Sunday, April 3, 2011

Sales Tax on the Internet (post #23)

Due to state budget deficits, there is a movement going on across the nation to begin collecting sales tax for purchases made on the Internet. Currently, if you buy something online from another state, you are not paying that state's sales tax. Many states are moving to change that, including conservative states such as Texas.

The Supreme Court has ruled that for a state to require a company to charge and collect a sale eBay and Amazon are fighting this movement.

Do you think it is a wise idea for states to ask companies to collect sales taxes for online sales across state lines? Is this something the federal government (Congress) should take up based on the Commerce Clause?

Is this a fair tax? Your thoughts?

76 comments:

  1. I think how the states are asking companies to collect sales taxes for online sales across state lines is a smart way of gaining extra profit for themselves because it's extra money in their pockets. It would effect the buyers, reduce the desire of purchasing items, and possibly others. I'm indifferent about this idea. If it goes then it goes.

    Chrissy Vue
    Sloan
    Period 3

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  2. Mr. Bauer, Period 2
    As a frequent internet shopper, i do not agree with this proposal. Many sales are made on the internet due to the prices when compared to retail. Having taxes on items would discourage internet shoppers like myself. My question is if the tax would be equivalent to the state tax. If yes than people could stop shopping online altogether. I think if there is going to be a tax applied than is should be a nationwide tax. Also, amazon and eBay are not the only American companies that sell over the internet. would this law also enforce transactions with other countries? If so, this could be a major trade barrier between the U.S and foreign countries. If not then, buyers will most likely buy from foreign nations than from the U.S which will lead to a mass amount of outsourcing. From a personal point of view i dislike the idea. From an economical point of view, it can be a good idea but with certain limitations to the amount of tax and the influence it will have on other nations.

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  3. This is a great way for the state governments to collect money to reduce the deficit. It would be like purchasing goods at a nearby store with a percentage of tax on the good. Currently, some states do charge taxes on internet purchases depending on their state sales tax. I recently discovered that California does this; but imagine if every state did it...MO' MONEY FOSHO!!! Sometimes we gotta raise taxes and sacrifice for the goal of becoming better no matter how long it takes.

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  4. commerce: The exchange of commodities for commodities.

    this is covered in the commerce clause, i think it is a great idea for the country to rake in a little more money to fix itself without having to cut anything from education, public services, ect.

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  5. Hannah Engebretsen/Bauer P2April 3, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    I don't pay taxes yet, so right now I don't really care. But if i did pay taxes i would hate it because taxes are lame and nobody likes to pay them. And since we already pay taxes so much already on everything we pay for. But then again, it could help our economy...who really knows.

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  6. Well i think that its its a smart way or getting a little extra money . I don't buy online but for the people that do is going to be bad for them because some of the reasons people would buy online were because there weren't no tax . I don't no if this will work but hopefully it will a least a little .

    richard manzo

    sloan pr5

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  7. I think fewer and fewer people are doing the blog post. Can we have an incentive?
    You already have to pay fore shipping and handling, with tax added the price will be even higher. Go figure. It might even detour internet buying, though i doubt it. I am opposed to this tax, but i do understand it.
    Is it smart to tax exports? That's close to what is happening.
    Caleb Newman

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  8. I agree with Jimmy that it is a great way for state govts to reduce the deficit.

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  9. Austin Retherford
    mr.bauer
    period 5

    i think this is a smart tax. we as a country are in debt and this can help us fix that. even if the item is being purchased from another state this would be a good idea. if the people dont want to pay the tax on top of shipping and handling then they can go get it in the store or not at all. i think people could use the fresh air anyway even if it is just an extra trip to the store.

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  10. Maria Schmidt, Bauer, Per 5April 4, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    I think this is a smart way to raise money, especially since the state of our economy is so bad right now. Though I am not a fan of paying taxes on items, this is a good way to bring in more money. Maybe people will stop buying things from the internet, but most likely they will continue their online shopping habits. I hate to admit it, but this seems like a smart solution that could help a bit.

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  11. I think it should deffinately be done. california needs every extra cent we can get and this is a great idea to generate tons of revenue. A growing number of people have stopped buying in stores just to get this tax loop hole and our economy is suffering. This is a great idea in my opinion
    jake beilby

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  12. Danielle Smith, Sloan P1April 4, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    I say go for it. This tax is a great way to increase revenue for us and it should be done because we reeeally need it. We're pretty much broke. And with how so many people are addicted to computers, imagine how much it could increase cash flow! Just because someone is lazy and doesn't wanna go to the actual store doesn't mean they should be exempt from paying sales tax. It'll have to help the economy out at least a little bit.

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  13. I think it is a perfectly fine idea to tax on goods purchased on the internet. While I understand that people do not like having taxes on anything, I think that we need to start being realistic about what needs to happen. As a whole if we raise taxes and stop the national deficit we have we will be better off in the long run. Because of this, I honestly believe that internet taxes are a step in the right direction.
    Tiapon-Bauer 4, Sloan 3

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  14. I think that they should have sale taxes for purchasing goods in the internet. This is a great way to reduce the deficit. I would not mind this sale tax because i don't really shop online. This is a very fair tax that should be done.

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  15. What i think is that online shopping places should not ask to tax people who buy things because they are already getting money from someone who buys one or many objects so they should just leave it alone and were already having to worry about paying other taxes.

    Aniscia Silva
    Sloan
    Per 5

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  16. Well, I think this is fair because it's a better way to get extra more taxes and make the nation better in a way too. It can help the economic issue, tho maybe not more people will be buying stuff on eBay or Amazon.

    Sania Bacha
    Mr Bauer.
    Per.3

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  17. I think taxing products and things that people buy over the internet is a good isea because it is a good way for our state to make more money and can even maby improve the economy. Why not tax online goods, we already get taxed on everyday things anyways.

    Clarisa Carrillo
    Per.4
    Sloan

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  18. I believe that this is a good idea. Due to the economic hardships we're going through, any money we can get is worth something. Yes it will not make a big difference, but some money is better than no money.

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  19. I agree with the majority of the people, that this is a good idea. Everywhere else you have to pay taxes, so why not for online shopping too? It will be a good way to make the money that is needed. so much

    Melissa Quezada
    Mr. Bauer
    P.2

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  20. I don't think there should be a sales tax for purchasing online, because then they'll have to figure out which state the tax goes to: the state an item was sent from or the one where the purchase happened. I think it will just create another big mess that will be confusing and cause anger among the people. Bad idea.

    Melody Morphis
    Mr. Sloan
    per. 1

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  21. If it can eventually help with this "small" debt we have , then I say do it!
    Jordan elzie per 2 sloan

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  22. Personally i think that a sales tax on the internet is crzy. People already have enough with the increasing prices, and other taxes people must pay. Congress should not have a say bases on the clause because they do not know how the people feel. I know that if a law were to pass that taxed people i Know I would not be buying anymore things on the internet becaue a tax is ridiculous especially in the times we are in.

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  23. Josh Agans, Bauer P.5April 4, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    i would not want to pay taxes for things online, but it would be a great way to bring in more money. this would help our economy a lot i think because it is helping us raise more money. i know a lot of people would stop buying things online though. that is because shipping rates and stuff are already pretty high. our economy and the debt were in can use all the money it can get. i think this is a good idea for the federal government.

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  24. It kind of makes sense to put a sales tax on the goods because there would be a sales tax on the goods if you were to buy the product in the store. SLoan per 1

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  25. From an economic standpoint this policy makes perfect sense and I'm surprised it has not gone into affect yet. People need to suck it up and be willing to pay a little more to help the nation as a whole.

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  26. I think this is definatly a federal issue because the Commerce Clause, because it could get very confusing for companies, such as small businesses and cause more problems than helping states with thier budget deficits.

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  27. Ricardo VillalpandoApril 5, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    i think that it was a good idea that they are going to do this because we need all the money we can get to get out of this deficit and any way they tax every thing else why not this.

    ricardo villalpando
    pr5 sloan

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  28. People that buy things in the internet from other states probably will cut down on things that they get because of this.I think its not a bad idea because the other state will be getting more money and its more money for them.

    tania hinojosa
    sloan P5

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  29. I don't usually buy things online, but it sounds like a good idea to help out our economy. Yes this is something that should be taken up upon Congress since it is based on the Commerce Clause.

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  30. richard may mr. sloan per. 4April 5, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    I believe this is a great idea. We pay sales tax on everything else so y not. Though there are states, such as Oregon, that do not charge a sales tax. So maybe the law should be that if the state of the company has a sales tax you pay it. Cause if people from Oregon were to go somewhere else they would pay it so why not online?

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  31. I could understand the use of sales tax on online purchases. Would this be consistent with all states? Some states like Oregon do not have a sales tax at all, so would Oregon be required to begin adding a sales tax? If this implement was uniformed and organized it would be a useful way to raise money. In most states a sales tax is added to almost all purchases, so why not add one more? People are not required to purchase online items, so the law would not be forced inconveniently on everyone.

    Devin Smith, Mr. Bauer, P.1.

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  32. Kevin Krivda, Bauer 1
    I agree with the others that this is a good idea to help the state inch its way out of its deficiet. Many people today do their shopping online anyways these days. With all other goods and items taxed, why not on the internet too.

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  33. The American people are burdened with taxes already as it is. This proposal won’t accomplish anything, and will only deter demand. Personally, I don’t want to pay more than I already have to on my computer hardware purchases from Tiger Direct.
    (Sloan P.3/Bauer P.4)

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  34. I feel it is a terrible idea to add a sales tax to internet purchases. We are taxed enough as it is and adding sales tax could decrease purchases and profit for companies. As much as the fed would like too, they simply cannot tax everything.

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  35. Joeylee Maimone, Sloan 4
    I think that taxing internet purchases may be a bad idea. I don't ever purchase anything through the internet but I believe that if there was a tax on such a thing I don't think people will be purchasing as much as they are now. No body likes taxes and people are going to avoid taxes as much as they can until the economy improves.

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  36. Personally I'm not much of an online shopper and for other states to decide to put a tax on online purchasing can be a benefitting way for other states to make money.

    Christina Luna
    Bauer

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  37. I think that they should tax products bought in the internet. Many people shop there because they beleive it is cheaper, and it is a way to shop without having to go to the store in search of something. In other blogs that I have read it is mentioned that these taxes are a bad idea because they will discouraged buyers. I am certain that the buyer will not like the taxes, but I think that it will not be enough for people to stop shopping online. This will definetly be a great way for the governement to get money and try to decrease the deficit, as mentioned in other blogs as well.

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  38. I say we should tax it. The revenue would be of great help to the states economy. The tax will not be that much but all together it will because people now shop online more than at the store. So there would be a benefit in taxing online purchases.

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  39. I believe this is a good idea. Putting tax on things you buy off the internet is a good idea because then you can make more money. This would help the economy and the states. This would be a great benefit.

    Jaskiran Kaur
    Mr. Bauer
    Government
    Period 2

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  40. I think the idea of states taxing consumers for online sales across state lines is a good idea. Those who buy goods online will likely continue make purchases that even if the purchase is more expensive. It will be beneficial so that states can have more money, which should help the economy.

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  41. Lucero Cardiel. Mr. Bauer 3rd periodApril 5, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    I greatly oppose this proposition. The main reason is, things are going to become more expensive. When someone buys an item off the internet, they not only pay for the item but also for shipping and handling (with an exception to certain promotions). Another observation is most of the time items on the internet are more expensive than if you walk into a store. This sales tax will cause the purchase of online items to decrease and companies like eBay and Amazon will be greatly affected. And the country does not need to spend money to fight these big companies off to begin with. I say this should be taken out and forgotten.

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  42. i dont like the idea of adding sales tax to internet purchases we already get taxed soo much. why dont they tax the people who have money to spare and then some...like the wealthy :)

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  43. Maria Perez
    Sloan Per:4
    I think that this idea is not fair because people should have the privilage to buy things online without any extra taxes, because buying online is already time consuming in the way that sometimes the items purchased have to be sent, so I think this is not a good idea to do to online purchases.

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  44. I think it would help california bisnusses to gain more money to put in the economy but it would cost more money to california.

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  45. although states would benefit from this tax, i believe internet companies would diminish. people already have to pay shipping and handling, they wouldnt want to pay the tax too when you could just go to the store. there are other ways to stimulate state economy rather than taxing internet goods, something that never existed.
    hayley swearingen
    sloan per 4

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  46. Emily Geiszler, BauerApril 6, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    I don't think that this tax is a good thing. It would make things complicated and messy. I, as an avid internet shopper, would be very unhappy with this tax. I would probably stop shopping online and wait until I can make it to whatever store I want something from. I suppose it could benefit some state's economies, but if I understand it correctly it would be more expensive to buy things from certain states than from others. It is just a weird concept but if it were to be implemented, it would need to be the federal government that stepped in to create the rules and stipulations for something like this.

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  47. sales tax for internet sales would be a good idea to lower the nations deficit. Already there are so many buyers who shop online. his can help out are economy and bring it to where it was before Bush was in presidency. I am not saying this will completley fix are problem , but it is a good step in doing so.

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  48. I think that collecting taxes on online purcheses is a good idea. it will definetly help the goverment to obtain more money and help out the economy.
    monica salazar
    mr sloan

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  49. I think that there should be taxes on the internet. It would help out economy to grow and to gain more resources and money. This could raise our GDP. Because the internet is used by almost every American.

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  50. The only major reason I shop on the internet is to get something that probably isn't possible to get in stores. Obviously, with internet purchases, goods will need to be shipped, which is already a pretty hefty tagged on fee. I would go so far as to say that it would only be fair to tax internet purchases if internet purchases were far more frequent, maybe taking up at least 60% of the market or so. But, I could understand why this idea would hold water.

    Brian S.
    Per. 4 Sloan

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  51. kayla rodriguez sloan5April 6, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    i feel that any way possible to help us as a country get out of debt is smart. i would very much be in favor of this taxation because i hate being in debt! however, i dont really pay taxes but i know it affects my parents. whatever makes our country happppy

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  52. i am in favor for the tax because it would raise money to stimulate the economy. and also because it would not directly affect me that because i am not an online shopohalik.
    Alondra munoz
    sloan p5

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  53. Janeiry Balderas, Mr. Sloan, Period 4April 6, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    I believe that trying to add tax on purchases done online might be a mistake. since many times people who are going online are looking for bargains and adding tax wouldn't help. Most of all because buyers are already paying enough as it is(well what i mean is things such as shipment payment and other additional fees). Adding tax on purchases isn't a smart idea yet its understandable that a state would try to juice up anything that they can get their hands on, well take an opportunity to make the most of it.

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  54. If it's across state lines it should be a federal tax and split it half and half for each state. Just an idea I didn't think it out too well.

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  55. Breana spiro p.4 sloan

    Well i actually. Though thats the companies already taxed but it is. A smart move and it is fair we are all trying to make money. And no one wants to pay taxes but we also want to make money. So i feel that the internet conpanies. Will lose the battle and they will soon also have to. Have to find away to fix their. Own economic problem

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  56. I think that this is a good idea for the states to collect money. Just because you buy something on the Internet does t mean you shouldn't have to pay taxes. Should he taxes be outrageous? No of course not, but a taxes are what we need to bring us out if this recession. Lowering taxes will only make it worse. Am I happy about the taxes, no but do I think theyre necessary, yes.

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  57. Sergio Maldonado, Sloan p.3/ Bauer p.4April 6, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Taxes on internet may help states raise revenue. However if a person from one state,for example Oregon, buys goods from another state,for example California, and then the Californian buys a good from Oregon, then Oregon actually be losing money because it has no sales tax. This may seem to be unfair, and decrease the demand for internet goods. This may be a reason internet companies are fighting this movement. Since these taxes are not really fair or equal, then the federal government might have to step in to solve the problem.

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  58. personally, i say no cause i like not spending all my money. but on a less selfish note, it would help our crap economy out. so let's do it. Looks like overtime for some people!

    Daniel Ruiz
    Sloan
    Per. 5

    Thank God i remembered the blog.

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  59. i think this is a good way for other states to make money but it might be more for the buyers. i kinda would like this becuase its a good way to gain a little more profit.
    erika oropeza
    mr.sloan
    p.4

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  60. In my opinion, I hunk this is a good idea. Honestly it doesn't really matter to me because I don't shop online, but I think It will only help our economy rather than hurting it.
    Victor alvarez
    Sloan
    P5

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  61. Katie Frogue, Sloan P1April 7, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    I think this is a smart way to raise money, especially since the state of our economy is so bad right now. Though I am not a fan of paying taxes on items, this is a good way to bring in more money. Maybe people will stop buying things from the internet, but most likely they will continue their online shopping habits. I hate to admit it, but this seems like a smart solution that could help a bit.

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  62. Chelsea Ray, Sloan p1April 7, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    This is a good idea and can help the economy slightly. Its not like people dont already pay taxes on things they buy anyways. With the way the economy is, people are going to have to deal with the changes until some improvements are made.

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  63. Alejandro Ibarra (Mr. Sloan, P.1)April 7, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    I believe it is a good idea. that way the sales taxes that are collected like that can go towards our messed up economy. besides most things online tend to be a bit cheaper than in stores so a sales tax should not do much.

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  64. I think this is hella gay cause no I don't want to pay another states sales tax I don't even want to pay californias sales tax but I live here . So no let's keep the Internet where it's at it's doing good there

    Thomas Shelton

    P.5

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  65. With a constantly rising debt, I don't believe that an Internet sales tax would be to much of a bad idea. I don't believe it would discourage so many people that there would be profits actually lost. So why not, the country needs the money.
    Marklin Nixon Mr. Sloan Period 1

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  66. i think it's a good idea...there's no cutting important stuff like school or state budgets. However, with the shipping costs sometimes being ridiculous, it may discourage some from buying online.
    Samantha White
    Solan per5

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  67. sales tax is meant to be accurate to the amount of transactions that go on across the state. whether that sale is made at a gas station, online, in a box, or with a fox, it should all be counted.

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  68. amanda eckroth
    per.1
    slaon
    Do you think it is a wise idea for states to ask companies to collect sales taxes for online sales across state lines? I think they should just leave it as it is becuase then other wise there might be problems in the long run with the customers.
    Is this something the federal government (Congress) should take up based on the Commerce Clause? ya the fedral gov will need to say what needs to be done and what not..

    Is this a fair tax? Your thoughts? i dont think so because its on the internet and its in y9our state your not in thir state ur in your state so it shall just stay the same

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  69. i believe that people already have to pay taxes on basically everything so i think that the supremem court should give everyone a break. With keeping the taxation on other goods already as it is, it won't hurt to not tax any online purchases. The government wills till be earning money and it wouldn't make any difference in change.

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  70. I'm actually a little confused by this. I buy things online quite frequently, from all over the country and even overseas and I can't think of a single thing I have purchased online that did not have a tax attached to it. How will this change anything? Is this saying that we would pay a California sales tax, and then the other state's tax on top of it? So like a double whammy? If that's the case, it's just ridiculous, and a fantastic way to discourage people from circulating their cash a little more. But still, I'm unsure as to what this question is asking.

    Sasha Schotzko-Harris
    Bauer 1

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  71. This truly isn't a bad idea at all, of course some people might be completely against it, this can help our government help reduce the deficit, even if it is only by a little. Therefore by doing this, the deficit should slowly go down and the economy will slowly start to better itself.

    Brian Leiva
    Mr. Sloan
    Period 5

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  72. I dont think the government or congress has the right to collect sales tax from things that we buy from another country. The only think congress or the government wants its money and they always try to get it however they can. They cant get involved with something they didnt even started.
    Jonathan Ramos
    Mr. Bauer
    Per.2

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  73. I think that this is a good idea. Putting tax on things you buy off the internet is a good idea because then you can make more money. I think that this would help the economy and the states.
    Stephanie A
    Mr.Sloan
    Per.4

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  74. Sarah Richter, Bauer, Period 5May 15, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    I think having a sales tax on buying things online from another state would be a good way to earn more money. Many buyers may not buy as many items after the fact that they have to pay so much money for one item. It would help the economy and states but i really don't think they should do it. Honestly i don't think its fair because were paying enough money in taxes but there going to do whatever they want anyways.

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  75. I think this a complete outrage, the government is trying to tax us in anyway they can. The nation is in extreme debt so the government raises taxes and tries to make any new taxes as possible. The U.S. imports far more than it exports that is the first problem and the largest we are distributing way too much of our nations money in other countries. Charge Multinational corporations more money for seeking workers in less developed countries who will work for next to nothing.

    EJ Keller
    Per.4
    Sloan

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  76. Honestly the sales tax would probably ruin onlinee buying. I mean most people enjoy online buying so as notto have to pay the sales tax. They probably would become discouraged from it otherwise. But i believe it would be a good idea since production sales online are great so the yax moneyay help restrengthen our economy. Joeliane Muegge Mr. Sloan p.5

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