Comments on: Ban on monthly Net access taxes faces obstacles

Senator behind proposal to curb state and local taxes on Internet access is trying to extend the ban again, but says he may not succeed.

[rmiecznik]

US Government is corrupt

I have lived in many places, under the power of many
governments. It seems to me, as I can compare that the U.S.
government is no more corrupt or less, than many others. I was
on the impression that the government was setup to guide the
people, to help the people, to do things for the people, and man
kind.

But the government don't do this at all, sure there are Senators
and Presidents and Vice Presidents, but at the end of the day, it's
all organized and not doing what it is supposed to be doing.
Government systematically lies everyday to the general American
public and the whole globe, they do all kinds of stuff that we are
not even aware of.

The power of this country was seized by people within a circle
and few people have the balls to see it and start doing
something about it. The taxing of people is getting to a
ridiculess level, so that the ordinary still supports to this day the
Rich and politically powerful. No different then from the times
of Kings, Queens, and the priviledged few. Yes it is better, but
still corrupt in many way. I guess human civilization is yet again
on a path to distruction and recycle.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Local goverments are already collecting taxes on this access

They're collecting "franchise fees" and other taxes on the internet service providers already. Any politition voting for such a tax is simply trying to create a new tax on a service that's already being taxed.

[lingsun]

As long as Democrats are in charge, nobody's money is safe.

As long as Democrats are in charge, nobody's money is safe.

[Heebee Jeebies]

Oh please...

Bush is doing his fare share of flushing out hard earned money down the John. Before Bush we had a surplus, now we are deeper in the hole than ever before.

It should be as long as the government is in charge, nobody's money is safe. Both parties waste and then expect us to just fork over more.

Robert

[notgonnatellya]

Give me a break

If this was a party line vote, it'd never pass. First of all, Bush would veto it (assuming he could find his pen) and if he wouldn't someone else would filibuster it and that'd be the end.

As for taxes, if you think that the repbulicans have been fiscally conservative (in any way, shape or form), then I've got 1MB of very rare RAM from 1990 to sell you for the bargain price of 10,000.

They may have lowered taxes, but they spent like drunken sailors at a ***** house. We still gotta pay the bill sometime...though maybe you're old enough that you'll be dead before the bill is due.

[dkathrens77]

As long as (fill in the blank) are in charge...

You say Democrats. They say Republicans.

I say Politicians. They all look alike to me.

And the institution we call "our government" has reached a level where it has taken on a life of its own. Its first priority is to ensure its survivival and secondly to grow.

So pointing one's finger at one's favorite whipping boy ignores the larger issue.

[paulej]

Tax, double tax, and tripple tax?

As one of the others posting here mentioned, there are already taxes levied on access in some areas. Now, we're looking at having yet another form of access tax? The worst of all, though, is taxes on services. One of the uses I have for broadband is VoIP, but the government requires taxes to be paid for that service! So, I have to pay taxes on top of taxes?

At least one layer of taxes needs to be removed.

Paul

[RvLeshrac]

.....

Yeah, we need to vote those tax-and-spenders like Lamar Alexander out of office. The people of TN need to send a strong message to the democratic party in that state.

I'm not sure how voting Lamar Alexander out would do that, exactly, since he's a Republican.

We should also ensure that the Oregon democrat Ron Wyden is voted out, because he's the lead man behind the... <*whispers* What? Oh.> Nevermind.

John McCain is reviled by the Republican party for his attempts to sneak billions of dollars worth of pork projects into the national defense budget. That's why so many republicans are coming out and saying that he's not a great man for the job. He's against keeping the government out of our homes and bedrooms, the man is a tota... <*whispers* What? Highlighting defense pork? Anti-government spying?> Err... what was I saying earlier?

[Below Meigh]

Taxation without Negotiation (Modem...)!!!

We've already footed the internet (via tax dollars to fund DARPA) bill. Time to take you old computers and dump them over Capitol Hill...

[bruceslog]

Why Don't our "Representatives" ask Us ?

We elect these people to "represent" us.. who are this country and who are "We The People". The laws they create each year are supposed to reflect the majority opinion of the People of these United States. The Laws affecting every single person in this entire nation are NOT supposed to be written according to what just afew government employees or local bodies would like, or what company ABC and it's lobbists would like. Our laws are supposed to be based on what the people of America feel is fair and just as a whole.
Lawmakers... listen up ! We all have phones, TV, and web access. Our representatives had really better start using these mediums to get majority opinions of we people on matters such as this. Otherwise, I can see those representatives may, and should rightfully, find themselves voted out of office just as fast as they were voted in, or better yet, outright fired from such a job !
From reading all the feed back on articles such as this, day in and day out, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is Getting Tired of being an Outsider listening in on these debates that our elected officials keep having on "our behalf".

[twotall610]

they listen

It goes in one ear and out the other, nothing in between to stop it.

[castrotech]

Reasons to make Internet access tax-free

The Information Technology and Innovation Policy (ITIF) just released a report explaining why Internet access should be tax free. The three main reasons are 1) to support a national broadband policy; 2) to protect the federal interest in ensuring all citizens have Internet access, and ensure no states are "free loaders"; and 3) to treat Internet access as an investment in production, much like machinery, which is tax-exempt in virtually all states.

The report also refutes the arguments of opponents of the moratorium such as the claim that states need these tax revenues to support their schools and fire fighters (seriously, that is about the best argument they make). Here is the link to the full report --

http://www.itif.org/files/ITFA.pdf