LETTERS: INTERNET TAX ISSUE: WHAT'S FAIR?

To the editor:

I am responding to the April 14 article, "Taxes on Internet sales studied." Your subtitle states, "County officials say fairness key." I would first ask the question, what is meant by fairness? Is fairness a kind of government welfare for local businesses? Do we want the government to intrude more in the free market? Can we not find ways to compete with Internet businesses on our own.

Your article quoted the county collector, Weldon Macke, as saying Internet businesses have an unfair advantage because they don't have to collect sales or use tax. What about the postage and handling charges that are added to Internet purchases? Would it be fair if the consumer had to pay postage and handling charges and sales or use tax on products purchased over the Internet? If I purchase an $800 computer via the Internet, postage and handling would be at least as much if not more than the local sales tax if I purchased the same computer locally. If sales or use taxes were added to this, would this be fair to the consumer or Internet store.

The word fair means just to all parties. Is business not fair when all businesses have the opportunity to market their product or services any way they choose? Local businesses can market their products or service via the Internet too. It costs very little to establish a top-of-the-line Web site. Is this not fair.

I would like to see the day when businesses begin to exercise their freedom instead of crying "unfair" and submitting themselves to more government control.

TERRY DECKARD

Jackson