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From: bsherman@mthvax.cs.miami.edu (Bob Sherman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Tax on computers!
Message-ID: <1990Oct4.060542.6029@mthvax.cs.miami.edu>
Date: 4 Oct 90 06:05:42 GMT
References: <4796@crash.cts.com>
Organization: Not much!
Lines: 58

In <4796@crash.cts.com> mdavis@pro-sol.cts.com (Morgan Davis) writes:

>Item forwarded  by  Ron Lichty
>Sub:    new computer luxury tax
> 
>HOW THE TAX WOULD WORK
>The luxury tax is a 10% tax assessed on the value of the following
>luxury items over the following threshholds:
> 
>    Cars over $30,000
>    Furs over $500
>    Jewelry over $5,000
>    ELECTRONICS over $1,000
> 
>For example, if you purchase a personal computer that costs you $3,000,
>you will have to pay a 10% luxury tax on the amount over $1,000. 
>Hence, in this example, you will pay $200 (10% of ($3,000-1,000)) in
>addition to the sales tax when you purchase the computer at the
>register.
> 
>APPLE'S POSITION
>We at Apple Computer feel that extending this tax to cover personal
>computers is preposterous.  Computers increase the productivity of
>workers, teachers and students.  It is inappropriate to impose a
>"luxury" tax on the tools which can boost American productivity.  As a
>nation, we must be prepared to manage our affairs in the Information
>Age--an age in which computer equipment is not a luxury but a
>necessity. Yet, the Congress and the Administration seem to be unable
>to recognize the critical role computers now play in the lives of
>millions of Americans.

Much stuff edited out    

While I agree that the idea of a luxury tax on computers is not a good 
idea, I must tounge in cheek say that it appears the Congress is looking
out for us Apple II folks. After all, the //e, the //c+, and the GS can
all be purchased at street prices of under $1,000, so the tax would not
affect them, as it would not affect many of the clones, and the new
PS/1..

On the other hand (tounge in other cheek) it appears that all Apple is
worried about is that the tax will apply to the machines they cherrish
so much, The high end Macs, to which I say, if you need more power than
a GS, then it appears the government feels you need a luxury item which
falls into the same catagory as an auto worth over $30,000..

With all due respect to Morgan and Ron, both of whom I know and respect
quite a bit, I suggest that we do not engage in the letter writing
campaign, If Apple does not want to promote the sales and support of our
machines, why should we go to bat to help them further their Mac sales.
Support is a two way street, you help me, and I help you, so let Apple
make their support plans known first. We already helped them by purchasing 
their products. They have a multi million dollar promotion campaign   
beginning in less than 2 weeks, and not a cent of it is earmarked to
promote the Apple II market.

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