release

I ordered a few things from a large online retailer. Yes, that one. They emailed me a receipt, which contained the following:

Please be aware that items in this order may be subject to California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act. If any items in this order are subject to that Act, the seller of that item has elected to pay any fees due on your behalf.

WTF?

The state of California requires you to pay a fee to the state to buy stuff. Now, taxes, tariffs, excises and the like have always been part of the economy. But now we - by this, I mean the “we” that lives in California - have to pay the state a fee on top of all that for the privilege of participating in the American economy.

I’m just glad I don’t live on the Left Coast.