Wetting the Beak

Amazon.com is in potential trouble. Crime against humanity? Not paying it's "protection" monies to the states of Texas, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. According to an InRich.com article, Amazon.com has been avoiding paying sales taxes in those states, as well as many other where they have a physical presence in those states. Well like any smart business, "protection" monies are there to make sure nothing "bad" happens at that place of business. It's an awesome racket that the states have picked up from the Cosa Nostra. The states receives money in the form of sales taxes, and the businesses and public feel "safer" than before they paid the tax(es). Case in point, a Michael Mazerov, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., exclaims "Amazon is benefitting from police and fire protection, and other services in the states where it has facilities, it ought to be collecting sales tax just like any other local business." I mean, here we have a person from a think-tank, and admitting that the sales taxes, and probably every other taxes that people have come up with are nothing more than legalized high class extortion. Seriously, if I had a choice between paying "protection" money and not, I wouldn't want to pay it, because it is extortion - but because it is the government doing it, It's Alright™ *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*.