 
Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK | Maryland... This is typical of Maryland politicians: if you can't balance the budget, just add more taxes. It's a good thing I moved away from that area. | |
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Vamp
5c077
Premium
join:2003-01-28
MD | Re: Maryland... Yeah this state sucks. | |
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not2cr8iv
join:2000-08-20
Potomac, MD
| Sound more like this is a replacement for lost revenues due to decline in the number of landlines.
This may well fuel growth of prepaid cellular. If there's no "phone bill", its hard for a city to tax it. Users can easily buy the recharge vouchers over the internet or outside the city. | |
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wesm
Wyvern.Org
Premium
join:1999-07-29
Lewisville, TX
clubs:
| Re: Maryland... ATTWS/Cingular GoPhone users would tend to disagree with you. My GoPhone service, which is prepaid, is $39.99 plus $7.18 in taxes and "fees."
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Do not meddle in the affairs of sysadmins, for they are easy to annoy and have the root password. | |
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djrobx
join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA | Just wait With VOIP and naked DSL gaining in popularity, your broadband bill is next!
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Anubis Prime
join:2001-06-01
Indianola, PA | Re: Just wait ...and yokels will still vote for those people. Unfortunately we get the government that we deserve. | |
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Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK | Re: Just wait That's so true in so many ways. | |
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| | Megladon13
join:2003-09-05
Minneapolis, MN
| How do you think bush got re-elected? Ok, before this turns into some really vocal polititical debate, anyone remember seeing comedy central the other week when they showed our country, with only people that loved bush in the crowd, then over to england where tony blair was doing a talk with anyone, and they were yelling at him calling him a liar. Pretty sad, shows how screwed up we are. | |
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lazsheriff
Laz
join:2005-01-03
Fort Lauderdale, FL
| Re: Just wait said by Megladon13  :How do you think bush got re-elected? Ok, before this turns into some really vocal polititical debate, anyone remember seeing comedy central the other week when they showed our country, with only people that loved bush in the crowd, then over to england where tony blair was doing a talk with anyone, and they were yelling at him calling him a liar. Pretty sad, shows how screwed up we are. The daily show with Jon Stewart. I'm a frequent watcher. I thought that piece was great. | |
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Pz_
join:2001-03-31
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | Re: Just wait You know, that is the only news I watch on television.  | |
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Anubis Prime
join:2001-06-01
Indianola, PA
 ·Comcast
| Yup...good idea. This should not be an 'eeeevil George Bush' vs. 'do no wrong Democrats' thread. Yes we are 'messed up', but it would be intellectually dishonest to say that it all happened in the last 5 years (since Nov 2000). We have to go back around 40 years ago to point to the root causes.
Anyway...
Point is jackass politiicans of whatever persuasion are raising the crap out of taxes and taxing every single activity of our lives--all because they are fiscally irresponsible and because WE let them get away with it.
Here in PA, our PennDOT workers were caught slacking on the job several times by local news reporters tailing them...working 1hr a day, sleeping, etc. That's poo-pooed and swept under the carpet. No big deal? Right? They claim to be "Good stewards of the tax dollar." No problem with raising taxes because of the pot holes.
As long as we-- the joe-blow drinkey-smokey-mullet-lottery-flannel-nascar people tolerate this nonsense, it will continue. We have dysfunctional people raising dysfunctional, over-medicated kids.
It's a social syndrome. We have good samaratins donating money and opening up wings of hospitals. Do you hear of those people? No...because we're too worried about who the next American Idol is going to be. We're obsessed with watching Anna Nicole Smith and Paris Hilton slosh around all lit up making jackasses of themselves. (this qualifies the above drinkey smokey mullet comment). We have a complicit media that ignores the good things and focuses on the trash. As a side note--I honestly believe that those radicals in the Middle East couldn't give a crap about our foreign policy. They worry more about the filth coming out of Hollywood. They don't want their daughters growing up like those aforementioned women. That represents what they hate about the Western world; that's WHY they hate, and that's what drives them to radical cells.
So yes, taxing cell phones is just par for the course in our society. Up is down, down is up, the boyscouts are scumbags, the molesters and perverts are celebrated and championed. The government deserves all of our money. Maybe we should put them in charge of our healthcare. What wonderful successes Medicare and public housing are! | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
| Re: Just wait said by Anubis Prime :Point is jackass politiicans of whatever persuasion are raising the crap out of taxes and taxing every single activity of our lives--all because they are fiscally irresponsible and because WE let them get away with it. The only way to solve this problem is to require the government to put every single tax increase up for a vote. States which do this already have some of the lowest tax rates in the USA.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK | Re: Just wait I'm afraid the politicians would never allow that. | |
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Fatal Vector
@aol.com | Re: Just wait
That's wxactly what the initiative ballot is for, like with the "Propositions" in California | |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
 ·LINGO
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Verizon FIOS
| There are ways around votes too. Take PA's commitment to corporate welfare for example:
said by pittsburghlive.com:
Too bad we can't elect a trinity
By Brad Bumsted, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER, May 15, 2005
...snip...
Rendell has four responses to things, Piccola said: Raise taxes, raise fees, borrow money, gamble.
"These responses are called a Plan for a New Pennsylvania," said Piccola. He contends the Rendell administration hasn't provided the leadership or direction the state needs.
Nor is sending $40 million in state funding to Comcast for its new headquarters in Center City Philadelphia a "way to build a new Pennsylvania," Scranton said.
Rendell sent the money to Comcast after the General Assembly refused to approve an annual tax break for the company.
...snip...
Maybe governments wouldn't need to hike taxes if they stopped subsidizing private enterprise. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
| Re: Just wait said by JTRockville :Maybe governments wouldn't need to hike taxes if they stopped subsidizing private enterprise. $40 million for Comcast? That's nothing compared to the billions Penna. Taxpayers spent on free stadiums for sports teams in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh!
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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| | | | | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| said by pnh102 :The only way to solve this problem is to require the government to put every single tax increase up for a vote. States which do this already have some of the lowest tax rates in the USA. Don't they already do this in California? See the mess they are in?
Everyone wants the government programs but no one wants to spend the money to fund them.
However, this tax is nothing more than an added on sales tax. | |
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Anubis Prime
join:2001-06-01
Indianola, PA | Re: Just wait I think another universal law is in effect...
"The total wealth in a given community is inversely proportional to the number of Democrats in power." | |
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old_dawg
"I Know Noting..."
join:2001-09-22
Westminster, MD
| said by moonpuppy :said by Megladon13 :How do you think bush got re-elected? Yeah, those bad bad republicans. Maybe if you did a bit of research, you would now this was the handy-work of Mayor Martin O'Malley and the City Council of Baltimore which is all DEMOCRATIC!! » www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/You = owned by your blind hatred of Bush. Thanks moonpuppy, you beat me to it, exposing the little
leprechaun, the "boy mayor" O'Malley who went out across
the nation to pimp for Kerry while Baltimore turns into a
jungle of drug dealers. 
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"Our network engineers are aware of the problem..." | |
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| | | | | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Just wait said by old_dawg :Thanks moonpuppy, you beat me to it, exposing the little leprechaun, the "boy mayor" O'Malley who went out across the nation to pimp for Kerry while Baltimore turns into a jungle of drug dealers. You forgot that after this year, if Maryland doesn't approve slot machines for the horse tracks, the Preakness will probably leave Baltimore and take with it the millions in tax dollars with it.
First the Mayor was against it but as soon as this condition came up, he suddenly wanted slots. Guess there aren't anymore taxes to raise. | |
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GO BLUE
Greed Is Good
Premium
join:2004-03-08
IN YOUR MIND | someone left the lid off the cookie jar,now everyone wants a piece.
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WOLVERINE | |
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oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA
edit:
May 14th, @03:13PM
| Last hired first fired... With these dumbass corrupt local gov'ts it's always the cops and firemen who are the last hired and first to be fired. How about these dumbasses setting priority and putting cops and fire at the top of their list and these hacks putting their own free car leases, bloated staff budgets, endless holidays and fat pensions at the bottom. Then ask the people if they're willing to pay $3.50 to cover the political hacks' joy ride.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network www.theanimenetwork.com | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
| Re: Last hired first fired... said by oliphant :With these dumbass corrupt local gov'ts it's always the cops and firemen who are the last hired and first to be fired. Same thing is true in Philadelphia. They mayor decided to balance the budget by closing 8 fire stations. Schools are awful and crime is out control, and meanwhile the city is closing fire stations, building stadiums and now wants to implement a wireless network. Talk about not having your priorities straight.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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Jasper1970
join:2002-12-29
Finksburg, MD
·Comcast
·Verizon BroadbandA..
| cell phone tax Well its a Democrat City. And all democrats solve money problems by raising taxes. They always do it. I am suprised no one has noticed it. Democrats are suppose to be for the working man. This way of doing things does not sound like they are for the working man. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
| Re: cell phone tax said by Jasper1970 :Well its a Democrat City. And all democrats solve money problems by raising taxes. They always do it. I am suprised no one has noticed it. Most cities today are populated with rich liberal types for whom an extra $3.50 a month is pocket change and with extremely poor people who probably can't afford a cell phone to begin with. Most middle class people fled cities years ago to escape the high crime rates and horrible government services. I guess you could say in this case they are taxing the rich lol.
said by Jasper1970 :Democrats are suppose to be for the working man. This way of doing things does not sound like they are for the working man. Amen, amen and amen.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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| | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: cell phone tax said by pnh102 :Most cities today are populated with rich liberal types for whom an extra $3.50 a month is pocket change and with extremely poor people who probably can't afford a cell phone to begin with. Most middle class people fled cities years ago to escape the high crime rates and horrible government services. I guess you could say in this case they are taxing the rich lol. What are you smoking?
If you knew anything, you would know that cell phones are not only for rich people. I see all classes of people with cell phones from filthy rich to ghetto poor. Can't afford decent clothes but sure as hell have that cell phone in their hand.
Plus, I know many people who live in the city BUT have their vehicles registered outside the city for the much cheaper insurance rate. You think they wouldn't do the same thing with their cell phones? | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
| Re: cell phone tax said by moonpuppy :If you knew anything, you would know that cell phones are not only for rich people. Did you even bother to read my post before you mouthing off like that? I never said cell phones were only for rich people. I just said that for the rich people who live in the city, this tax won't hit them very hard.
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Hey Fast Eddie... you're next! | |
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| | | | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: cell phone tax said by pnh102 :Did you even bother to read my post before you mouthing off like that? I never said cell phones were only for rich people. I just said that for the rich people who live in the city, this tax won't hit them very hard. This is what you said:
quote:
Most cities today are populated with rich liberal types for whom an extra $3.50 a month is pocket change and with extremely poor people who probably can't afford a cell phone to begin with.
You would be surprised to see how many "extremely" poor people have cell phones these days. | |
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tapeloop
Long live Ollie.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| Re: cell phone tax said by moonpuppy :said by pnh102 :Did you even bother to read my post before you mouthing off like that? I never said cell phones were only for rich people. I just said that for the rich people who live in the city, this tax won't hit them very hard. This is what you said: quote:
Most cities today are populated with rich liberal types for whom an extra $3.50 a month is pocket change and with extremely poor people who probably can't afford a cell phone to begin with.
You would be surprised to see how many "extremely" poor people have cell phones these days. ...pwned.  | |
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| | russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA | I suspect we'll see the rich start moving their address of record for the cell phone outside of the Baltimore. Ask all the rich liberals in Philadelphia where their cars are registered, after all... | |
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tapeloop
Long live Ollie.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| said by pnh102 :Most cities today are populated with rich liberal types for whom an extra $3.50 a month is pocket change and with extremely poor people who probably can't afford a cell phone to begin with. Most middle class people fled cities years ago to escape the high crime rates and horrible government services. I guess you could say in this case they are taxing the rich lol. Wait a minute...I live in the city...how come I'm not rich? Is there someone I should be writing to in order to get that fat paycheck?  | |
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SpitefulCrow
Insert Witty Tag Here
Premium
join:2003-06-04
Berkeley, CA | Way to crap on the thread. | |
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Anubis Prime
join:2001-06-01
Indianola, PA | ...I know, many of those in Congress are members of the Democratic Socialists of America. I too wonder what people are thinking. | |
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| Jasper1970
join:2002-12-29
Finksburg, MD | Lets not forget Michael Bus(c)h. He DOUBLE tag fees here in Maryland. And he is a democrat. Go figure more taxes. | |
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| | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: cell phone tax said by Jasper1970 :Lets not forget Michael Bus(c)h. He DOUBLE tag fees here in Maryland. And he is a democrat. Go figure more taxes. And don't forget, he is against slot machines at race tracks so Baltimore City might lose the Preakness and horse racing all together and be in real financial ruin.
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oldmike
join:2005-04-14
Latonia, KY
·Insight Communicat..
| Politicians and taxes Hey guys and girls, wake up. There is no difference between Republican and Democrat politicians but the names. They are all power hungry, lying, scheming scumbags out to 1) get elected and 2) stay in power at any cost. Part of the oath of office is to "remove my backbone, morals and integrity and kiss the rear of anyone who made political contributions to me". They are aided and abetted in this by an ignorant, apathetic constituency who are more enthralled with the TV than in the real world around them.
Personally, I hope to live long enough to see the Second American Revolution start. Step 1 - Shoot all the lawyers. Step 2 - Law may never supplant reason. | |
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tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA
| Re: Politicians and taxes said by oldmike :Hey guys and girls, wake up. There is no difference between Republican and Democrat politicians but the names. They are all power hungry, lying, scheming scumbags out to 1) get elected and 2) stay in power at any cost. Part of the oath of office is to "remove my backbone, morals and integrity and kiss the rear of anyone who made political contributions to me". They are aided and abetted in this by an ignorant, apathetic constituency who are more enthralled with the TV than in the real world around them. Personally, I hope to live long enough to see the Second American Revolution start. Step 1 - Shoot all the lawyers. Step 2 - Law may never supplant reason. So true. Just come up to York Co where most of the elected officials are Republican. They can raise taxes as well as the best tax-n-spend Democrat. | |
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linflas
join:1999-08-18
Manassas, VA
| Re: Politicians and taxes They wanted to raise the 911 fee on all phone bills by 71% here in Prince William County Virginia this year. The reason was stated to be because it would be in line with what other counties in the area charge even though there was no immediate need for the money. They ended up not doing it this time around but I would not be surprised to see it come up again next year after they have a year to dream up some stuff to justify the "need". | |
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ricep5
Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL | Feeling Patriotic are we? Sounds like everyone has been watching "National Treasure" too much on DVD.
Perhaps someone can quote the Declaration to explain why over taxation is wrong. | |
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taxationsyndrome
@verizon.n
| lotsofvictims Yes, the taxation of cell phones is somehting the know people want to have.. but if it keeps up, what will probably happen is people will get smart to this nonsense and increase voip traffic.. If you can get to an open wifi spot, you could use your account there.. its a tradeoff to having mobility use of being in your car traveling very fast down the highway talking to someone..
Or maybe we can setup high powered wifi nets across the country and share free broadband to screw the cell phone companies and their overtaxing authorities out of some more revenue.
In all reality, the biggest tax hike in the USA is now ENGERGY, thats right people, your gasoline and energy costs have nearly tripled since the early 1990's. Fuel efficiency was paid lipservice to, and now it comes back to bite everyone in the ass.
Well, there is an answer to the idea of taxes, cancel your cellphone. And when they try to get you to subscribe with a contract, tell them you will not bend over and take it in the a$$ by every little taxing authority who thinks they can pad your cell phone bill. ITS OVER!!!
A LOAD of companies profit off this technology and if they tax it to death it will be their fault. There are over 300 MILLION cellular phones in use in the USA (average) thats a LOT of tax money! Imagine if 10% (to start) of these people cancelled their cell phone service and switched to VOIP lines! The strange thing is that loads of people leave their wifi networks OPEN WIDE and it has become almost as ubiquitous as cell phone sites... Wifi based VOIP is the future, just TRY to tax that! | |
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Fatal Vector
@aol.com
| Re: lotsofvictims
The primary job of government is to provide for public order and safety. That means police and fire. Other things, like water, street lights, sanitation, etc are secondary but necessary. The rest is just incremental crap they have tacked on over the years. You notice that no division of the government concerned with collecting money for that government EVER gets cut. It's allways from programs geared to help someone, or, services for you. You can thank AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the government employee union) for that. They have to pay the union workers and honor that sweetheart contract. I bet you if you were to look, the vast majority of money your local/county government spends is on benefits in these worker contracts.
The problem with these people is they just cant stop spending on new pet programs because it's not their money and there is allways more. Bottom line is that Taxes in many cases are nothing but extortion.
Their rationalle is just to keep raising fees and taxes to maintain spending, a large part of which is all the goodies and benefits they have to pay their unions, such as health care. And lets not forget body armor and machine guns for the police, who usually are as well armed as the military, so they can run down all the cop killers out there and some poor shmoe barricaded in his house. Yes, they can allways buy some new toy to use against us, the people they supposedly work for. If you have ever had to deal with any cop, especially at the station (many newer ones, you'll notice, are built like fortresses), you see by how they act towards you what they really think of you.
Untill we start voting out these people that have been ther for 30-40 years, we deserve what we get. | |
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Voyager2K2
join:2001-10-04
Wayne, PA
| Re: lotsofvictims Look at Philadelphia, a sister city.
Before I go on, a quick point.
EVERY resident has a right to fire and police protection and to at least be offered a decent education in an environment that promotes learning.
Now Philadelphia is perhaps the best example of government gone wrong.
We went from one Democratic administration to another.
The first (Ed Rendell AKA "Fast Eddie") left a budget surplus and had the town in a going in a very positive direction.
Mayor Street? Well read the headlines. He's turned Philadelphia into near bankrupt city. A city full of graft.
But here's the take home message for both cities.
You voted these bozos into power.
Wanna know who to blame? Look in the mirror.
How about next election you do your homework and vote with your mind, not your heart?
Nobody but the sorry-ass voters of Baltimore have themselves to blame.
As Dr. Phil says (whom I despise): "Own it!"
I expect to see some thumbs up for this post  | |
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stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA
| Here's my take ' "I can't remember the last time we've had such an easy budget year," opines the city council President.'
If I hear of a city official where I live making a comment like that while raising taxes on using a cell phone, then this is what I'd do:
"Your Fired!!!"..and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Sport.
Vote, people...and keep an eye on your local officials. Makes no difference how large a city you live in, your vote is the only way to make your point known.
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GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA
| Its like a liquor tax. In that they are basically placing cell phone on the same status as other luxury products and service. Just because I can afford a cell phone I am suppose to pay a bigger burden of the county's social services than crackers. Only problem is I'm a cellpohone toting cracker myself. Hah! | |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| Why not buy in another city? With national calling plans the norm (anytime, anywhere minutes), why not contract for a phone in a city that doesn't have the tax? Do they force the provider to collect a tax based on where you live? That's pretty easy to fix as well. Use an out-of-town relative's address and setup auto-billing to your credit card. | |
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| moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Why not buy in another city? said by rradina :With national calling plans the norm (anytime, anywhere minutes), why not contract for a phone in a city that doesn't have the tax? Do they force the provider to collect a tax based on where you live? That's pretty easy to fix as well. Use an out-of-town relative's address and setup auto-billing to your credit card. Because they charge the address. Your credit check goes to your billing address. And not everyone can get an out of city address but I assure you, those that can get another address (especially with car insurance) will do it. | |
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| | Galvage
join:2004-02-11
Taconite, MN | Re: Why not buy in another city? This is basically an evolving tax. They used to tax the land lines and now that more people are dumping the land lines the cities and states need to replace those revenues so they just move onto the next service. | |
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Spiral
No Easy Way To Be Free.
Premium
join:2003-03-04
Baltimore, MD
| I used to live in Baltimore County. I live in the city now, but my cell phone provider has never applied the city tax even though I have lived in the city with same cell phone number (from when I lived in the county) for two years now. I'm billed for a much smaller Baltimore County tax.
I guess I've beaten the system for now. Although the city does charge me $20 per year because I have a house alarm (supposedly due to the cost of responding to false alarms).
said by rradina :With national calling plans the norm (anytime, anywhere minutes), why not contract for a phone in a city that doesn't have the tax? Do they force the provider to collect a tax based on where you live? That's pretty easy to fix as well. Use an out-of-town relative's address and setup auto-billing to your credit card. | |
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Baltimore Taxes Cellular
