Courtesy of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and Freedom Dogs:
Heh.
Considering I was actually---genuinely and sincerely---thanked by a teacher last week at Walgreens when I was buying smokes (she was in buying---ahem---SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE KIDS IN HER CLASSROOM WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEM! Out of her own pocket, mind you. She wasn't going to be reimbursed.), these actually go over rather well. Unfortunately, I had to let the teacher down. I told her not to hold her breath (ha ha, aren't I funny?) as I would be buying smoky treats online soon because it would be too expensive when the "Health Impact Fee" kicked in. Not to mention, I did mention, that I had issues with being taxed to make up for laziness and lies of our state politicians. If it was a "fee," I reasoned aloud, wasn't I allowed to ignore said "fee" and exhibit my rights as a consumer to go elsewhere? If the Governor says it's not a "tax" well, then, am I not covered if I don't want to pay it by going someplace I could avoid paying that "fee"? Her face fell and you could see the gears grinding; the thought of future budget shortfalls running like mad through her head. I told her, quite bluntly, to lobby her fellow union members to fire some of their good-for-nothing union administrators and to clean up the local school administration's money sucking bureaucracy to make up the impending shortfall.
She wasn't quite so "thankful" then, I must admit.
{Hat Tip: Bogus Doug}
Posted by Kathy at August 1, 2005 12:42 PM | TrackBackWow. I would have LOVED to have been there and witnessed her reaction. Your logic was spot-on, by the way.
Posted by: Phoenix at August 1, 2005 02:04 PMHi Kathy,
Just a note about buying smokes online. I recently received a form from the state of Wisconsin demanding that I disclose purchasing products online that I hadn't paid Wisconsin taxes on.
They also get you for "use taxes" if you buy them in the next state, and consume them in your own. (Same tax rate.) Minnesota has the same set up, but I don't know if they have sent out any letters.
I'm pretty sure that it was either the online smokes retailer or UPS that gave up my name to the state. There's evidence out there on the net that UPS and some online smoke sites have handed over their customer lists. (I actually tried to find out who gave me up, but was unsuccessful.)
It's becoming more and more common as states go all out to collect revenue. In some states, MA and MI stick out in my mind), people received tax bills in the mail.
I did write a post about it. As you can imagine, I'm not a happy camper. I also haven't filled it out even though it was due at the end of July. I can't imagine going back to track fiuve years of purchases.
Posted by: Sandy at August 5, 2005 07:40 PM