eBay Mainstreet

[XXitanium]

What they are saying Vs what it/they really mean:

Dear Bill,

Government action can impact businesses, including eBay sellers and PayPal users. Issues like Internet Sales Taxes, online privacy, and reducing barriers to small business exports can have a real bottom-line impact. The eBay Inc. Government Relations team knows that engaged eBay users can make a powerful difference toward achieving sound government policy.

If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join the 250,000+ eBay users who comprise Main Street, eBay Inc.'s grassroots advocacy network. The Main Street community promotes government policies that protect small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. Together, eBay sellers are making a huge difference on key issues, including the following:

Internet Sales Taxes: Small businesses and individuals using the Internet should not face new sales tax burdens. When California enacted an Internet Sales Tax law last summer, Main Street members were critical in convincing state legislators to exempt from the law all sellers with less than $1 million in sales into the state. That pro-small business provision protected nearly all eBay sellers. Now the U.S. Congress is considering a new Internet Sales Tax. Main Street members will play a pivotal role in ensuring small business protections are included in any federal law.

Sensible Privacy Policy: There is no national law governing the collection and use of customer data. This creates a risk for businesses large and small, as well as all Internet users. eBay Inc. has called on Congress to pass a federal privacy bill that would provide clear rules for businesses as well as fundamental consumer protections. This would promote Internet and mobile commerce growth, while protecting small businesses and sellers from burdensome privacy and data security laws.

Reduced Barriers to Cross Border Trade: eBay sellers are globally competitive and regularly sell outside the U.S. The U.S. Government has the power to help continue this success by reducing unnecessary customs barriers to cross border sales. eBay sellers can lead the way for Congress and make it easier for small businesses to become active participants in the global marketplace.

The eBay Inc. Government Relations team is dedicated to protecting the eBay community of users from harmful legislation in Congress and state capitals. But the real power lies within you, the community. Watch eBay CEO John Donahoe share the "power of grassroots" in this short video message. And then, please take a moment to join Main Street today. Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Tod Cohen

Vice President, Government Relations

P.S. Main Street is free to join. Members receive approximately 4-6 emails per year. We'll only ask you to contact your elected officials on crucial issues. Of course, you can opt out at any time. And we encourage everyone to stay informed by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

It seems like they kind of assume that eBay is the only on-line place I do business. I'm prob

ably reading into it.

[IcePrick]

If that's what they're saying, I'm missing it. Clearly, they want to have a large, involved user base that will help craft any legislation or government meddling to their advantage. Since "to their advantage" is largely to the advantage of many of the people who participate in eBay and other forms of online commerce, it follows that they would have a willing base of folks to be their minions and leverage the power of the online community in matters of mutual interest.

[FiremanBob]

Makes sense to me. This is what the 1st Amendment is all about - free speech, freedom to assemble and to petition. Certainly the tax grabs that some states and the .gov are planning would screw over a great many small businesses - probably hundreds of thousands.

And the purpose of the 2nd is to protect the 1st.

[XXitanium]

Thanks for the reflection guys.

I can see your point.