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Predictions

by Mike Masnick

Mon, Jul 26th 2004 9:30am





Will Any Voice Chat Software Be Taxed?

from the how-to-kill-a-new-technology dept

Following New Hampshire's attempt to tax IM, and a recent VoIP legislation amendment that opened up any voice chat related application to taxation, Declan McCullough is noticing that politicians appear to be moving closer to taxing any software that allows voice chat, in order to put more dollars in the universal service fund. Now, increasing universal access isn't a bad thing, but why should software that has nothing to do with the telephony system be forced to support the telephony system? As the article suggests, it's like taxing cars to support horse troughs. It's yet another situation where an older technology feels they deserve fees from a newer technology because they can't figure out how to compete and avoid becoming obsolete.

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  •  
    identicon
    dorpus, Jul 26th, 2004 @ 11:16am

    Does not abdicate responsibility

    Cars can and should be taxed because they impose an expense on society. Crimes, terrorism can be committed through these devices, so the government has to monitor them.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

    •  
      identicon
      anonymoose cow-ard, Jul 26th, 2004 @ 12:22pm

      Re: Does not abdicate responsibility

      Crimes and terrorism can be planned using Internet voice chat applications also. The government should obviously monitor these conversations as well.

      I, for one, welcome our new conversation monitoring and taxing overlords.

       

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    •  
      identicon
      haiku, Jul 26th, 2004 @ 4:49pm

      Re: Does not abdicate responsibility

      Oh please. What do crimes and terrorism have to do with anything? Carrots can be used in the commission of crimes and terrorism. Do we need a patriot carrot tax? If you feel like paying extra for everything you do in the information age, you should send a check to the EFF so they can stop these bone-headed actions.

       

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      •  
        identicon
        dorpus, Jul 26th, 2004 @ 7:28pm

        Re: Does not abdicate responsibility

        >Oh please. What do crimes and terrorism have to do with anything? Carrots can be used in the commission of crimes and terrorism. Do we need a patriot carrot tax?< br>
        There are retail sales taxes in most states.

        >If you feel like paying extra for everything you do in the information age, you should send a check to the EFF so they can stop these bone-headed actions.

        The EFF is just a partisan lobbying group that seeks to absolve tech businesses of responsibility. They use rhetoric that appeals to the techie average joe.

         

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        •  
          identicon
          Anonymous Coward, Jul 27th, 2004 @ 10:47am

          Re: Does not abdicate responsibility



          I want a god damn tax on every fucking stupid comment dorpus posts ...

          that oughta pay for a dorpus filter on every machine across this great land ...

           

          [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]

        •  
          identicon
          Anonymous Coward, Jul 27th, 2004 @ 8:53pm

          Re: Does not abdicate responsibility

          Keep these comments going, they're hilarious (in how silly they are, and I'm referring to your posts, not those you're replying to).

           

          [ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]


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