On television the other day, I heard some state-paid spokesman, using state-paid TV time, telling us to pay state sales tax and use fees for stuff we purchased from “away” when we file our state income taxes.

We are the highest taxed people (or darn near) in the nation. We have to go to Canada to get affordable drugs.

Every enjoyable activity in Maine requires an expensive license. My wife and I pay $48 to catch a couple of yellow perch in a pond, and we pay more property tax because our house is almost waterfront property.

I paid 5 percent sales tax for my computer because I was computer stupid and went to a local vendor for advice and to purchase. If my computer crashed today, I would get one from “away” and save the sales tax.

How many overtaxed taxpayers in Maine are going to send the state money they were trying to save in the first place by buying from “away”? How many are going to send the state tax money they planned on “not paying” by being able to buy products from “away” on the Internet?

I sure wish that stupid tax commercial would follow with the new presidential disclaimer, “I approved this message,” so I could tell the person who approved it, you are in la-la land, and wasting taxpayers’ money.

Al Pelletier, Norway