Check out this brief article from Publishers Weekly:
Amazon Sues North Carolina over Demand for Customer Records
by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 4/20/2010 10:16:49 AM
My Thoughts:
At first I thought - what's the big deal - I know my state is in trouble revenue-wise, but what state isn't? I understand they want to collect sales tax. We have something in our tax forms that asks us put in our internet transactions, but honestly I have now clue how much I spend with Amazon and other e-tailers. The no sales tax is not what draws me to purchase from e-tailers, I don't mind paying sales tax. But the problem here is infringing on my rights. My state government does not have a right to know what I read. Will what I read put me on any lists? I seriously doubt it, but I think we've all heard of government lists for The Anarchist Cookbook and such like that, do any of us want to be labeled for what we read?
I doubt my romance and thriller purchases would land me on any such list, but does the state have a right to that information? I say no and will definitely side with Amazon on this one. It's not about the money - it's about protecting my rights and others in the state of North Carolina who purchase books, movies, games and other things online.
So what do you think - is this a big deal or not? Let me know.
Posts
