Michael Buchanan, former Small Business Owner in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, published an opinion piece this week in the Southeast Missourian expressing his belief that the government should not seek to “punish people whose shopping choices we don't like by raising their taxes”.   Buchanan explained that there are many ways to “level the playing field” for local businesses, but we shouldn’t create a habit of disadvantaging a certain business model to do so.

As a former brick-and-mortar store owner in Missouri, Buchanan said that his businesses constantly faced competition from online vendors.  However, he chose to “level the playing field” by offering good service, good advice and working hard to keep prices competitive.  He explained that imposing a use tax will not necessarily deter folks from making online purchases, but it will only, in the name of questionable fairness, punish those who need to or choose to purchase online or from an out-of-state vendor.   Buchanan suggests that government officials should instead find ways to reduce the tax burden for local people and businesses.

To read more about Mr. Buchanan’s opinion on “leveling the playing field”, please visit the Southeast Missourian.