posted 12-13- 07:11 PM               

I believe the Federal Government has no rights to interfere in the life of the individual, except in matters of:
-Foriegn Policy.
-Interstate commerce.
-National Defence/Security.
-Enforcement of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.

All other matters are within the bounds of State Regulation (unless I fergot something).

So, although I'm against "Internet Taxes" personnally, they are probably Constitutional. However, I see no justification for California to tax a purchase made by a resident who executes a transaction in Maryland (or visa-versa). BTW, internet taxes will be applied soon, and if my Phone Bill is any indication, they will be very high.

Let's take a look at my US phone bill for a second...shall we?

$7.95....Individual Flat Rate Residence (unlimited local calling)
$1.00....Touch Tone (yeah I know, I'm a dork to pay for this)
$5.00....FCC Subscriber line charge
$0.23....Local Number Portability Surcharge
$0.53....Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge
-0.66....Intrastate monthly credit
$0.42....Federal Tax
$0.84....State Sales Tax

So, $6.36 in Taxes, and $8.95 for phone.

A bargin I guess, in Russia.

(Yeah, I know you Europeans pay by the minute/second on local calls. I say to you, do something about it, start your own phone company, grow large enough to intimidate your Government, effect change!)

Basically I believe in the right to self determination, but obviously all you who've been brain-washed by the State (Federal & State governments), feel much more comfortable sucking off the State's plump (but sour) nipple.

Personnaly, I'd rather not be stuck on any teets (except girlfriend's I guess)... but that's not how the "group" wants it.

We won the cold war, but are becoming a bunch of communists.

I won't even go into all the rights that were lost since 9-11 (idiots on radio and TV saying they'd rather lose rights than live with some risk..... completely stupid people have taken over... ) As if you would actually have more security through these lowered privacy standards. You would not, the terrorists are unstoppable, you've given up rights for the appearance of additional secruity, only the appearance, no acutal real security improvements have been realized.

There, I was trying to stop worrying about these issues, and I've gone and started again.

I say to you Killer-Ants, run for public office, or take a job in the legislative branch of Brazilian government. You are doomed if you don't take a personal stake in your contry's future.

Flame Wars Onward!

PS. I have no idea what topic I'm discussing!

posted 12-13- 10:00 PM               

LOL

Yeah it took at least an hour for me and a friend to convince another friend of mine that just giving up your rights isn't going to fix anything and is a very bad thing.

My phone bill no longer seems to list all the little indidual items, I guess I could call bell Canada and ask what they are.

I remember there being a charge for touch tone here too and I think something about 911 service.

posted 12-13- 10:05 PM               

Just another way for the Feds to get into our pockets without us noticing.

posted 12-16- 12:53 PM               

quote:

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origanally post by Der.Todesvogel I say to you Killer-Ants, run for public office, or take a job in the legislative branch of Brazilian government. You are doomed if you don't take a personal stake in your contry's future.

---

Unfortunatelly the "legislative" sucks here. Corruption are ephidemic. The only way to change thinks, is voting in someone more or less honest. Burocracy never change anithing, it is changed.
I do what I can, voting right (not in "the right") volunteering in some ONG against the hungry and for low cost houses. As see ours prioritys and focus are very divergent.
The secret for consense is 1st - have a solid opinion, 2nd - respect the opinion from another and 3rd - donīt kick a dead dog

Regards,

posted 12-23- 02:47 PM               

I believe in informed decision making. And selling the final decision to all concerned with executing the task.

This is the essence of leadership.

I worked for a woman in a small California city government for several months. She believed in consensus decision making, and as a result no decsisions were ever made.

A leader survives by force of personality. Not of force, but by the personality that attracts others to do what is necessary. To work together towards the common goal. But as the personality becomes a cult, it becomes self-absorbed and self destructive.

This is the problem with your Government Killer-Ants. No one has the personality to project the goals what would lead to straightening out the problems. This is common is South and Central American governments. In these countries, there are too many Macho men who can't deliver anything.

That is why the CIA can so easily interfere with the Governments in the lower America. There is no force to resist CIA penatration.

Castro, in the early years, is the notable exception. He had the personality, and he had the intelligence to use the Soviets to strengthen his position.

BTW. I don't pay any long-distance fees on my US phone bill because I use www.bigzoo.com. It is semi-reliable and dirt cheap! (like me)