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Is NY Really Going to Tax Internet Porn?

by Peter Mychalcewycz on February 18, 2009 at 01:15 PM



With New York facing a $15 billion budget deficit , it should surprise no one that the Empire State's leaders are getting creative in their search for a solution.

New York Governor George Patterson wants to place a four-percent tax on Internet downloads of books, music, and other content. While some people are calling this the iPod tax, we all know that it should be called the "porn tax." Proponents of the tax say it will raise much needed funds in a time of crisis. Michael Long, chairman of New York's Conservative Party opposes the tax, saying, "You're sending a message to the children... If you're taxing it -- how can it be wrong?"

We aren't saying pornography is right or wrong, but it is a legitimate, primarily legal form of adult entertainment that makes billions of dollars a year. Mr. Long is trying to appease his base, which is expected and a bit unoriginal. He cannot honestly believe that an industry of this size needs further legitimacy. Taxing pornography does not legitimize it. If the pros of taxing downloadable content can ease the pain of this budget crisis, and ultimately make fiscal sense, why wouldn't the governor pull the trigger? [From: Inquirer]

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Tags: government, ipod tax, IpodTax, new york, NewYork, porn, taxes

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