This past holiday season put the spotlight on e-commerce as never before. We'll see what the numbers tell us when the counting stops. As we wait for the results, let's consider some unpopular, maybe unspeakable, subjects. We need Internet sales taxes.
Nobody likes taxes.
But most folks don't like potholes or ineffective 911 services, either. The fact is that local services are largely paid for by local sales taxes. As more business moves online, many towns and cities will start hurting as their sales tax revenue dwindles. Some Main Street shops will close altogether, unable to compete with loss-leader electronic retailers. They should stop whining and find a way to make money and play fair.