If you can't get rid of it...Tax it

[sarettah]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=24872

Internet porn tax mooted
In the interests of protecting children

A DEMOCRATIC lawmaker is hoping that a 25 per cent tax on internet porn will suddenly stop kids looking at the stuff.

The bill, expected to be introduced next week by Senator Blanche Lincoln, would see adult web sites faced with an extra tax. She told 9news.com that the extra cash from the tax will be used for law enforcement and for protecting children from Internet-related crimes.

Called the Internet Safety and Child Protection Act of 2005, the bill also proposes new rules for Web sites to verify they do business only with adults. It would compel sites to use specialized software to verify a customer's age. It will be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.

.................................................. .

[Inabon]

i see more and more sites going south soon jajaja. the wave has begun already.

[TheEnforcer]

That pisses me off. TAHT is something I could see actually passing.

[Rolo]

But I thought Democrats were the good guys, and the Republicans were the evil on this planet?

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by Rolo

But I thought Democrats were the good guys, and the Republicans were the evil on this planet?

Nah, the only real difference between Dems and Reps is that the republicans want to kill off anything that might be fun while the democrats want to tax anything that might want to be fun.

[Dravyk]

If the government was remotely smart they'd put a low tax on it, the way they do on tobacco, gasoline, alchohol, gambling, etc, and let porn profit and profit along with it. That's what they've done historically and it's worked out incredibly well for them.

25% is not remotely the same; that is a killer tax. It's an economic nuclear bomb that's poorly masquerading as a tax. Very very dumb for them. Possibly the last nail in the coffin for us.

There comes a point where the pressure being applied (from VISA, DOJ, etc.) and the profit margin just are not worth the effort. At 25% tax, selling Hubbles to blue hairs has more profit and less headaches in it.

[Mike AI]

Drav do you know what % of cigerrete's prices are taxs? Same with alchohol and gas? I think that taxs esepcially on cigs are close to 50%+ ( especially when you calculate price raise companies had to add so they could pay of the huge settlements forced by politicans/trial attorneys)

[Dravyk]

Mike, with cigs, and with states adding on their taxes on top of federal, yep, I would have to agree with you. If the tobacco companies didn't have the third world and other places without taxes to make up for it, they wouldn't be around. They still have outlets to offset it. Online porn doesn't have that.

Here's some irony. Being brick and mortar, they can go elsewhere. Online porn has the world for a market, yet (with US webmasters) it will be taxed by where the owner lives, the server is at, etc and won't have the same kind of option to seek out a better geographical economy in which to thrive.

That is, Phillip Morris has only to build a new building in China and call it a new division, for instance, without leaving the US completely to get the local tax breaks. For a US webmaster or company, we can't do that. One would have to leave the US permanently to gain the same advantage. Definitely screwed up.

[Almighty Colin]

"When the federal government wants the public to stop doing or using something, a hefty tax—a so-called "sin tax"—is slapped on to discourage demand. Cigarettes, for example, have an 18.2 percent federal tax, while the federal gasoline tax is 11.5 percent. Hard liquor is taxed at 10.7 percent, and heavy firearms and ammunition have an 11 percent federal tax. A pistol or revolver has a 10 percent federal tax. Beer is taxed at 5 percent, a luxury vehicle at 3 percent. The Feds get 3 percent for your phone service. A ship cruise ticket is taxed 0.3 percent. No federal taxes at all are imposed on bus tickets or on rail tickets. Why does the federal government want people to stop flying when it stands to lose so much tax revenue?"

http://crewroom.alpa.org/alpa/Deskto...ocumentID=1039

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by Almighty Colin

"When the federal government wants the public to stop doing or using something, a hefty tax—a so-called "sin tax"—is slapped on to discourage demand. Cigarettes, for example, have an 18.2 percent federal tax, while the federal gasoline tax is 11.5 percent. Hard liquor is taxed at 10.7 percent, and heavy firearms and ammunition have an 11 percent federal tax. A pistol or revolver has a 10 percent federal tax. Beer is taxed at 5 percent, a luxury vehicle at 3 percent. The Feds get 3 percent for your phone service. A ship cruise ticket is taxed 0.3 percent. No federal taxes at all are imposed on bus tickets or on rail tickets. Why does the federal government want people to stop flying when it stands to lose so much tax revenue?"

So porn would be taxed even MORE than cigs!

And rememeber, the cig tax and others, crept up from something low and kept getting added on over a good period of time.

[Rolo]

The taxes are much higher in Europe, and the industries under heavy taxes are still making money, since its the consumer that will end up paying for it. However there is no specific "porn" tax.

Also VAT in Europe is 13-25%, and still porn is being sold :-)... ofcourse the profit margins are a bit lower than in the US, which makes me belive that the affiliate model will hurt the most, if there was a specific "porn" tax - not sure that we can just rise prices with 25% (especially high priced monthly memberships) without it having a effect on subscription length, chargebacks etc.

Now the AVS rule could be the real problem - German porn took a hit, when their politicians had the same idea.

[Rolo]

Ofcourse the affiliate model have already taken a severe beating... I have seen PPS on a "former" major sponsor program paying $18 per $1/trial, console free, x-sale free signup and $10 per $19.99/monthly, console free, x-sale free signup ... things that makes you go hmmmm....

[Mike AI]

http://xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=9680





I hate liberals Cannot stand the Landrieu family – not one of them have ever had to get a real job, or create jobs for anyone else.



The liberals are playing games to try and convince American people they are more family friendly – this is nothing but a ploy, and excuse to do what dems do best

Tax and spend on stupid issues – wasting MONEY! This is the same party who wants abortions opened up for children without parental consent, the party FOR gay marriages, the party of bill Clinton, every degenerate Hollywood star. This is the party who wants to take God out of the pledge of Allegiance,



Thing is they will probably get some egg headed republicans to go along with it because they don’t want to look like they are PRO-Porn. Hell if a republican would vote against it, the liberals would be saying they support kiddy porn.



This Country is going to hell in a hand-basket.

[Dravyk]

Tax and spend on stupid issues – wasting MONEY!

Yeah! Like wars in other countries! It was Clinton's term that took care of the trillion dollar debt. And Bush put it back up there in a year and a half. So that's bullshit number one.

This is the same party who wants abortions opened up for children without parental consent

As opposed to Republicans who want to tell everybody how to think and act and that a woman's body is not her own.

the party FOR gay marriages

No, that party is called "Canada".

the party of bill Clinton

Amen, brutha!!

every degenerate Hollywood star.

Like .... Ronald Reagan and Arnold?

This is the party who wants to take God out of the pledge of Allegiance.

As opposed to the Republicans who want to intertwine government and Chuch -- the Christian Church -- into everything and make this country as fucked up as an Islamic one.

Love it Mike! All your points have done nothing but show how insane, extreme and dangerous Conservatives are to this country!!

[Rolo]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

All your points have done nothing but show how insane, extreme and dangerous Conservatives are to this country!!

And Democrats are?

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

http://xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=9680

This Country is going to hell in a hand-basket.

MikeAI,
stop blaming the current administration for all the country's ills-
this is un patriotic and un American!

[Mike AI]

Apparently Serge you do no undstand English as wel as you thought. Please get some help translating the article so you can keep up with the rest of the class.

Drav, I hope your party does pass the 25% law. It won't effect me that much at all. I am retired. You on the other hand might end up having to take a few shifts at your old job. I bet you still have your funny hat and all. Remember , DING means fries are done.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Apparently Serge you do no undstand English as wel as you thought. Please get some help translating the article so you can keep up with the rest of the class.

1) Comprehension never been your strong point. Who the hell cares about the article? My post was the direct respose to your assesment of the current affairs of The United States Of America. It's a shame that the people who were born and raised in USA, who benefited greatly from USA,
spit on it every chance they have,
The country is NOT "This Country is going to hell in a hand-basket.",
despite some unpatriotoc Americans try to convince us otherwise.


2) as for understanding English -
this is a typical responce of an individual who can't spell English for shit. I could take it from Heather back in 1997, she is a woman, but somebody who thinks he is a man ....shame - shame!

3) I also suggest you take English Grammar lessons,
Apparently Serge you do no undstand English as wel as you thought.
shoud be

Apparently Serge you do noT understand English as well as you thought.

You are the only person I personally know who makes misspells in 4 letter words....

[Mike AI]

Serge my post was reflecting upon the article. Without the article there is no post.

See, it is easy to follow. Or should I draw a diagram for you?

The country is going to hell. The Constitution is worthless. The Gov't can take your land and give it to someone else who wants to build a casino. The commerce clause is used to justify more seizing of power by the Federal Gov't. There are States who are trying to ourlaw smoking in cars.

This goes beyond dem and rep, for the most part professional politicans are all the same. Professional politicans get their power by redistributing wealth. With the power of the purse then they can do whatever they want.

Serge, maybe it's not reading comprehension that is your problem - it's your posting - you are too smart for me, you skip ahead to the end. Show dumb guys like me your thought processes.... and maybe we can get past your accent!

The democrats are trying to ruin this country, and they are succeeding all to well. Serge where do we emigrate to next? Eastern Europe?

[Mike AI]

Serge stop trying to re-define my arguements. There was a time when this Country was at war, that all Americans came together and politics ended at the oceans edge. Neither you or I were around during these years....

Now we have nothing but one upsmanship, undermining of the President, our troops, and politicans giving aid and comfort to the enemy. We have "mainstream" politicans who make Tokeyo Rose seem like Jessica Simpson.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Serge my post was reflecting upon the article. Without the article there is no post.

See, it is easy to follow. Or should I draw a diagram for you?

The country is going to hell. The Constitution is worthless. The Gov't can take your land and give it to someone else who wants to build a casino. The commerce clause is used to justify more seizing of power by the Federal Gov't. There are States who are trying to ourlaw smoking in cars.

This goes beyond dem and rep, for the most part professional politicans are all the same. Professional politicans get their power by redistributing wealth. With the power of the purse then they can do whatever they want.

Serge, maybe it's not reading comprehension that is your problem - it's your posting - you are too smart for me, you skip ahead to the end. Show dumb guys like me your thought processes.... and maybe we can get past your accent!

The democrats are trying to ruin this country, and they are succeeding all to well. Serge where do we emigrate to next? Eastern Europe?

Very good! You are no longer misspelling 4 letter words,
I see progress!
Time to move more complicated words than 4 letter words:
politicans is spelled politician
and it's NOT ourlaw
it's outlaw.
You are doing well, don't get discouraged and keep on practicing.

After you master the SPELLING,
the next task at hand (after comprehension course is taken)
is LOGIC. Your statesments contradict each other.

This goes beyond dem and rep, for the most part professional politicans are all the same. Professional politicans get their power by redistributing wealth. With the power of the purse then they can do whatever they want.

is a good, well thought argument and it can stand on it's own merits.

Adding this

The democrats are trying to ruin this country, and they are succeeding all to well.

negates the first argument and throws the whole post into a mess of one sided and unbalnced, illogical argument, and the misspell of
to well instead of too well
doesn't help the matters.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Serge where do we emigrate to next? Eastern Europe?

I can not answer this question, even though I know with 100% certanty-
where ever we go,
my spelling in the language of the locale still be better than yours

[Mike AI]

Serge, stop having your wife edit your posts!

I blame the spell check feature on word processors for spelling when I type. The bottom line is message board posting is not important for me to spell check.

Sorry.

[Mike AI]

Originally Posted by Winetalk.com

I can not answer this question, even though I know with 100% certanty-
where ever we go,
my spelling in the language of the locale still be better than yours

And you will know how to navigate better with maps!!!

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Serge, stop having your wife edit your posts!

I blame the spell check feature on word processors for spelling when I type. The bottom line is message board posting is not important for me to spell check.

Sorry.

My wife NEVER does it! My posts don't have to get polished...it would be a waste of her polishing skills!

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

And you will know how to navigate better with maps!!!

yeah, tell the folks how you wanted to go UP 6 blocks and grab a taxi in Granada, while the map was showing the destination 4 blocks way DOWN

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Serge stop trying to re-define my arguements. There was a time when this Country was at war, that all Americans came together and politics ended at the oceans edge. Neither you or I were around during these years....

nope, we weren't, but from the history books we BOTH know that it happened during the Democrats Administration!

I rest your case!


P.S. the argument brought by my wife,
who saw her being brought by the ears into the thread, and she gave her contribution, per your request.

[Mike AI]

Serge, you did a bette job with directions when sleeping.

I don't want your wife invovled with out online debates, I want a chance of winning. I know when to cede the field.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Serge, you did a bette job with directions when sleeping.

if it wasn't for my sense of directions, we'd still be making circles around Madrid Airport

I don't want your wife invovled with out online debates, I want a chance of winning. I know when to cede the field.

wise...even all the dogs I know are scared of her.
so......let's move into more important categories than politics we can do NOTHING about...
what are you drinking nowadays?

[Mike AI]

I drank the 96 bottle of the 95 we had when you were in town.

The 96 was disapointing, could not hold a candle to the 95.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

I drank the 96 bottle of the 95 we had when you were in town.

The 96 was disapointing, could not hold a candle to the 95.

I totally agree. I bought it for both of us based on recomendation of one OZ wine chat member...was he wrong!!!!!

I glad we only got 1 bottle each and Chateau Gazin is now behind us. 95 was an excelelnt juice!

[Winetalk.com]

I just the mailer from B-21,
here is the best what they offer:

2002 W.H. Smith Pinot Noir Maritime

"I would have held this wine back for at least an additional year to let the grapey, cherry, raspberry and chocolate flavors and sweet oak knit together, but cellaring it will do that. It is a very fine wine, silky and potentially complex. All the parts are there. But it really has been released too early. Hold until 2005." 92WE

44.99 (41.99 btc)



I got 3 bottles for myself drom WineWatch
and this si what they have to say:

>2002 W.H. Smith, Pinot Noir Maritime Vineyard List
$50.75 Sale $44.66
>Wine Watch Review
>Plush black cherry kirsch liqueur like fruit on the nose with notes of
>violets, vanilla spice, light smoke and black truffle nuances. A much
>bigger wine than the Hellenthal with thick and juicy black cherry berry

>fruit on the tongue, velvety smooth with penetrating acidity and big
ripe
>tannins along with a host of spice and black earth notes through the
>finish. We had this bottle open for several days in the store and it
was
>even better the 3rd day! We recommend decanting this wine for two
hours
>before enjoying. 480 Cases Produced MOST EXCELLENT
>

[Mike AI]

I will be in the neighborhood of B-21 later this week, I will have to pick some up!

[Winetalk.com]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

I will be in the neighborhood of B-21 later this week, I will have to pick some up!

...or I can pick up a few bottles for you,
I get 12% discount from the listed prices.
LMK,
I'll be leaving to the store in 15 mins

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by Mike AI

Drav, I hope your party does pass the 25% law. It won't effect me that much at all. I am retired. You on the other hand might end up having to take a few shifts at your old job. I bet you still have your funny hat and all. Remember , DING means fries are done.

Mike, I'm two-thirds out of adult already. And by the end of the year it will be more like 90% out. Doesn't mean shit to me either.

As for the hat and bell ... I'm sure my old division manager at the advertising publisher in Manhattan will be as confused as I would be showing up with those. So could you explain what they're for, as you obviously have a greater personal knowledge on the subject than I.