John McCain's Assault on Small Business

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The vast majority of small businesses are traditional brick and mortar stores. These stores pay sales taxes to support local services. By contrast, huge Internet retailers like Amazon don't collect sales taxes, giving them a huge competitive advantage against small bookstores and other businesses that collect sales tax. According to the New York Times, Senator McCain is a strong opponent of removing this tax subsidy for Amazon. The article includes several comments asserting that Senator McCain is a strong ally of small businesses. It would have been appropriate to note that his support of this tax subsidy that hugely disadvantages small businesses. This article also incorrectly describes Senator McCain as a strong supporter of free trade. This is not true. Senator McCain has supported increased protection in the form of stronger patent and copyright protection. He also has never expressed concern about the protectionist barriers that make it difficult for doctors and other highly educated professionals from working in the United States.

--Dean Baker

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