We, the citizens of California, expect the legislature to adopt laws that protect the small, mom and pop, businesses that make up our local business communities from unfair worldwide competition and practices developing as a result of the internet.
We want a law requiring internet merchandisers to purchase a yearly business permit to sell merchandise in California, in the same manner, as a business physically located on Main Street does. It's only fair.
Our small businesses are being run out of business because they can no longer compete with internet merchandisers. Our streets are now home to empty buildings. No more window shopping. No more work for our young, our middle aged or our old.
We want an internet policing authority set up to track and hold accountable internet merchandise providers that choose not to purchase the California business permit or remit the appropriate amount of sales tax.
It is obvious that no one can force them to comply, but it is also just as obvious that we don't have to allow the product to be delivered within our state.
We want a law requiring internet businesses to be solely responsible for paying the sales tax on the product they sale in California.
It is ludicrous to believe that the consumer should be held responsible for paying a sales tax on a product they purchase to the franchise tax board. That is like saying that Wal-Mart is not responsible for collecting taxes during a sale in their store.
The on-line business concern has to be the one responsible for collecting the sales tax at the time of the purchase. And they are the ones that need to be held responsible for forwarding the revenue to the franchise tax board.
It is easier to go after one entity (the business) for the tax liability than to go after one million customers.
If they refuse or ignore paying the tax then they need to be held accountable, in the same manner, that a small business might be held accountable if they refused in California.
If an internet merchandiser want to sell there products in California then they need to pay their fair share as well as everyone else.
COMPETITION IS GREAT AS LONG AS IT IS FAIR!
