Commentary: Supreme Court decision a slap to the face of small businesses

(Heartland Newsfeed) — A U.S. Supreme Court decision made today marks yet another slap to the face of the free market and another example of the government intervening on behalf of Big Business.

The recent decision now forces e-commerce retailers to pay (and essentially, charge) sales taxes, just like the ancient brick-and-mortar retailers do.

Misinformed politicians like Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) claims this is a victory for downstate communities who have “claimed” economic decimation due to online shopping. It is in fact not a win for downstate economies. It’s a victory for the dinosaur retailers who can’t keep up as a desperate attempt to stifle online shopping, which is more than 80% of the free market economy.

Full disclaimer: While Heartland Newsfeed’s primary retail product is advertising (in addition to proving a free, unbiased news media outlet), our parent company Heartland Internet Media Networks does engage in e-commerce in 49% of overall operations, ranging from remote technical support to various products such as Ethernet cabling, antivirus software and varying products that they sell on the Amazon, eBay and other platforms.

Small businesses stand to lose from this decision, especially those whose operations are ALSO online in addition to brick-and-mortar. This decision is nothing more than proves that politicians and the judicial system are more concerned about Wall Street and Madison Avenue than they are the small business communities on Main Street.

If we want to be realistic here, it’s the final nail in the coffin to completely kill off small businesses altogether.

Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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