Why Can't I use Amazon Associates Affiliate Program?

Like many on Hubpages, I joined to have a community where I could showcase my writing while also having a chance to make a little bit of money. When I joined a month and a half ago, I was excited about all the different ways I could make a few bucks (hopefully!) through the various affiliate programs. I immediately signed up for Google Adsense and the Hubpages Program, surprised at how easy it was. Then I saw that the site also had an Amazon affiliate program and it dawned on me that I could place certain products in my hubs related to the content and make a commission on them. This was going to be great, I could see myself reviewing some products or offering up material to read that would relate to the hub. I began to fill out the information for the Amazon program and got to my state location, when I put in Connecticut, it seemed the webpage lit on fire with red writing everywhere! The red writing explained that the program was not available for my area. I was confused and disappointed at first, asking myself why can’t I use Amazon associates?

I did some digging and to my surprise the reason I couldn’t use the Amazon associate program was because of politics, yes politics! With the election of Governor Malloy and a new administration’s attempt to balance a budget, new taxes were put into place. One new tax in particular was the straw that broke Amazon’s back! This new tax would tax all online sales including any money that residents of Connecticut would make through the Amazon Associates program. Amazon’s response was to pull the associates program from Connecticut, cutting off resident’s ability to use the program. In an article, Amazon Shuts Down Associates Affiliate Program in Connecticut Over Online Sales Tax, by Leena Rao, Amazon making the statement:

“We opposed this new tax law because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It was supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside Connecticut, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action”

Therefore because of a new tax law, Amazon pulls out hurting the individual. Personally I believe this will hurt Connecticut, if the program was allowed to stay without being tax, Connecticut resident would make a few extra bucks and end up spending it in state, where it then would be taxed. However, now the program has been removed along with other programs like eBay and overstock that the state will make a lot less on the tax revenue. I normally don’t have a problem with paying my fair share of taxes but when taxes have gone up on everything that the middle and lower classes consume and earn but the upper class barely sees a rise it’s a problem. Once again politics is being played and big corporations make a move hurting the little man in between, especially in a time when the little man could have used the program the most!

Connecticut isn’t the only state that this has happen in. According to wired.com articleAmazon to Connecticut, Arkansas: ‘Drop Dead’ Over Sales Tax, it has occurred in a number of states including California, Colorado, Rhode Island, and Texas. Amazon believes it is unconstitutional, while states see it as tax revenue, as for me I can only imagine what profits I might have made considering I joined after the program was eliminated but then again that might have been for the best!