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®l|e ^OrtUltb (ObaerUer_____________________ November 20, 2002
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i
t, Don’t Burn It
“W e live in an age of rapidly expanding technology and
innovation. And with all the convenience, possibility and promise
this technology brings, we also encounter new problem s and
challenges. When the boundaries expand, so too must the rules.
When the boundaries expand, so
too must the rules. The issue of
copyright infringement through illegal
downloading and duplication of
copyrighted material — be it music,
movies, books or other goods — is
critically important and often
anging Tax
System Fails
by C harles S heketoff
The issue of copyright infringement through illegal downloading
The recession that began in 2001 has resulted in new calls
and duplication of copyrighted material— be it music, movies,
for Oregon to revam p its tax system to add more “stability.”
books or other goods — is critically im portant and often
M ost o f O regon’s tax revenues come from the personal
overlooked,” Jackson stated.
“For some, this issue may simply be a matter of education -
income tax, supplem ented in small part by the Lottery and
corporate income taxes. W hen the economy turns sour, so
the fact is, most people don’t even realize that unauthorized
downloading or duplication of copyrighted material is illegal.
does the state’s primary revenue stream.
The demand for stability is a straw man for a change in our
Just because you have a nice computer with Internet access and
tax system that m ay not lead to im provem ent or better-
a CD burner does not make it any less so. Most people wouldn’ t
supported public services, and is a thinly veiled attem pt to
walk into a record store and steal a CD. Piracy is no different,
duck the real culprit in Oregon’s revenue misfortune. Some of
yet its prevalence is staggering,” continued Jackson.
“The ramifications of these practices are much broader than
the loudest demands for stability are coming from the same
m ost people realize. It affects everyone from the artists and
songwriters to the large-scale consumer electronic and technol
ogy companies .But those hardest hit by this form of wholesale
theft through illegal copying are the small urban record stores, the
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition young artists trying to break into the industry and even the truck
are greatly concerned over the growi ng issue o f piracy in the drivers and laborers who transport and distribute the music we
music and entertainment industries through the illegal download love.
“W e owe it to everyone affected by this form o f theft to
ing and duplication of copyrighted materials.
Each month more than two billion music files are downloaded educate our friends and family on this important issue. Do the
from the internet and 60 percent o f those are burned onto CD- right thing— buy it, don’t bum it.”
The power to
quit smoking
is within
your reach.
people who sold the legislature and the voters the so-called
“Education Stability Fund” that will barely fund education and
will add little stability during the next downturn.
The Education Stability Fund gives stability a bad name.
Years ago the Legislative Assembly adopted seven “guid
ing principles” for Oregon’s tax system: (1) ability to pay; (2)
fairness; (3)efficiency; (4) even distribution; (5) equitable; (6)
adequacy; and (7) flexibility.
1 Oregon can address
stability without raising
taxes by converting the
kicker refund into a source
fo r future rainy days.
|
Stability was not part of the mix, and that’s not surprising.
The economy is not stable and never will be. During better-
than-expected times, Oregon sends unanticipated tax rev
enues primarily to our wealthiest residents. Adding insult to
this fiscal injury, the Legislature is loath to save for rainy days.
The state’s kicker law and reluctance to save during good
tim es made Oregon uniquely unprepared for the decline in
state revenues. During the unprecedented economic growth
1-877-270-ST0P
We know how hard it is t
smoking and we know what
works. Let us give you a helping
hand. Call us today.
o f the 1990s, Oregon sent $1.4 billion back to Oregon
taxpayers instead of saving it for a rainy day fund. About two-
thirds o f that refund went to the wealthiest taxpayers.
If Oregon had saved all the unanticipated revenues since
first distributing them in 1985, our rainy day fund would have
$2.8 billion today. The rainy day fund would have provided
Oregonians with stability, without resorting to new or in
creased taxes.
W hile O regon’s tax system has trem endous room for
improvement, Oregon can address stability without raising
taxes by converting the kicker refund into a source for future
rainy days.
The next time someone tries to sell you new tax in the name
of stability, tell them you have a better prescription for making
Oregon’s system stable and able to weather future rainy days.
)?DHS
Charles Sheketoff is the executive director o f the
Oregon Center fo r Public Policy. He can be reached at
P.O. Box 7, Silverton, Oregon 97381-0007, or by e-mail
at csheketoff@ocpp.org.
Oregon Tobacco Prevention & Education Program
' O
rp o n n R
pm i
Oregon
Department
of Human Services
www.healthoregon.org/tobacco
1-877-2N0-FUME (Spanish) TTY: 1-877-777-6534
S u b scribe^, ouiClipMt^ tdlO!
|Jortlanb (Obstruer
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