Stamping Out Tax

Today I received my first pair of mail-order shoes. They fit great and the price was right. I appreciated the ease of shopping and plan to buy many more items by mail order in the future.

I must thank our local politicians for inspiring me to start shopping by mail. As the sales tax continues to rise, the shipping costs are now less than the tax. I no longer have to pay the tax because I order from outside California.

It’s unfortunate that the local merchants and their employees will suffer from the growing trend to shop by mail. However, they brought it upon themselves by supporting the Chamber of Commerce, which backed these tax increases.

And I bet the government is not too happy about losing not only the 1/2% tax increase that was passed but also the additional 6% they were previously collecting. Perhaps politicians should review the Laffer curve principle that higher marginal tax rates decrease the total tax take.

I only wish I could shop at the tax-free military stores as so many others can in San Diego. I hear these exchanges were mobbed in April.

ROBERT VALENTE

San Diego