In My Mind’s Zen Garden

Well, I don’t think Mr. Rodgers would allow this.

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. Digg to oppose these anti-lower class and anti-economy proposals.

Already I am suffering from a bad case of insomnia, so what can make it worse than to read about how our government just might find a way to tax us for Internet usage, not to mention taxing us for using email. (Okay now, how are they going to tax us for using email?)

“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.”

Okay, here are my reasons why Internet users shouldn’t be taxed any further:

1. We’re already paying a hefty price for Internet Access.
2. As well as paying for extra services like pro-flickr accounts and what-not.
3. Electricity usage is always on a slow, upward climb.
4. Many of us pay for web hosting for our personal domains as well.
5. And the very computers we use to access the Internet aren’t cheap either.

So, why put additional taxes on something that has been basically FREE since its inception?

I have one word… GREED!

But also… CONTROL.

The Internet is that last bastion of new hope. The digital frontier in which technology and the way we work and play have evolved and transformed us. It’s actually been a true digital revolution, but the legislaters and the powers that be want to restrain that. And take it away from (or limit to some extent) our usage of this vast information superhighway.

If anything, we as Internet users, need to put our foot down and keep the Internet FREE, and to not let other limit its bandwidth to those who have the money to afford it. The Internet (aside from hosting and internet service providers) should always be free!

Anyway, this is my rant for the day. And hopefully we can do something… write our congressman, or demonstrate publicly, that taxing the Internet in an attempt to suck more hard earned dollars from the American people (or any global internet user) simply isn’t right.

“At the moment, states and municipalities are frequently barred by federal law from collecting both access and sales taxes. But they’re hoping that their new lobbying effort, coordinated by groups including the National Governors Association, will pay off by permitting them to collect billions of dollars in new revenue by next year.”

Please people, let’s ensure that the Internet doesn’t goes down that path. Keep the world wide web free and keep it away from those governments and corporations who want to control it and sell access and bandwidth to the highest bidder. And keep it tax-free. Lord knows we’re already paying enough taxes elsewhere.

“But with Democrats now in control of both chambers of Congress, the political dynamic appears to have shifted in favor of the pro-tax advocates and their allies on Capitol Hill. The NetChoice coalition, which counts as members eBay, Yahoo and the Electronic Retailing Association and opposes the sales tax plan, fears that the partisan shift will spell trouble.”

Democrats? Why?

. . . .

More Articles:

Internet Taxation: Which Side Are You On?
Save The Internet: Fighting For Internet Freedom
Internet Neutrality: Tough Issue
Fighting For Net Neutrality and Internet Freedom

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