Amazon's Associates Hardball
Jun. 30th, 2011 08:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deirdreI'm no longer an Amazon Associate. Though I took down all my links with queerfail a while ago, I've been a member since the program began. However, because my state (California) wanted to tax associate referrals, Amazon's dumped us all.
Now, I'm not a huge fan of sales tax -- it's a regressive tax even when everyone's shopping in state.
Consider, though, that if you have the ability to shop over the internet and avoid sales tax -- you are a person of privilege. That money pays, especially in California (where our property tax is capped), for social programs and for education. We've got horrific budget problems.
A significant fraction of Americans don't have bank accounts or credit cards, or pay horrific fees for pre-paid cards. They are buying locally and contributing to the sales tax base, which is paying for social services. Those better off, though, they're shopping at Amazon, who's contributing little to the government of most states.
Personally, I'd rather shop locally and pay the tax if the underlying price is the same or similar.
Now, I'm not a huge fan of sales tax -- it's a regressive tax even when everyone's shopping in state.
Consider, though, that if you have the ability to shop over the internet and avoid sales tax -- you are a person of privilege. That money pays, especially in California (where our property tax is capped), for social programs and for education. We've got horrific budget problems.
A significant fraction of Americans don't have bank accounts or credit cards, or pay horrific fees for pre-paid cards. They are buying locally and contributing to the sales tax base, which is paying for social services. Those better off, though, they're shopping at Amazon, who's contributing little to the government of most states.
Personally, I'd rather shop locally and pay the tax if the underlying price is the same or similar.