Ideas for Teachers for the May-June 2013 issue of The Student Forum.

Websites for additional study:

Charging sales tax online:

• http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/06/tech/web/internet-sales-tax
• http://thetandd.com/news/opinion/editorial/fairness-is-key-for-businesses-and-sales-tax/article_8058912c-c038-11e2-835c-001a4bcf887a.html
• http://wvtf.org/post/internet-sales-tax-may-not-be-disadvantage
• http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/04/22/178407898/why-amazon-supports-an-online-sales-tax-bill
• http://www.sba.gov/content/collecting-sales-tax-over-internet
• http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_big_idea/2013/04/amazon_and_sales_taxes_how_the_internet_giant_and_congressional_republicans.html
• http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/23/senate-debates-online-sales-tax/2106317/
• http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/03/pf/internet-sales-tax/index.html
• http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/called-internet-sales-tax-explained/story?id=19042757

 Controlling domestic drones:

• http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/domestic-drones
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/19/congress-eyes-regulating-drones/
• http://www.policymic.com/articles/24983/obama-drone-memo-sets-dangerous-precedent-for-domestic-drone-use
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/domestic-drones
• http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57584695/lawmakers-move-to-limit-domestic-drones/
• http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57584865/the-drone-next-door/
• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june13/drones_04-18.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/the-dawning-of-domestic-drones.html?_r=0
• http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/domestic-drones-cia-pentagon-89619.html
• http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-national-security/experts-discuss-surveillance-society-domestic-drones
  

Issue #1—Requiring shoppers to pay sales tax on online purchases

1. Do you think requiring sales tax on Internet purchases will actually “level the playing field” between online stores and brick-and-mortar businesses? Why or why not?
2. Would your shopping practices change if avoiding having to pay sales taxes was no longer possible? Explain your answer.
3. Many opponents of online sales tax collection, such as eBay, say the exemption amount of out-of-state sales should be much higher than $1 million, possibly $10 million. What are your thoughts on this benchmark?
4. Do you agree with opponents of the proposed legislation that say tax collection will stifle Internet innovation? Why or why not?
5. In these trying economic times, what actions might states and municipalities take to make up for the lost tax revenues they won’t receive if the proposed bill fails to pass Congress?
    

Issue #2—Placing additional restrictions on domestic drone use

1. Do you believe the privacy laws in place could be used to cover use of drones, or does this new technology need to be addressed with additional protections?
2. How do you feel about the fact that individual hobbyists can be using drones fairly much as they please with no limitations other than what is already a crime, such as looking in your neighbor’s window?
3. Should any drone operation with a specific target or purpose be required to have a court order or search warrant? Why or why not? Where should the line be placed?
4. Should any drones being used on U.S. soil be permitted to carry weapons? In what, if any, situations should this be allowed?
5. What good uses can you think of that would lend themselves to using a drone?