Should LL Enact a Sales / Transfer Tax to Fund Events?

The Lindens could fund events again without causing inflation if they would enact a tax on all transfers / purchases / sales of L$ between Avatars.

The tax would effectively remove X% of each transactions to the state coffers, which could then be used to pay for event hosting.

Has the dawn of taxation to support social programs come of age in SL? Or should there [still] be no taxation without representation?

Its an emerging issue.

NO NO NO! No taxes. I couldn't stomach the Welcome Area again if that were to happen!

The world famous capitalist promoting taxes? *falls over in shock*

Hmmmm, how much is the tax on a freebie when it is sold ?

LoL... well, I didnt really take a stand on the issue. But if taxes could enhance the experience of the player and encourage him/her to stay longer and spend more RL money IW than taxed, it coule make a compelling argument for taxation.

An item set for sale at L$0 in world would pay no tax.

Is it really? Well, push it back down and seal the sewer cap tightly.

Err, Earth calling Jamie... You're a CAPITALIST, remember? If you're a capitalist then:

1) You're opposed to transactional taxation, subsidies, and wealth redistribution.

2) You don't promote new forms of taxation, subsidies, or wealth redistribution.

So... what are you, really? Some sort of COMMUNIST?

LoL... I dont know about that.

In the United States, the vanguard of world capitalism, taxes do exist. They pay for things such as the primary schools, the police, the roads, and spreading democracy throughout the world.

Its not necessarily against capitalism to support a taxation system when the monetary gains would offset the expenses or when it supports the national interest.

Yes but what about the people who sell those freebies for more than L$0. Surely you've heard of them? The talentless, parasitic, money-grubbing scum that just like to take what's been given to the community and cynically make their own buck off it? I mean, surely you've heard of it happening.

What should the tax on those be? In fact, why not let's just tax those! Then they could be doing some good for the community, rather than leeching off it.

Moopf, the way taxes work is that a rate is applied to the base amount. So, if an item was selling at L$100, that would be its base.

Say the tax rate was 10%, the tax would be the Rate x Base or L$100 x 10% = L$10.

Freebies would incurr no tax because the base would equal Zero, and 0 times any rate is zero.

Is obtusity a word ?

If it's an emerging issue, then it's emerging really slowly. This question has been raised countless times for practically as long as SL has existed.

As for the "taxation without representation", try looking up "SL tea party" in the archives. I'm not sure if it's still there, but there was quite the organized little revolt back in the pre-1.0 days about this same issue.


- Newfie

or charge admission to said events. you know, the "usage fee" that is so revered by fiscal libertarians/capitalists.

what exactly are these "social programs" that are emerging as issues? please elaborate.

Gooood, gooooood... this one shows promise... she will soon join us on the dark side, comrades.

Yes, if the freebie is being re-sold for L$0. But we all know that isn't always the case, don't we Jamie

So, why not let's just tax the parasitic fuckers? Force them to give something back to the community. What do you say to that, eh?

One of the social programs is the use of taxation to support events.

Moopf, the tax would charge everybody. It would be unfair to tax only selective portions of the population, not to mention cumbersome to administer - and the Lindens have indicated they do not want to become involved in cumbersome processes.

Yes, but don't you feel it's also unfair to take somebody's freebie, that they've given to the community, and re-sell that at a profit, simply because they're greedy, self-centered, self-absorbed assholes?

events? linden sponsored events? like what?

you don't think the lindens (who actually own *all* of your "wealth", you know) have the wherewithal to fund their own events???

bah. welfare for the rich - typical capitalism in practice.

Oh no they do, but they don't because they dont want to start rampid inflation.

Yes, Linden sponsored events. Like the old times.

Really? Why do you think that most American businesses pay relatively low tax rates? Not because the population enjoys supporting the government? PHHBBTT. The rich keep their money because they can shelter it in ways that are not taxed as heavily, and can afford consultants who do nothing but find those loopholes. The poor get poorer, because SOMEONE has to pay the bills and if the rich aren't, well then guess what.

I think it should be based on USE tax. If you are actively involved in running a business, and you have several transactions a day, you should pay a higher tax rate. You are costing more resources then the person who might shop once a week for something on stipend day.

I haven't been in world as long as some so I don't know what kinds of events you are referring to. And help me here... I am still at a loss as to why you propose that us giving *more* of our money to LL will somehow be instrumental in resurrecting these events.

Linden sponsorship for events based on taxation would be Lindens redistributing L$ rather than giving individual input and support for specific events. That might be an easier thing to manage. The thing is, though, events don't need the same sort of L$ that IRL events need in $. There are lots of things that a dedicated group of SLers can do that nobody could ever do in RL - no matter how dedicated, you can't magic stages, sculptures and studios out of nothing. L$ would help to... well, I'm guessing, hire a particular area for the event itself, and that's something the Lindens can provide far more efficiently by themselves than by relying on the SL land market.

A "tax" on freebie sellers would really be more of a fine. I'd be all for that, though, even if the money didn't go anywhere.