Everyone loves the Internet because the use of it is FREE! Well up until now it has been a place where you could surf the net, gain knowledge, and not pay anything. Well under the budget crisis, nothing may be sacred anymore. In the last hour the Governor of New York State Governor David Paterson proposed a Tax on Internet downloads. Governor Patterson proposed this afternoon a new 4% tax on all Internet downloads. This fee would apply to all downloads of books, video and other content that one normally downloads on the Internet. His measure is proposed to lower the gap on New York States 15 billion dollar budget deficit. If the Governor was floating a balloon in my own opinion it was a 'lead balloon!' I for one do not like the idea. There are plenty of places to start cutting the fat first before taxes are raised.
Let's talk about the big freebies the Government gives out each year to persons that do not pay one cent into our systems. As a generous nation basically no one is turned away from free hospitalization, education, health care, housing even if they are not citizens of this country. Hugh deficits are run up each year at tax payers expense who in turn are charged higher fees. So guess what? They have run out of ideas to pay more taxes. The Tax Ponzi scheme has run out of victims. So now they are looking in areas that normally no one in their right mind would tax! A few months ago they floated an idea to tax soda drinkers 18% tax under the guise they would eliminate obesity, but gain over 400 million annually in taxes.
I am from New York State originally, I moved out years ago because the taxes were absolutely insane. Friends and relatives in NY tell me all the time of the high taxes whether it is local property tax of with holding taxes. When will enough be enough? I have lived in the city, and I have lived in the Buffalo NY area. I moved out in 1992 because I could no longer afford to pay high taxes. The taxes on my 180K home in East Amherst NY in 1992 was almost 12K a year. That is not right. The Government has to come to the realization it is out of control with spending and not its citizens. They are the last ones to cut back their own budgets, and new measures for taxation will only be counter-productive to tax revenue. Ideas like this will stifle the growth of business, and force more companies to look abroad for relief.
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Why Not - They charge a Tax for Everything Else!
I totally agree, Jim. What kinds of downloads are they planning on taxing? Do you know?
Donna Shuman - FloridaRelocationTeam.com Florida Real Estate www.SKIPtheBULL.com ("Stress-Free" Relocation to Florida - email us today) You are right.
Heather Chavez (Second Self Virtual Assistance) All downloads including pornography.
The companies would probably find ways to load within another site so it wouldn't be a download and no one would have to pay
I don't think it will happen
Quad Cities My RealTeam (Mel Foster Co.) (Keith Allen Allborty and Shellye J. Meyer) That would be my wish, but my fear is that once bad news comes out of 'Pandora's box' we are not going to throw this under the carpet again. On the news this evening there are many states that are now considering suspending returning taxes. The states are broke, and looking for new fix for more taxes.
I am sitting here in awe. I am about to the point of exploding over all this "CHANGE". MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!
Hi Jim..."As a generous nation basically no one is turned away from free hospitalization, education, health care, housing even if they are not citizens of this country."
Well, I guess if that is true none of us should fear a lack of income. Apparently there is this huge safety net out there and no one ever has to worry.
No one goes without medical care. That's good to know. I guess that even means many of those that have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps we better let them know as some of them just don't seem to know the right place to go for all of this free care.
Education is a given for everyone...even higher education? Guess we can stop worrying about our grandchildren then. I guess they will all get homes also if housing is not a problem.
I'm relieved. I had no idea life was such a breeze.
Kate
Terri Griffis Realtor Columbus and Georgia, Alabama Lake Harding Homes (Shepherd Brokers.com GMAC Real Estate) I think they are after the 'loose change' left in our wallets.
The prophet Bob Dylan's words have an echo "...the times they are achangin'."
They will want to have a tax on everything. How about whenever a politician does something wrong, we the people tax them too?! For all the headach and bad press we have to hear for days or weeks or months? Let's see how they like it...
Here we are on the Iowa / Illinois border and very rarely does someone from out of town want to see houses in Illinois. Property tax is double, utilities are higher, gas tax = higher gas prices, and that's not all. So what I'm saying is that some states are going to get left behind, unless they pass a no state left behind act.
Jim,
The whole idea of taxing the Internet for file transfer is wrong. This has been going around for a while.
New Jersey is loaded with taxes too. Every time you turn around they come up with another. I think it time to realize, we just don't have it. They push people and businesses away. Lets face it, politicians just want to make everyone happy.
Have you seen the last stimulus bill? Pelosi fill it with everythin,g but something that would help. How do we have her in charge? I wish California would wake up and realize what she is about. President Obama doesn't stand a chance, between what he wants and Pelosi wants we are in trouble and will not get out like this.
Richard
RE/MAX Ability Plus It is interesting that the point was raised by the Gov. of New York!
Terri Griffis Realtor Columbus and Georgia, Alabama Lake Harding Homes (Shepherd Brokers.com GMAC Real Estate) The change is happening too quick!
Kathleen "Kate" Elim LAKE ANNA, VA Real Estate (RE/MAX Lake & Country) Many of these rules apply to non citizens on a routine basis. In some states there are pre-K classes for immigrants etc. The latest example was Obama's aunt from Africa living in the United States Boston illegally in government housing for years. Also receiving benefits and checks. These are not extreme stories...these are every day in the USA. On out tax dollar.
As far as a US citizen, don't get sick if you do not have coverage. The same rules do not apply to you. I've been there.
Dan Gobis (Re/Max Preferred) Indeed!
Eileen Hsu - 許小姐 New York City Real Estate (Prudential Douglas Elliman) None of this applies to politicians. They do not get pay cuts, they do not get laid off, they do not stop getting lobbyist monies etc....
Quad Cities My RealTeam (Mel Foster Co.) (Keith Allen Allborty and Shellye J. Meyer) LOL! I love it! "No state left behind!"
Richard Stabile Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor (REMAX real estate associates) That is why people move on. A person can move to another state and buy a great home for 500K which is a mansion, their taxes will be 5K a year, their closing costs would be 2.5% of the loan amount. Amen. Gasoline prices are .25 a gallone cheaper, the weahter is nicer so they save on heating etc...
Jim - NO - I will not pay! I will not download! Well - I don't think I will.... I don't do music or videos or games or ring tones but what do I down load - or what will I need to download for my business? The internet has moved to fast for the government to get a hold and tax but if there is any way I am sure the State and the Feds will do it! I love the "No State Left Behind" comment!
As usual you have ingnited a spark!!
Kathy Carson
Jim, I really do not know how NY governments spend its tax dollars. I hate paying all those tolls in NY. This internet tax is even worse.
Kathy Carson Lynchburg, VA, REALTOR VA HOMES - LYNCHBURG, BEDFORD, CAMPBELL (RE/MAX 1st Olympic, ABR, GRI) Maybe they will tax the air we breath that is around out computer.
Huiting Zhuang,Sell your business overseas (ReMax Post Road Realty) I am heading to NY this week. I am driving. I have to carry at least $100 in cash for tolls. The Verranzano Bridge Toll is $10 one way. That is insane.
Jim they will go to all lenghts to keep their government growing. They never want to cut it back.
John W Walters Realtor Slidell Louisiana Homes (7824 Real Estate of Louisiana,LLC) The Feds will never lay off. Politicians never get laid off.
Big
Big
Big
Like your progressive "bigs", Jim. I'd be curious to know how feasible it would be to actually attempt to track web users/ISPs/downloaders so as to apply the tax.
Jim,
When we get to the 'air tax' we will have arrived...!!! Thanks, Fran
Jim, We are fast coming to the point when we just hand over all our money to the government and hope they provide the services we enjoy without us having to join the party...
Jim, don't go giving them more ideas! I can't imagine paying Internet taxes. It's always something.
Jeff Geoghan MBA - Lancaster PA Real Estate Expert (The Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA) I think it could be done. There is a thing called 'geocoding' than can identify geographically the are the IP originates from. If a person uses an anonymizer they may not have full access...so yes it could be done. Will they? I hope not.
Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.) Air meters! Aarrgghh! I hope not Fran!
Paul Henderson, Realtor (R) Lacey & Dupont Washington homes (RE/MAX Professionals & Four Seasons Inc.) Paul, we can pay for the party, but we are not invited in. It is scary that States like New York and California are thinking to the extremes on how to raise more revenues. Their taxes are way too high now. Something has to give. California was going to mail out IOU's for tax refunds? Excuse me? That is a default folks! Delaying payments on bonds is also a default! I read tonight CA is going to lay off 20000 State workers. I am sure in the next few months you will hear of incredible new fees that are not just limited to the Internet. It is inevitable.
Lizette Fitzpatrick - Broker-Realtor(R) Lizette.US - Kentucky Residential Homes (Lizette Realty - Lexington KY - Richmond KY) Nah, it was the Gov. of New York that came up with that. I like the Internet because it is Free! PS - I love your new photo! Looks great!
Jim, I for one am not in favor of any taxes or big government. George Washington was for minimal government involvement. We have the best government in the world but to much paid in tax and wasted.
LOL...I can only laugh at how much this initiative would cost the District of Columbia were it enacted there...a few months ago, several employees were disciplined (I don't think anyone lost a job, of course not) because of the amount of porno they were downloading and watching at work. Ahem. MUCH public outcry, outrage....porno, did you hear me? Porno!
My question was - where is the OUTRAGE over the fact they were watching 40 hours per week per employee worth of porno...THEY WERE NOT WORKING. Did anyone even mention that? Of course not! LOL I guess we're all realistic enough these days about our bureaucrats to know better. Anyway, I doubt this idea goes far, because the Guv may find it costs the state a small fortune. He may not want to go there! LOL
Jim,
I don't think an Internet tax will fly myself. Your article was eye opening in that you were paying $12K in taxes a year on a home worth $180,000. One would ask why everyone is not living here in the beautiful state of Florida. On a $180,000 home here your taxes would be $1,430.57 a year and no INCOME tax at all. Plus you get to breathe clean fresh air and watch dolphins playing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Kelly
Frank Rubi Kenner/Metairie LA Real Estate (7824 Real Estate of Louisiana, LLC.) Frank I agree. The United States of America as a government was never supposed to have this much involvement in our lives.
Susan Haughton Alexandria, VA REALTOR® (Long & Foster REALTORS® Old Town Alexandria) I worked for the government in DC and was on the executive board of a union for 5 years...that would not surprise me at all.
Do not underestimate NY... they tried to put the 18% tax on soda. They are capable of anything. Persons must realize the guise is they want to help the people but the reality is they wan the money. Smoking taxes, gasoline taxes, and now the Internet all they want to do is keep the status quo of large inefficient government. They need to lay off once in a while.
Kelly Klein (Red Hot Realty) That is why up North in many areas is referred to as the 'rust belt.' High taxes and job losses go hand in hand. Why do you think so many northern states voted the way they did in the last election? Social services, and welfare cannot sustain without having higher taxes. When I left the Buffalo NY area in 1990 to move south, over 45% of their local taxes were for social services. They lost over 80,000 persons from the area when the steel mills closed. The steel mills paid high salaries. To make up the loss they had to raise taxes locally. A 350K home back then could have paid between 24K a year in property tax. It is also the same on Long Island. A 500K home can run you 18K a year in property tax. In Georgia a 1 Million dollar home right now can be under 10K a year in taxes. Most that a person pays here for a 350K home is 3500 a year in taxes.
Hi Jim...Sorry I misunderstood your statement, As a generous nation basically no one is turned away from free hospitalization, education, health care, housing even if they are not citizens of this country. I read it to mean no one is turned away.......even if they are not citizens...
I took that to mean no one.
Generalizations can be confusing.
One of my sons attended a pre-K class for a year in New York state. He did not pose as an immigrant although we had just come back from living in Italy for two years and it was very helpful for him to have that extra time to work on his language skills as he was surrounded by four languages while there (a long story).
I have no problem with immigrant children attending pre-K. If they are going to grow up here in the U.S. I would like them to be as prepared for their future as my children were.
I worry when I read broad statements that claim all immigrants (are you counting both legal and illegal?) have all of these benefits. Knowing people that have worked with migrant workers, they have different stories to tell.
I was married to an immigrant, an Egyptian who came to this country for his master's degree and his doctorate. Prior to him becoming a citizen he never received any of these free benefits, housing, education, medical care, etc.
When unemployment was very low and no one wanted to pick the fields, migrant workers did it. We ate the bounty from their labors and griped when the prices went up. Even then, the workers saw very little of that increase.
The government is like a business. Active Rain is a business. AR is now charging for what was once free. They are entitled to do that. If the government needs more taxes to make our lives safer and provide us with the services we demand they need to have the income to do that.
By the way, I make repeated trips to Connecticut paying tolls in many states on the way. I have an EZ Pass. Perhaps you should get one also. The tolls cost the same but the concern about having enough cash on hand is eliminated and it makes for a little speedier trip.
Kate
I saw the Farmer's Home Adminstration $1 down program in the 1980's dry up in a novel way. Have the agency, just don't fund the program. No money appropiated for it so, program shrinks, dies or gets put on a revolving loan porcess..money comes in and if available lent out. Hey Jim for that ride wirh the tolls this weekend, make sure to look for loose change in the couch and chairs to take with you. And round up all those empty bottles of Moxie at your house to trot back to the store for redemption..if they have that in your state like Maine does.
Jim,
Hopefully this recession blows over pretty soon so that these types of tax ideas would be thrown in the trash. This is a natural reaction when revenues are down, tax, tax, tax.
Internet tax would never make it. Jim, you are right about New York. They tax you for walking down the street.
Kathleen "Kate" Elim LAKE ANNA, VA Real Estate (RE/MAX Lake & Country) No I am talking about illegals. I am first generation USA. I grew up where friends of the family if they had overstayed their visa, would actually leave the country and come back at a latter time. What we have now are illegal aliens that have first broken the law to be here, and live off our tax dollars. They are getting medical, schooling, and assistance. Someone is paying for it, and right now it is a major cost of increasing taxes. Some areas in the country are more impacted than others for this burden.
I travel so infrequently to those areas I would pass on the EZ Pass idea.
Andrew Mooers | Northern Maine Real Estate / Aroostook County Broker (MOOERS REALTY) I did go through all the cushions and chairs for all the spare change.
Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial) Tax sometimes is not a solution. It creates more problems.
Jennifer K Giraldi, Atlanta REALTOR® Atlanta Real Estate Expert (Solid Source Realty Atlanta) I wonder where these persons come up with all these ideas. Soda tax 18%, and Internet download tax 4%!
Jim, Each year it gets "worser'. They can't manage anything so their solution is a tax. Unfortunately, I think we are headed for socialism unless we step up and say, "Enough is enough" Karen
Are they crazy? This country has gone totally upside down. I am more concerned about how our children are going to survive the tax burden we are placing on them. Now a tax on the internet? I may as well quit now.
Jim: Honestly, do they stay up nights coming up with dumb brainers like this one! I keep waiting for there to be a charge for oxygen everytime we take a breath. How long can you hold your breath? Cha ching.
Call me crazy, but isn't there at least one historical revolution that had to do with the people being overtaxed? Aren't we supposed to learn from past mistakes?
Karen Kruschka - Fairfax Prince William Stafford County VA Real Estate Service (Long & Foster America's #1 Privately Owned Real Estate Co.) Why not we are paying for everything already? I agree with your thoughts.
Kay Van Kampen, Broker, Springfield Missouri Real Estate (RE/MAX Solutions) I wonder who advises them of these things?
Michael Mackey (R) ABR, CRS, GRI, RSPS (CENTURY 21 All Islands) In the past they did. It does not seem that way anymore!
We don't have sales tax in the State of Oregon. If you see a price of, $4.99, and give someone a fiver, you'll get your penny back! If we don't have a "sales" tax, on goods and services, I wonder how the internet tax will fair here? If we order something on line, and it's coming out of NY (for example) we still don't have to pay sales tax. California has a huge sales tax, and a lot of people relocate to Oregon to get away from that (plus the great Pacific NW is another reason for their move.) Voters have, resoundedly, voted DOWN sales tax.
Carla Muss-Jacobs, ABR, CEBA, e-PRO, Realtor (EBA Portland, LLC) Most taxes are just another grab by government to steal money for pet projects. Look at the cigarette taxes. They are a sham. Nothing ever was spent on the programs to prevent smoking.
But what about the new porposed "Outrage brewing over proposed 1,900% beer tax hike?"in Oregon?
Jim, look at our economy right now. Businesses are going under, people are losing jobs, your average "Joe" is having to cut back on everything. Why shouldn't it be the same for the government? Why would anyone agree to another tax on something like internet downloads in this economy? The government needs to be accountable for their spending more now than ever before. We are all suffering from the economy, and these bailouts are costing all of us billions. It's time to make a stance to tell the government what we need, instead of allowing the government to tell us what we need, or in other words, what they want.