Much of the routine trade and investment between China and America is entirely appropriate and in America’s interest. But inserting the Chinese Communist Party into America’s pay-to-play system and its economic development strategy isn’t just crossing a line. It’s a leap into an abyss of stupidity.
The retailers saying “this puts online sellers on even ground with local shops who must charge higher prices to account for local taxes and fees” is a flawed argument the way I see it when one considers the assorted tax subsidies kicked to the reatailers in my area. They get tifs. tax abatements, edge credits and all sorts of home rule tax gimmicks to help them out. Somehow they forget that in their logic but the real issue here is once again Illinois taxing bodies want more money…and the beat goes on.