Oh, North Carolina. The state, which is home to Ric Flair (pictured here), is now considering a tax on downloadable items. This, in a time when people are losing their jobs left and right. Download an eBook, get taxed. Download a song, get taxed. Download a movie, get taxed. Download a game, get taxed. You get the idea.
The new tax is currently being studied by a “legislative commission,” and, if passed, would net the state a cool $12 million in yearly revenue. That may sound reasonable, but when you consider that the state’s deficit is $2 billion, you can’t help but think to yourself, “Wow, this tax will do nothing except inconvenience hard-working North Carolinians. Thanks.”
The state is trying to justify the new tax by saying, you know, if we can tax a video game you buy at a brick-and-mortar GameStop, why can’t we tax a game you’ve downloaded from Steam?
Let’s not forget that New York state similarly hatched its own “iPod tax” scheme a few weeks ago, which was similarly greeted with derision.
All these taxes, as our infrastructure crumbles around us and Congress squabbles over ideological tomfoolery. Good to see things are getting better.
I say let the Chinese take over.
via Neowin