scourge of God 
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posted May 08, 2013 07:07 PM | 
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Lol the VAT here is 20%. 
 
Quote: When will politicians realize that taxes hurt commerce?
   
 
I couldn't agree more.
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"No laughs were had. There is only shame and sadness." Jenny
 
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 Salamandre 
  
      
          
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Omnipresent Hero 
Wog refugee 
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posted May 08, 2013 08:09 PM | 
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 blizzardboy 
  
     
         
Honorable 
Undefeatable Hero 
Nerf Herder 
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posted May 08, 2013 08:24 PM | 
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Sales taxes aren't quite as dumb because food items and a few other products have 0 sales tax. Otherwise it's 6%. Less burden on lower/lower-middle income groups for the more basic items.  
  
 
Sales tax = covert revenue. Step 1: Tell people you aren't taking as much out of their salary, Step 2: Spike the **** out of prices on consumer products. Step 3: Trollface.jpg
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"Folks, I don't trust children. They're here to replace us."
 
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 Storm-Giant 
  
    
         
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On the Other Side! 
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posted May 09, 2013 12:09 AM | 
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Here at Spain, in the last two years we passed from 16% to 21% thanks to two "adjustments"  
 
Worst of all, it seems they increase again in the next years   
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 fauch 
  
    
         
Responsible 
Undefeatable Hero 
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posted May 09, 2013 02:00 PM | 
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Edited by fauch at 14:01, 09 May 2013. 
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don't worry, it is to compensate losses due to tax evasion  
 
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