Philadelphia Taxing Bloggers! - Will Other Cities Spread the Brotherly Love?

Here is more on the story from the Washington Post. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/08/philadelphia_blogger_fee_turns.html It appears the lady in question was running ads for others on her blog and charging for them. So she was, in their eyes, running a business. I could see a bit of reason there and possibly for some of those who run a business selling thousands on Ebay for example. But I doubt if AR hysteria needed at this point. Just because someone at a city hall tries something, does not mean it is policy or will be supported by the city government. Could just be a bureaucrat pushing his/her weight around. We need to give it some time. My guess is that it will die a quick death. Keep in mind that elections are on their way as well.

Mike...

The answer is simple ... use the vote or recall to remove those that would try to exploit citizens for a few measly dollars.

Sue ... sue sue! Any time some bureaucracy tries this sort of thing just force them to spend the rest of their political lives in court! 

Mike

What happens if someone lives in Philadephia and blog's in New Jersey? Do we have to pay a tax for an ad?

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Seems like double taxation to me -- where's a good lawyer when you need one!  Seems like a lawsuit just waiting to happen.  Let's kick the remaining teeth out of small business owners that the recession hasn't already removed!

when a corrupt overspending overreaching government that can't balance a check book has the power to tax what do you think they're going to do?

until we stop them

November is close

vote my brehtren

vote

or die like the economy of Greece

Next thing you know they'll be going after the kids who shovel snow. Don't really see how this can be enforced, but will be curious to follow the news that this creates.

Honestly, we may get business from blogging, but we're not selling anything on our blogs.  We're educating consumers for FREE.  How can anyone measure business produced through blogging?

Mike - is it April 1st already .....  I must have been sleeping here I thought we were approaching September and time for the kids to go back to school

Sounds like another reason to move to Jersey :-D

My blog fell off a truck.

Hmm....it's freedom of speech, it won't succeed.

What if I only blog about Philly when the Eagles lose to the Giants? Or, blog about the ex-Eagle that wants to run for a NJ senate seat to relive us of our high taxes but never tells us why he and all the other high paid Sports Stars live in NJ and not Pennsylvania? Do I still need to pay Philly a fee if I decide to write about good things to do and places worth visiting, or, must I only blog about the City of Brotherly Love's crime rate and overpaid politicians?

Mike- Having lived in the Philly area my whole life I can safely say the City is targeting people who have not been educated in the Philly public schools as most can not read or write.

Philadelphia is a outstanding example of a failed liberal city.

I wonder what the criteria will be for Phildelphia to determine who is required to have a business license in such situations. What will create the nexus for out-of-city agents?

I hope this is not true! Isn't this why everyone left England?

Mike, can't see where this will work. Anything to get more revenue out of the public. What will they tax next?

It's not about taxes - it is about control.

And I'm not sure I would move to Jersey looking to avoid taxes...

Hi Mike,  Long time no hear!!!  I hope it doesn't spread to Canada or other parts of the U.S.  ;>))

They are going to have a hard time proving that their income came from their blogs...