chuchundra
45p
24 comments posted · 1 followers · following 0
163 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Sales Tax · 1 reply · +1 points
Even if you could get all the states on board with this, and that would require changes in state law, that's still a non-trivial burden for small businesses who may not even have anything like shopping cart software. Many small, online shops just have a list of things for sale and a PayPal "Buy Now" button.
163 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Sales Tax · 5 replies · +1 points
If someone wants to start up a small business selling things online, a law requiring that they properly track, calculate, collect and remit sales taxes to thousands of individual taxing jurisdictions all over the country means they may as well not even start. The barrier of entry is far too high for all but the most well-capitalized startups.
Also, giving states the power to pursue and prosecute out-of-state businesses that they believe have not properly collected and remitted tax revenue for items sold in their state is opening up a huge can of worms. Some taxing authorities, like the one here in New York State, are notorious for pursuing businesses for non-payment of sales taxes on the flimsiest evidence. I have a friend who is a tax attorney that handles these types of matters and some of the cases are so ridiculous I can hardly believe they're true.
The fact is, this is still a solution in search of a problem. Online retail is still a small part of total sales and the big players, like Amazon and Apple, already collect sales taxes for all or almost all US states to which they ship.
182 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Enforcing laws against... · 0 replies · +1 points
186 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - RIP Andrea. You are mi... · 0 replies · +1 points
She was a great spirit and will indeed be missed by many.
201 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - While we're on the sub... · 0 replies · +1 points
Obviously the issue of people who are too large to fit in a tiny airplane seat is a problem. But it's not my problem. It's not up to me to solve it by allowing myself to be squashed by an obese seatmate for hours on a long flight.
202 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Languages · 0 replies · +1 points
WPA workers built roads, bridges, schools, etc. Many of those things are still in use today. The Federal Art Project created some really wonderful things that have had great benefits to art and culture.
I have no problem with the government giving people jobs. I'm all in favor of it. But La Lei de las Obras is just bullshit.
202 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Languages · 5 replies · +1 points
Make work is tremendous waste. It's a waste of both money and of human labor, both of which could be put to good use making things that benefit humanity instead of squandered digging holes and filling them back up again.
214 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - A Pet Peeve: Animals i... · 0 replies · +2 points
219 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - Donald Trump just appo... · 1 reply · +7 points
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you can't get fooled again.
228 weeks ago @ The Reality-Based Comm... - At 25, this would have... · 0 replies · +3 points