The U.S. Senate is discussing a bill to permanently ban a tax on internet access. I think this is something that will effect all of us that use this forum. Find out more for yourself and let your Senator know how you feel.
Wouldn't a tax on an essential service be what we fought King George over back in 1776? Only now we don't sit around face-to-face and drink our tea, we pipe it in at 200K.
The Stamp act of 1765, was what first started the colonist down the path toward war with England.
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which taxed all legal documents, newspapers and other documents.
This was later repealed in 1766 and, it was not until the Boston Tea Party of 1773 that things really started to "boil".
Your time frame is correct, as the Revolutionary War for Independences started actually a year earlier in 1775 and, lasted until Oct 19, 1781.
And, no ..They were not making Airstreams then...lol
Our founding fathers should be VERY disappointed in us. We have taxes on everything these days and it just gets worse. They had that whole tea party thing only for us to voluntarily do the same thing to ourselves.
Not to start a debate (because I hate taxes as much as anyone) but we already pay taxes and phone and TV services that provide communication and information. A tax on the service itself would be consistent. A tax on e-mail or traffic volume is insane.
The debate wasn't on 'paying taxes', but in having no representation in the governing bodies that levied said taxes, a concept that was against the rules even back then, according to British law. Much of our legal system is based on British common law; most of the ideals set forth in our constitution were not "new" ideas when it was written. the problem was that the laws and principles behind them were not being applied equally throughout the British Empire.
A couple of years ago there was an urban legend floating around that there was a bill introduced to tax email much in the same way that snail mail is paid for with stamps. I stress here that it was an URBAN LEGEND. There was never any such legislation introduced or debated ever.
THIS, however, is a valid debate. States have apparently considered or are currently taxing the internet access service as another revenue source. These taxes are not administered evenly nation-wide. The Senate is currently debating whether or not to stop the states, at the Federal level, from implementing these inconsistant taxes. In Minnesota, for example, it would end the taxation of internet-carried telephone calls. Those same calls over phone company wiring are presently taxed.
It's an interesting and complex issue. I suggest you arm yourselves with the facts before debating the issue.
Although there are many articles out there about it, here's a link to a Minneapolis Star-Tribune article regarding the debate:
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
Seems like the government is only interested in taxing items that seem to make a lot of profit. You know alcohol, tobacco, firearms. Internet is not really a big ticket income generator. You pay a fixed fee, more or less, and get to use it all you want. It seems as though the government want to tax everything these days. I read somewhere that when you add all the taxes up it amounts to somewhere around 55%. I believe it. Ohio keeps taxing us to death and they want even more. For all the taxes I pay, I do not really see a benefit.
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Originally posted by markdoane Well! ,that's a little harsh.
My appologies, Mark, to you and anyone else on the Forums if my comments were taken as harsh or offensive. That certainly wasn't my intent. Unfortunately, inflection and context don't always show through in text posts. I enjoy a lively debate on a timely issues that are on-topic.
Roger
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
None taken. I should have noted I was aware of the hoax.
I was aware of the hoax but you know someone at the USPS or Congress gave it some thought (even the the Congressman named in the hoax does not exist and the bill # is invalid).
It is also correct that taxation without representation was the real issue. Now we have excessive taxation with representation.
Originally posted by 1985air345
It is also correct that taxation without representation was the real issue. Now we have excessive taxation with representation.
Can you imagine what the founding fathers would think of our current tax structure?
Roger
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
seems to me that we are already taxed for internet access.
If you use dial-up..your phone bill is full of taxes. Cable..theres tax too.
Oh well, our US system isn't the best, but, can you name another countrys system that is better..??
NOT~
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Internet Tax
It was...
For all the taxes I pay, I do not really see a benefit.
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