I was watching the news, and they mentioned that it really was true, to the disbelief of many. My hate of stupid news teasers aside, I actually watched the news long enough to find out, to my shock and horror, that there is a thing called Line 56. Line 56, on the 2003 New York State Income Tax form, simply put, is yet another reason to leave New York State. The base sales tax is 4.25%, but each county/municipality adds it's own rate, translating into a sales tax of 8.625% for New York City (The lowest sales tax municipality rate is 7%). So, when shopping for stuff on the internet (sales tax 0% depending on where the business is located), or Jersey (5% to 0% depending on special enterprise zones), the sales tax difference adds up to real money very quickly. Money that those thugs up in Albany apparently want to get their greedy mitts on. And that's where Line 56 comes in. Line 56 is where you report all the stuff you purchased out of New York State, but brought into New York State for your own use, and now must pay sales tax on. Did you enjoy that t-shirt at Disneyland? Only paid 6% sales tax? Well, bucko, if you brought that shirt back to the city and it's sitting in your closet right now, time to whip out your calculator and pay the remaining 2.625% to New York State. Did you have a snack in Jersey? Well, I hope you saved the receipt, because you owe New York State the other 1.5% in sales tax. In a fit of benevolence, like how the mob will shave 10% off your 80% loanshark rate if you hand over the principal + 50% of the owed interest instead of breaking your kneecaps, New York State offers a table where you can input an average based on your income. But don't even think about skipping the line. A number, even a 0, must be entered into Line 56. Now, mind you, I don't mind taxes in general. Especially for the rich. Or at least the upper middle class. Maybe even middle class. Government brings many benefits, despite what my experiences at the DMV tells me. But the sales tax is probably the most regressive of all the taxes. And the inconvenience of this new tax collection is sheer madness (It should be pointed out that this law was always on the books, it was just never enforced. Much like the Stamp Tax, back in pre-Revolutionary days. The Stamp Tax was just a new incarnation of a previous tax, that was actually going to be enforced for once. However, the British were at least a little smart about it, as they cut the tax rate in an attempt to placate the colonists, whom they were sure were going to be angry about the "new" tax. We all know how well that experiment ended.). However it is this fascist mentality, this sense that New York State owns you, controls you, oppresses you to the point where you can't buy coffee in Connecticut without having to calculate the New York State sales tax should you dare drive it over state lines and drink it in New York State, that really irks me. So, I suppose it's time to dust off my musket and formally declare this apartment independent of New York State. Or at least look up my state legislator/state senator and send them an ultimatum: Fix this monstrosity or find yourself another job.