Most of us can remember when our e-mail inboxes were filled with dire warnings of an upcoming e-mail tax. In the Philippines, it appears electronic taxation is a real possibility.

According to a recent story in the Sun Star, the government there is considering taxing text messages sent via mobile phone in an effort to reduce their deficit. But this is proving very unpopular with the estimated 28 million mobile phone subscribers. So an online protest is being organized using the very medium the government wishes to tax. Here in the U.S., we’re behind much of the East when it comes to using text messages. But we are becoming more and more wedded to our mobile phones. So much so in fact that the U.S. Congress is considering becoming involved in the outlawing of driving while using a cell phone. No question it’s often handy to have a cell phone available. Did you forget your shopping list? No problem, call home and have the kids read it to you. Break a tooth on that steak? Call and make a dental appointment right away. Did your car break down on the freeway miles from a callbox? Get on your phone and get help. But they can also be quite annoying. Who hasn’t been in a movie or classroom recently and had their concentration ruined by the funky ringtone of a cell phone? Yet with the exception of the driving-while-yakking proposed ban, we have resisted most efforts to limit our cell phone usage. So perhaps we can sympathize with those text-fiends in the Philippines.