From here on, the factors important to success in the traditional brick-and- mortar retail business -- pricing power based on brand strength and economies of scale -- also will be required on the Internet.
The real question is whether or not the this incremental tax will crimp consumer spending, which would be bad to small business as well as brick-and-mortar and online retailers alike.
One might ask whether starting down this sticky, sweet-and-sour slope toward an unregulated market in lemonade will mean allowing just anyone to open a lemonade stand, food truck, or other unregulated, informal business that will compete with brick-and-mortar incumbents.