QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1571440:date=Oct 26 2006, 05:32 PM:name=Renegade)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Renegade @ Oct 26 2006, 05:32 PM) [snapback]1571440[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> You live in Seattle, Q? I wonder how many other forum members live in the Seattle metropolitan area. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Quite a few have moved here in the past little bit.
<!--quoteo(post=1571428:date=Oct 26 2006, 05:54 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 26 2006, 05:54 PM) [snapback]1571428[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Oh, no, I love being taxed. No, seriously. Seeing what high tax rates have done for the Seattle Area has made me a believer.
But don't tax my games. Unless it was a base, sales tax transaction(not a specialized "MMO transaction" tax), I would never be okay with it. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1571448:date=Oct 26 2006, 08:17 PM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Oct 26 2006, 08:17 PM) [snapback]1571448[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> i love taxes! (as long as they aren't mine) <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, its not that. Its more like, don't tax an area just because its not being taxed- and especially not a niche area, because when they tax a niche, they hike it super high.
I'll willingly pay whatever other taxes are needed(as long as I can still afford my basic stuff).
<!--quoteo(post=1571468:date=Oct 27 2006, 09:04 AM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 27 2006, 09:04 AM) [snapback]1571468[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> No, its not that. Its more like, don't tax an area just because its not being taxed[...] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> With the rich being the obvious exception. They should be taxed for PRECISELY that reason.
<!--quoteo(post=1571507:date=Oct 27 2006, 11:25 AM:name=tjosan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tjosan @ Oct 27 2006, 11:25 AM) [snapback]1571507[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> People should contribute to society according to their ability, and recieve from society according to their need. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1571507:date=Oct 27 2006, 02:25 PM:name=tjosan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tjosan @ Oct 27 2006, 02:25 PM) [snapback]1571507[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> People should contribute to society according to their ability, and recieve from society according to their need. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If only it could be that way.
More to the point, taxation is a bit of an issue. You can't just blanket label taxes in any manner. To say something like, "taxing this industry will cause the prices rise and the market to dwindle," isn't necessarily always true.
It depends on an infinite amount of factors, like any other real world problem. The best we can do is create models to approximate the affect a tax will have based on the buyers and sellers in the market where the tax will be, their alternatives, consumer and producer surpluses, and all that crazy stuff.
This is one of the primary reasons why taxing the rich in such a way as to not indirectly hurt everyone else is so hard. Here's a couple examples:
Tax the Rich Solution: Inflicting massive income tax for the higher brackets The Rich's Answer: Pay themselves just under the limits on the brackets, fold the rest back into a corporation and expense out things like cars, planes, computers, and other items. These kinds of purchases are all deducted from the corps gross earnings <i>before</i> taxes are assessed. Who gets hurt? As corporations become larger, the common citizen working for them becomes less and less significant. The documents that define a corporation become the steel hull that protects the owners of that company from a myriad of attacks, such as when they drain the accounts dry and let the company take the bullet. But also all the employees are now out of a job.
Tax the Rich Solution: Term a bunch of items "luxury," and jack up the sales tax. The Rich's Answer: No matter how many things you put in this catagory (yachts, fast cars, houses, ...), the rich can always find other ways to satisfy their desires. They're very elastic in their purchasing ability. They will just buy something that's not taxed so much. Who gets hurt? Well, workers who make yachts and fast cars are pretty niched. They may be able to learn a new trade, but can't convert production without liquidating assets which are now worth less because the items they used to make don't move anymore. They may be smothered out.
The point is that most of the richest people out there are rich because they've found holes in the system. Patch those holes, and they're crafty enough to find more. The best solution in this case may be no tax at all.
However, the government can't function and perform civil duties like build parks, roads, and providing civil defense without money. They have to tax something, cuz they sure as hell aren't gonna get any donations.
So what do you tax? You takes industries and markets where both buyers and sellers are less likely to be able to find a equivalent alternative: medication, food, clothing, etc. Online purchasing of ingame funds probably isn't a market where this applies, but I'm sure congress has <i>some</i> kind of economists drawing up these papers. So maybe it is?
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1571509:date=Oct 27 2006, 12:07 PM:name=Rob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rob @ Oct 27 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]1571509[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Online purchasing of ingame funds probably isn't a market where this applies, but I'm sure congress has <i>some</i> kind of economists drawing up these papers. So maybe it is? <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClkE64nFDY" target="_blank">their committee for e-commerce?</a>
Once again: Don't apply taxes just for the sake of taxing. Its idiotic.
<!--quoteo(post=1571510:date=Oct 27 2006, 03:37 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 27 2006, 03:37 PM) [snapback]1571510[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> You mean like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClkE64nFDY" target="_blank">their committee for e-commerce?</a>
Once again: Don't apply taxes just for the sake of taxing. Its idiotic. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The government will never tax for the sake of taxing. As long as we have a multi-trillion dollary national debt, and large budget overages, this shall be the case. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Even after that, the government can <i>always</i> use more money. At least as long as that money is put towards government spendagures and not personal ones.
It's just that, from our perspective, it's easy to vilify taxing, as it cuts money out of our budgets for no apparent cause.
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1571528:date=Oct 27 2006, 04:14 PM:name=Rob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rob @ Oct 27 2006, 04:14 PM) [snapback]1571528[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> The government will never tax for the sake of taxing. As long as we have a multi-trillion dollary national debt, and large budget overages, this shall be the case. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Even after that, the government can <i>always</i> use more money. At least as long as that money is put towards government spendagures and not personal ones.
It's just that, from our perspective, it's easy to vilify taxing, as it cuts money out of our budgets for no apparent cause. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, no. I see plenty. Unlike back in Fresno, Seattle's taxes have created an environment for kids that I couldn't imagine being better. And the library system is awesome too. Etc.
<!--quoteo(post=1571529:date=Oct 27 2006, 04:48 PM:name=Quaunaut)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Quaunaut @ Oct 27 2006, 04:48 PM) [snapback]1571529[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Oh, no. I see plenty. Unlike back in Fresno, Seattle's taxes have created an environment for kids that I couldn't imagine being better. And the library system is awesome too. Etc. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Seattle is a poster child for taxation done right. Aside from Scandinavia and Canada, I can think of few places that do it better.
Not your subscription, or ingame exchanges, but instead, taxing when you buy virtual currency in a game like Second Life.
All I've got to say: For ######'s sake congress, get off of our ######. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So let me get this straight. We could soon be playing shoulder to shoulder with at the very least major American politicians and possibly World Leaders? And they want everyone else to fund them?
Oh my I just see a vision. This could be the 'new Iraq', if we don't comply they will invade Ironforge and de-throne the King! And tax us!
Who honestly believes Iraq was started over oil. If that's the case...where is my oil. On top of that, I'm still figuring economic superiority and still being gall enough to call yourself the only superpower was good enough reason alone.
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."
/rant over
Other then that.
What's the government going to do. Send Auditors into WoW. I'm just going to make a Gold laundering business.
<!--quoteo(post=1576479:date=Nov 13 2006, 03:40 AM:name=Revlic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Revlic @ Nov 13 2006, 03:40 AM) [snapback]1576479[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Who honestly believes Iraq was started over oil. If that's the case...where is my oil. On top of that, I'm still figuring economic superiority and still being gall enough to call yourself the only superpower was good enough reason alone.
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."
/rant over Other then that.
What's the government going to do. Send Auditors into WoW. I'm just going to make a Gold laundering business. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I may be wrong but I do remember a big pipeline being built in Iraq by an American company during the last few years. Also aren't oil prices per barrel currently at a lower cost now than before Iraq?
Uhm, the oil is all around you. In petrochemics, in your car's fuel tank. Seriously, oil is everywhere. I don't see how you have managed to overlook that.
We better watch out, first they start taxing our currency buying and before we know it they will be strip mining Azeroth for oil! Oh noes!
Anyway, there is seriously like 2 games where using RL money to purchase ingame currency is actually allowed by the EULA. All the others where it is done illegally: I completely support something to slow down the farmers. Compare ship prices in EvE now vs the prices they were before the population burst. Deprecation anyone? Or look at the crazy economic inflation that is present on all the older WoW servers, this may just be do to people being idiots however.
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1576609:date=Nov 13 2006, 06:47 AM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Nov 13 2006, 06:47 AM) [snapback]1576609[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> We better watch out, first they start taxing our currency buying and before we know it they will be strip mining Azeroth for oil! Oh noes! Anyway, there is seriously like 2 games where using RL money to purchase ingame currency is actually allowed by the EULA. All the others where it is done illegally: I completely support something to slow down the farmers. Compare ship prices in EvE now vs the prices they were before the population burst. Deprecation anyone? Or look at the crazy economic inflation that is present on all the older WoW servers, this may just be do to people being idiots however. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People keep complaining about inflation rates, but I found it easy as hell to compete in those markets as a completely new person. I dunno.
QuaunautThe longest seven days in history...Join Date: 2003-03-21Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1577670:date=Nov 15 2006, 07:28 PM:name=scooterblue)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scooterblue @ Nov 15 2006, 07:28 PM) [snapback]1577670[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Since the thread starter clearly either didn't read or didn't understand the article he linked to: Either way, items like virtual t-shirts to be worn in Second Life are luxury items, and if bought with real money, I wouldn't have a problem placing a tax on the transaction. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A lot of things were said to be "unlikely" to be taxed. Then they started getting taxed. Why? Because it all makes congress money.
<!--quoteo(post=1577670:date=Nov 15 2006, 11:28 PM:name=scooterblue)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scooterblue @ Nov 15 2006, 11:28 PM) [snapback]1577670[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Since the thread starter clearly either didn't read or didn't understand the article he linked to:
[excerpts]
Either way, items like virtual t-shirts to be worn in Second Life are luxury items, and if bought with real money, I wouldn't have a problem placing a tax on the transaction. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Thanks, I was too lazy to RTFA, so I'm glad you stopped me from jumping to conclusions. If you're quotes are correct, then it seems the point of the meeting was precisely the opposite. They want to head off the possibility of any taxes levied in those enviornments.
Now, I'll contradict my previous outlook by saying this; if it were to be the case that taxes were placed on Real Money to Game Money exchange, I would find that fairly ludicrous. We're not talking about a physical product to be sold, or a foreign currency. This is a simulated currency with no value outside of a system designed entirely for entertainment provided by a singular product. That product itself is the only thing that can be legitimately taxed. Going any further than that is obvious BS. But as scooter pointed out, they don't plan to.
<!--quoteo(post=1576479:date=Nov 12 2006, 11:40 PM:name=Revlic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Revlic @ Nov 12 2006, 11:40 PM) [snapback]1576479[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Who honestly believes Iraq was started over oil. If that's the case...where is my oil. On top of that, I'm still figuring economic superiority and still being gall enough to call yourself the only superpower was good enough reason alone.
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well we've already ruled out the fact that it was started due to nuclear weapons or even any hints of true nuclear capability. Or rather, we were lied to by our government. So excluding this lie, this is not the REAL reason.
To be brutally honest, I sort of preferred knowing we assaulted that nation for oil. It seemed more reasonable than assaulting a nation because it has internal conflicts which aren't our damned business, or worse yet assaulting a nation for no reason at all. Oil prices did go down about a dollar here, I guess once the radicals stopped blowing up pipelines (somewhat) and hindering the process, some of it went to saving us some cash, while the rest went to Shell Oil & Co. so that they can save some cash and not forward that price drop to us. Why not, it seems like the smart thing to do, and no one questions it. We're too busy forgetting the days when Oil was 1.69 here in Texas.
So either it's oil or it's not a good enough reason. As for Iraq aiding terrorism, half the middle east has camps like these, will we strike those nations too? At least we won't have the same mixed history with them as we did with Iraq, i.e. are love/hate (give weapons/dethrone) relationship with Saddam Hussein. (Though war with Iran seems unlikely to me, with the House and the Senate now owned by Democrats.)
My apologies for ranting as a response to your rant. This whole response does not belong in this thread. But I had to say it.
Comments
You live in Seattle, Q? I wonder how many other forum members live in the Seattle metropolitan area.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Quite a few have moved here in the past little bit.
I <3 Seattle.
Oh, no, I love being taxed. No, seriously. Seeing what high tax rates have done for the Seattle Area has made me a believer.
But don't tax my games. Unless it was a base, sales tax transaction(not a specialized "MMO transaction" tax), I would never be okay with it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
i love taxes! (as long as they aren't mine)
i love taxes! (as long as they aren't mine)
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, its not that. Its more like, don't tax an area just because its not being taxed- and especially not a niche area, because when they tax a niche, they hike it super high.
I'll willingly pay whatever other taxes are needed(as long as I can still afford my basic stuff).
No, its not that. Its more like, don't tax an area just because its not being taxed[...]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
With the rich being the obvious exception. They should be taxed for PRECISELY that reason.
People should contribute to society according to their ability, and recieve from society according to their need.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dirty commies.
People should contribute to society according to their ability, and recieve from society according to their need.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If only it could be that way.
More to the point, taxation is a bit of an issue. You can't just blanket label taxes in any manner. To say something like, "taxing this industry will cause the prices rise and the market to dwindle," isn't necessarily always true.
It depends on an infinite amount of factors, like any other real world problem. The best we can do is create models to approximate the affect a tax will have based on the buyers and sellers in the market where the tax will be, their alternatives, consumer and producer surpluses, and all that crazy stuff.
This is one of the primary reasons why taxing the rich in such a way as to not indirectly hurt everyone else is so hard. Here's a couple examples:
Tax the Rich Solution: Inflicting massive income tax for the higher brackets
The Rich's Answer:
Pay themselves just under the limits on the brackets, fold the rest back into a corporation and expense out things like cars, planes, computers, and other items. These kinds of purchases are all deducted from the corps gross earnings <i>before</i> taxes are assessed. Who gets hurt? As corporations become larger, the common citizen working for them becomes less and less significant. The documents that define a corporation become the steel hull that protects the owners of that company from a myriad of attacks, such as when they drain the accounts dry and let the company take the bullet. But also all the employees are now out of a job.
Tax the Rich Solution: Term a bunch of items "luxury," and jack up the sales tax.
The Rich's Answer:
No matter how many things you put in this catagory (yachts, fast cars, houses, ...), the rich can always find other ways to satisfy their desires. They're very elastic in their purchasing ability. They will just buy something that's not taxed so much. Who gets hurt? Well, workers who make yachts and fast cars are pretty niched. They may be able to learn a new trade, but can't convert production without liquidating assets which are now worth less because the items they used to make don't move anymore. They may be smothered out.
The point is that most of the richest people out there are rich because they've found holes in the system. Patch those holes, and they're crafty enough to find more. The best solution in this case may be no tax at all.
However, the government can't function and perform civil duties like build parks, roads, and providing civil defense without money. They have to tax something, cuz they sure as hell aren't gonna get any donations.
So what do you tax? You takes industries and markets where both buyers and sellers are less likely to be able to find a equivalent alternative: medication, food, clothing, etc. Online purchasing of ingame funds probably isn't a market where this applies, but I'm sure congress has <i>some</i> kind of economists drawing up these papers. So maybe it is?
Online purchasing of ingame funds probably isn't a market where this applies, but I'm sure congress has <i>some</i> kind of economists drawing up these papers. So maybe it is?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You mean like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClkE64nFDY" target="_blank">their committee for e-commerce?</a>
Once again: Don't apply taxes just for the sake of taxing. Its idiotic.
Dirty commies.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dirty capitalists.
You mean like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DClkE64nFDY" target="_blank">their committee for e-commerce?</a>
Once again: Don't apply taxes just for the sake of taxing. Its idiotic.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The government will never tax for the sake of taxing. As long as we have a multi-trillion dollary national debt, and large budget overages, this shall be the case. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Even after that, the government can <i>always</i> use more money. At least as long as that money is put towards government spendagures and not personal ones.
It's just that, from our perspective, it's easy to vilify taxing, as it cuts money out of our budgets for no apparent cause.
The government will never tax for the sake of taxing. As long as we have a multi-trillion dollary national debt, and large budget overages, this shall be the case. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Even after that, the government can <i>always</i> use more money. At least as long as that money is put towards government spendagures and not personal ones.
It's just that, from our perspective, it's easy to vilify taxing, as it cuts money out of our budgets for no apparent cause.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh, no. I see plenty. Unlike back in Fresno, Seattle's taxes have created an environment for kids that I couldn't imagine being better. And the library system is awesome too. Etc.
Oh, no. I see plenty. Unlike back in Fresno, Seattle's taxes have created an environment for kids that I couldn't imagine being better. And the library system is awesome too. Etc.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Seattle is a poster child for taxation done right. Aside from Scandinavia and Canada, I can think of few places that do it better.
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6065534.stm</a>
Not your subscription, or ingame exchanges, but instead, taxing when you buy virtual currency in a game like Second Life.
All I've got to say: For ######'s sake congress, get off of our ######.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
So let me get this straight. We could soon be playing shoulder to shoulder with at the very least major American politicians and possibly World Leaders? And they want everyone else to fund them?
Oh my I just see a vision. This could be the 'new Iraq', if we don't comply they will invade Ironforge and de-throne the King! And tax us!
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."
/rant over
Other then that.
What's the government going to do. Send Auditors into WoW. I'm just going to make a Gold laundering business.
Who honestly believes Iraq was started over oil. If that's the case...where is my oil. On top of that, I'm still figuring economic superiority and still being gall enough to call yourself the only superpower was good enough reason alone.
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."
/rant over
Other then that.
What's the government going to do. Send Auditors into WoW. I'm just going to make a Gold laundering business.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I may be wrong but I do remember a big pipeline being built in Iraq by an American company during the last few years. Also aren't oil prices per barrel currently at a lower cost now than before Iraq?
Anyway, there is seriously like 2 games where using RL money to purchase ingame currency is actually allowed by the EULA. All the others where it is done illegally: I completely support something to slow down the farmers. Compare ship prices in EvE now vs the prices they were before the population burst. Deprecation anyone? Or look at the crazy economic inflation that is present on all the older WoW servers, this may just be do to people being idiots however.
We better watch out, first they start taxing our currency buying and before we know it they will be strip mining Azeroth for oil! Oh noes!
Anyway, there is seriously like 2 games where using RL money to purchase ingame currency is actually allowed by the EULA. All the others where it is done illegally: I completely support something to slow down the farmers. Compare ship prices in EvE now vs the prices they were before the population burst. Deprecation anyone? Or look at the crazy economic inflation that is present on all the older WoW servers, this may just be do to people being idiots however.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People keep complaining about inflation rates, but I found it easy as hell to compete in those markets as a completely new person. I dunno.
Since the thread starter clearly either didn't read or didn't understand the article he linked to:
Either way, items like virtual t-shirts to be worn in Second Life are luxury items, and if bought with real money, I wouldn't have a problem placing a tax on the transaction.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A lot of things were said to be "unlikely" to be taxed. Then they started getting taxed. Why? Because it all makes congress money.
Since the thread starter clearly either didn't read or didn't understand the article he linked to:
[excerpts]
Either way, items like virtual t-shirts to be worn in Second Life are luxury items, and if bought with real money, I wouldn't have a problem placing a tax on the transaction.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks, I was too lazy to RTFA, so I'm glad you stopped me from jumping to conclusions. If you're quotes are correct, then it seems the point of the meeting was precisely the opposite. They want to head off the possibility of any taxes levied in those enviornments.
Now, I'll contradict my previous outlook by saying this; if it were to be the case that taxes were placed on Real Money to Game Money exchange, I would find that fairly ludicrous. We're not talking about a physical product to be sold, or a foreign currency. This is a simulated currency with no value outside of a system designed entirely for entertainment provided by a singular product. That product itself is the only thing that can be legitimately taxed. Going any further than that is obvious BS. But as scooter pointed out, they don't plan to.
<!--quoteo(post=1576479:date=Nov 12 2006, 11:40 PM:name=Revlic)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Revlic @ Nov 12 2006, 11:40 PM) [snapback]1576479[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Who honestly believes Iraq was started over oil. If that's the case...where is my oil. On top of that, I'm still figuring economic superiority and still being gall enough to call yourself the only superpower was good enough reason alone.
Seriously though "WHERE IS THE OIL YOU KEEP YAMMERING ABOUT."<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well we've already ruled out the fact that it was started due to nuclear weapons or even any hints of true nuclear capability. Or rather, we were lied to by our government. So excluding this lie, this is not the REAL reason.
To be brutally honest, I sort of preferred knowing we assaulted that nation for oil. It seemed more reasonable than assaulting a nation because it has internal conflicts which aren't our damned business, or worse yet assaulting a nation for no reason at all. Oil prices did go down about a dollar here, I guess once the radicals stopped blowing up pipelines (somewhat) and hindering the process, some of it went to saving us some cash, while the rest went to Shell Oil & Co. so that they can save some cash and not forward that price drop to us. Why not, it seems like the smart thing to do, and no one questions it. We're too busy forgetting the days when Oil was 1.69 here in Texas.
So either it's oil or it's not a good enough reason. As for Iraq aiding terrorism, half the middle east has camps like these, will we strike those nations too? At least we won't have the same mixed history with them as we did with Iraq, i.e. are love/hate (give weapons/dethrone) relationship with Saddam Hussein. (Though war with Iran seems unlikely to me, with the House and the Senate now owned by Democrats.)
My apologies for ranting as a response to your rant. This whole response does not belong in this thread. But I had to say it.