Amazon tax fever is spreading. In the months since a New York State law took effect that imposes sales taxes on products promoted through Web sites based in the state, other governments have moved to get in on the action, and online retailers aren’t happy.

from here.

Nooo!! Online shopping in a safe haven for agoraphobic shopaholics.

Shopping online should not be taxed. It should be discounted. It’s more ‘Green’ than going to a brick and mortar store. There is no travel. Running a few delivery trucks is a small fraction of pollution compared to the thousands of people that drive to stores. It conserves real estate since there could be less retail locations. Think of all the open space and land your city or town would have if there were no stores. Less destruction of land, less resources, fewer animals without their natural habitat… I can think of a lot of things I would rather see all over my town than another store.

There would be less overhead for the businesses. They would not need to have a store on every corner in every town to get their share of the market. They could have a warehouse that doesn’t need decorating. They wouldn’t have utility costs for those buildings that they don’t need.

I know. I know. Jobs. People would be out some jobs. But if families didn’t need two or more cars (one for one spouse to get to work, another for the other half to run all the errands or get to another job) their expenses would be less. One less car payment. One less car to insure. One less tank to fill. And now that I think about it, some of the jobs could be replaced if public transportation was increased. A few more buses or trains for each route could eliminate massive amounts of cars and emissions.

Even better, all companies could change to telecommuting. An agoraphobic’s dream! To never have to leave to get things done and earn money would be wonderful. I confess I have found a way to get everything done without leaving my house. I hope all the others like me out there can find a way to live as well as the “outsiders” and still remain home.

I beg you, please! Don’t make it worth it for me to have to venture into the scary place. I don’t want to have to face my fear in order to buy products at a good price. If I have to pay shipping and taxes will it be financially worth it anymore?