Letter: Yes, tax Amazon

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October 11, 2012

Letter: Yes, tax Amazon

Anonymous The Salem News The Salem News Thu Oct 11, 2012, 04:00 AM EDT

To the editor:

Kudos to The Salem News for backing the Massachusetts sales tax for Amazon. Unless the commonwealth is going to abolish the sales tax for us all, why should Internet retailers get an advantage over local merchants?

The Internet guys always hid behind the fig leaf of not having a physical presence in the commonwealth — but doesn’t Amazon now have a physical facility in Cambridge?

The Christmas shopping season is about to kick off, and with it the bulk of sales for most of our local retailers. Here’s my suggestion: Deval Patrick issues an executive order mandating DOR to collect from Amazon, and he takes up the News’ idea of lowering the sales tax in the process. Everybody would come out winners, including Amazon, who would gain enormous good will among the public.

Michael Cercone

Marblehead

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