[oclug] [OT] Canadian gov't to apply Tarrif to Compact Flash memory.

[flynn at engsoc.queensu.ca]

On Tue, Mar 19, 2002 at 11:48:04AM -0500, Brad Barnett wrote:

> Let's be honest here.  They've gone too far.  With the levy as it was,
> people would put up with the minor cost differences.  Now, however, people
> will be buying smuggled compaq flash cards, cdrw and DVD-rw.  Just as with
> the cigarette smuggling issues of the 90s, you'll have the same with CDs
> and hard drives and MP3 players.

With regard to this, a friend today said "Governments have an amazing
ability to continually create underground economies".

> Taxable revenue will go down, crime will increase, and the underworld will
> profit immensely.. not to mention those on Indian reserves.
> 
> I see this as a self-defeating levy increase.

The big music compainies will still be happy, though.  As will the
federal government: GST is charged on that "levy".

And, for those just joining us (who missed the link earlier):

http://www.sycorp.com/levy/index.htm

has an online petition about this.  Not sure if that will do any good,
but it couldn't hurt.

Kevin.