by George F. Will – from The Washington Post –
Flint, Mich. Earnest moralists lament Americans’ distrust of government. What really is regrettable is that government does much to earn distrust, as Terry Dehko, 70, and his daughter Sandy Thomas, 41, understand.
Terry, who came to Michigan from Iraq in 1970, soon did what immigrants often do: He went into business, buying Schott’s Supermarket in Fraser, Mich., where he still works six days a week. The Internal Revenue Service, a tentacle of a government that spent $3.5 trillion in 2013, tried to steal more than $35,000 from Terry and Sandy that year.Sandy, a mother of four, has a master’s degree in urban planning but has worked in the store off and on since she was 12. She remembers, “They just walked into the store” and announced that they had emptied the store’s bank account. The IRS agents believed, or pretended to believe, that Terry and Sandy were or conceivably could be — which is sufficient for the IRS — conducting a criminal enterprise when not selling groceries.What pattern of behavior supposedly aroused the suspicions of a federal government that is ignorant of how small businesses function? Terry and Sandy regularly make deposits of less than $10,000 in the bank across the street. Federal law, aimed primarily at money laundering by drug dealers, requires banks to report cash deposits of more than $10,000. It also makes it illegal to “structure” deposits to evade such reporting.
Because 35 percent of Schott’s Supermarket’s receipts are in cash, Terry and Sandy make frequent trips to the bank to avoid tempting actual criminals by having large sums at the store. Besides, their insurance policy covers no cash loss in excess of $10,000.
In 2010 and 2012, IRS agents visited the store and examined Terry’s and Sandy’s conduct. In 2012, the IRS notified them that it identified “no violations” of banking laws. But on Jan. 22, 2013, Terry and Sandy discovered that the IRS had obtained a secret warrant and emptied the store’s bank account. Sandy says that if the IRS had acted “the day before, there would have been only about $2,000 in the account.” Should we trust that today’s IRS was just lucky in its timing?
The IRS used “civil forfeiture,” the power to seize property suspected of being produced by, or involved with, crime. The IRS could have dispelled its suspicions of Terry and Sandy, if it actually had any, by simply asking them about the reasons — prudence, and the insurance limit — for their banking practices. It had, however, a reason not to ask obvious questions before proceeding.
The civil forfeiture law — if something so devoid of due process can be dignified as law — is an incentive for perverse behavior: Predatory government agencies get to pocket the proceeds from property they seize from Americans without even charging them with, let alone convicting them of, crimes. Criminals are treated better than this because they lose the fruits of their criminality only after being convicted.
Sandy remembers her father exclaiming, “Aren’t we in the United States? We did nothing wrong.” They did something right in discovering the Institute for Justice’s activities against civil forfeiture abuse. IJ, a libertarian defender of property rights and other American premises, says that what was done to Terry is done routinely across the nation — indeed, it was done almost simultaneously to the owner of a gas station near Schott’s Supermarket who deposited his cash receipts whenever he could get to the bank, typically every few days.
Civil forfeiture proceeds on the guilty-until-proven-innocent principle, forcing property owners of limited means to hire lawyers and engage in protracted proceedings against a government with limitless resources just to prove their innocence. Says IJ:
“To make matters worse, forfeiture law treats property owners like random bystanders and requires them to intervene in the lawsuit filed by the government against their property just to get it back. That is why civil forfeiture cases have such unusual names, such as United States v. $35,651.11 in U.S. Currency — the case involving Terry and Sandy.”
In what it probably considered an act of unmerited mercy, the IRS offered to return 20 percent of Terry’s money. Such extortion — pocketing others people’s money — often succeeds when the IRS bullies bewildered people not represented by IJ, which forced the government to return all of Terry’s and the gas station owner’s money.
IJ’s countersuit seeks an injunction to prevent such IRS thefts and extortions. Meanwhile, earnest moralists might consider the possibility that Americans’ distrust of government is insufficient.
I agree with the flat tax and 100 % for BEN CARSON FOR PRESIDENT. The people who believe in the Constitution need to take back this country while we still have a free country (what is left of it) No one should be in office in the government if they swear to uphold our Constitution and then do not. The true democrats have vanished and now we only have progressives. Our only hope is Ben Carson. The conservatives need to VOTE!!!!! This election in the fall is crucial to our freedom and of our country for future generations. Good people can not afford to be silent any more.
The George Will article cites just one example of the overreach by an out-of-control federal government, but the issue of “civil forfeiture,” just doesn’t occur by the IRS, but it’s also used by local authorities to seize private property as well. This specific issue needs to be dealt all levels of government.
I would also like to address some other points that were raised in other comments.
First, I’m all in for decentralized federal authority. I’m in when it comes to eliminating whole departments and agencies that only exist to serve themselves at the expense of the citizen. I’d love to say good-bye to the Departments of Education, Energy, agriculture, interior, and Homeland Security, and agencies like the EPA, etc. But then we’d be on the hook for their unemployment benefits, and retirement. But at least at some point those subsidies would end.
Also, concerning Dr. Carson, whom I respect, I wonder if people have considered his position on the second amendment.
Another comment was raised about the shredding, or near shredding of our Constitution. I wonder how many of us are aware of Presidential Directive 69, which was signed by President Bush in 2006. Look it up, and you may be very surprised. I don’t believe this directive has been nullified by this president or act of Congress.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the scandals, the government intrusions, etc., well, it’s intentional. Our government is so scandal ridden that I fear, many of us want to throw up our hands and just say, “I can’t take anymore, and just forget it!” We feel like we need to take on every issue that comes up and get personally involved. We can’t do it all. This is why the IRS has been going after 501 C (4) organizations. When we organize ourselves, we have a better chance to take on the institutions of government. We can define our areas of expertise, and address those specifically. We need to be aware and educated, and never lose heart. For those of us who believe in the mighty hand of the Almighty God, we need to seek his guidance, and rely on him as our only means of survival. We need to be engaged, work hard, but realize that the victory is his.
I must say, I’m not crazy about any kind of federal income tax, and I’m not crazy with the fair tax either. We used to derive our revenues from tariffs, but since we have adopted free trade zones, and we don’t place tariffs on imports, we’ve lost that revenue. I think it’s time we go back in history and see what our founders thought was the best way to raise limited funds for the federal government on which to do its business which includes our national defense.
I’m in favor of supporting candidates at all levels who believe that it’s time to stop enacting new legislation, and repealing a lot of overbearing laws, and for Congress to take back the authority they turned over to the Executive Branch for the creation of regulations, which have the force of law.
Tom, you have touched on many areas of concern and in a few words covered a multitude. What Dr. Ben presents to me is the transitional mind-set that could begin to correct some of those concerns. In Social Security, a transition is needed since so many have no way to survive if it were suddenly ended. Likewise for welfare supports. With a fiat currency that the Federal Reserve keeps creating more of, our savings cannot grow and over time become more worthless.
The Administrative state is one of the most agregious methods of governing that I can think of. Yes, get rid of the agencies and departments that have been turned over to the executive and that make “law.” Blackstone’s Commentaries said that laws should be few and understandable such that the people could know what was and what was not lawful. Boy, have we gotten away from that principle.
I disagree with Dr. Ben on gun control. I disagree with a local tea-party group here in east Texas that advocates for a Convention of States to amend the Constitution based on Art. 5 of the Constitution. The risks out weigh the possible benefits as I have stated previously in my comments to articles in these forums.
Art. 1, Sec. 2 had origionally limited direct taxes to taxes levied to the States based on their numbers (a head tax). This did not mean that the States were to do a head tax on their people, but were left free to aquire the requisite monies however their Legislatures determined. This tax should have been for funding extra-ordinary expenses, like war, etc. Duties and tarriffs were and should be the main source for on-going government operations.
So called “free trade” between nations would require like regulations, common wage rates, uniform business laws,ethics and freedom of movement/travel of workers; comparable taxes and an overseeing government to inforce all the provisions deemed necessary. That would necessarily destroy soverignity of the individual nations and result in an international body that would have the power to nullify state and national laws. I am not for international free trade that combines groups of nations. If two countries agree to operate within the laws of each and are alike in their practices, it could be arranged. Should either fail to abide with the agreement, the other would be free to withdraw from the “contract.” That is not how NAFTA and the proposed trade agreements for the Atlantic and for the Pacific trade arangements that are currently up for emplimentation are constructed.
How many times do I have to repeat, before people catch on, that it is no longer a government by, for and of the people, but it’s now a government by the bureaucrats, for the poilticians and AGAINST THE PEOPLE!
All such cases MUST be publicized and talked about…”suffering in silence” is not the answer. I spent the last 39 days in a grueling battle for an 89 year old woman being evicted from an assisted living facility…she was told she would be “in the street” if she didn’t find another home in 30 days. We’re telling everyone (not using her name) about the facility and we plan to pursue legislation and training for staff that will/should prevent this happening to anyone else. We can’t be silent and wait for “our turn”! We must stand together and defend the vulnerable from the unjust…or there will be no one left to defend the last of us. The IRS has been doing this for 40 years or more and getting bolder because of their success!
I am against the flat tax as I am on Social Security and before I am put down for this, I want you to know I have worked most of my life. I was lucky I had a good education. A flat tax for $2,500. would cost over 200.00 a month. How many people can afford 200.00 a month for taxes? I am glad to hear of some org. that can help. I wanted to join the Republic Party but they meet at the country clubs I am unable to afford that. I also live in Calif. So I not only have Pres Obama but we have Gov. Brown. I only hope there is something to do but as yet have found nothing. Perhaps some of the clubs could have meetings in the library. I do vote and keep tabs on some of the candidates or would be candidates. I may not be politically correct but I am happy to see movies and T V that are not morally unacceptable.. Bengauzi My son said don’t worry mom we already served. I told that every on of those men are my boys and I can not believe they weren’t helped.. Those that say it doesn’t matter are sick. One of the promises made to never leave anyone behind.
I love this country and continually hope we can pull ourselves back up.
Oh Lord, where to begin??? As regards taxation, I believe that a flat tax is the way to go, even if it is established on a stepped index. It should also be applied to all income regardless of source, and there should be no exclusions or other loopholes. On oil: We should totally get out of OPEC. We hasve more proven petroleum resources that all the rest of the world combined—if the country insists on continuing to get oil from some other country, it should be on the basis of barter–one barrel of oil for two barrels of the grain of your choice. That way we could get the oil that we don’t really need, and they would be getting a commodity with which to feed their poor. This would put our farmers back to work producing food, which they can do very well, and another benefit would be the price of oil would fall back to a reasonable price. This might put a bunch of speculators out of work but we as consumers would be more than thankful for the return to sanity in the energy field. Next, we should build a couple of thousand desalination plants. This would provide us with the water nexcessary to eliminate the drought conditions that seem to be prevalent in so many parts of our country. Finally, (not really), I would limit the time spent in public office to no more than two terms, up to a maximum of eight years. And all judges, at all levels would be subject to the whims of the voters, not holding positions inviolate except by death or impeachment.
I want to know who the judge was that granted the “secret warrant” to enable the I.R.S. Agents to empty out the citizen’s bank accounts. How did that judge rationalize that he or she was adhering to the equal rights under the law requirement?
Why couldn’t that judge place a hold on the bank account until a public hearing could be arranged to justify the seizure of the money? These are the kind of stories that “endear” the I.R.S. to the people.
WHY? Only the little people get it up the A—!Big Corporations pay millions for LEGAL ways to beat the system. And Washington Thief’s{Congress } & IRS loves them! Start Cleaning up Washington by voting out incumbents !
Hi Joseph, I hate to break it to you, there was NO judge or “secret warrant”. The IRS will do whatever they please. No one can afford to stand up to them. We need to eliminate the IRS and replace it with NOTHING!!!!! Reduce the size of the government one third, and the bills can be paid without the IRS. I really hate to say this, but I think it would be both justified and send a strong message to Congress if we 1. mob lynch every IRS worker with the rating of G19 or higher. 2. Mob lynch DOJ – IRS prosecutors. 3. Mob lynch Federal Judges that automatically rule in favor of the IRS prosecutors, and replace everyone in Congress with Libertarians, Constitutionalists and/or Independents that believe in the Constitution.
I agree with Ivan, but I don’t think a “head tax” would do it. Adding a federal tax to sales tax, and implementing such a tax in those states that don’t have a sales tax would do it, I think, but only if the Fed was limited in its powers as the original constitution stated. I have never understood why the EPA was expanded so huge when most states have an EPA of their own. Law enforcement, Fish and Game (National Park Rangers) and HHS are all duplicated under the expanded powers of the Fed, and all should be almost eliminated, small agencies to act as support staff and only called in as “back-up” by the states.
Rhonda, I might not have been clear in my reference to a Head Tax.” The Constitution also emplied that the States would determine the collection methods individually according to their Legislatures decisions. Note my response to Tom Bozikis above for a better explanation. Sorry for the confusion.
So why hasn’t AMAC endorsed the Fair Tax that eliminates all this? Why aren’t you pressing your so-called Republican darlings to endorse the Fair Tax Act or ask them why they haven’t? It has been introduced in both houses of Congress several times yet is repeatedly ignored by both the government controlled “mainstream media” as well as AMAC. It’s obvious that AMAC is just another front organization for the RINOs and neo-cons who have no desire to change a 74,000 page tax code that benefits no one but them, the fat cats at the top. Once again AMAC’s true colors are showing.
Arthur, please, Rome wasn’t built in a day, you can always go back to AARP … at least then, you’ll know exactly where you stand! Ignored and taken for granted and let’s not forget the more than 2 billion they received from the Obama administration to endorse Obamacare to it’s membership, even though the majority of whom were against it!
First of all, I can’t go back to where I’ve never been. And secondly please forgive me for posing questions or expressing an opinion as I know doing that is no longer acceptable here amongst the “sheeple”. Excuse me while I tune into FOX news so I can learn how and what to think.
Arthur, I suggest that you research the pros and cons of the Fair Tax model verses the Flat Tax model.
The flat tax system is far and away the “fairer” way to tax the American people, no matter how much or little they earn.
For what it’s worth, the millionaires and billionaires would donate millions of dollars to any political candidate who would push the fair tax model. But hey, these people like to make money and keep as much of that money as possible.
And exactly who has the most influence with the politicians? If the tax code is so unfair to the rich, then why aren’t they pressuring the politicians to change it? It’s because they are the ones who get all the special exemptions written into the code when they grease the palms of the politicians who write it. Why do you think there’s 74,000 pages? DUH
Arthur, you are right, the rich do take advantage of the tax shelters provided by the progressive tax code.
The Congress initiated all of the tax shelters to “nudge” the rich into investing their money in “approved” ways.
The rich end up paying approximately 15% income tax on earnings that normally place them in the 39% tax bracket. Why would these people complain about the present tax system?
A “Fair Tax” would be even better for the rich than either the current progressive tax or flat tax.
Example: “Bob earned 10 million dollars and “only” spent 1 million dollars of it, resulting in a total Fair Tax of $150,000.00.
Under the Flat tax model he would pay 10 million X 15% or $1,500,000.00.
Call me crazy but I’m almost sure that “Bob” would LOVE the Fair Tax system that you think is so great. But wait, who would pay rest of the taxes if the rich get away with murder under the Fair tax system? The middle class would pay more than they do now and the poor would get it in the ear.
Almost every dollar the lower earning group gets would be spent and all of it would be subject to the 15% Fair Tax. In other words the middle class and the poor would be subsidizing the rich.
Hey Arthur, Are you one of those rich guys?
Arthur, your numbers are skewed. You obviously didn’t read FAIR TAX. I’m not a proponent of FAIR TAX but I believe in dealing with facts. The picture you created is wrong. In your scenario the actual amount the millionaire would have paid in tax would have been $230,000.00. So what’s wrong with that? He would have more money to hire people. You also know nothing about the “prebate” in the FAIR TAX. In the beginning (1913-14) our income tax system WAS A FLAT TAX!!! See what it has grown into? The “flat tax” you propose would badly hurt low income people. Also, it’s as unconstitutional as the current system The best income tax is NO INCOME TAX!!!!!!
Stop putting money in the government banks, because the government is legalized crime and do what they want. Purchase a six foot 700 pound safe for your home and make deposits to yourself. Pay house and vehicles off, get free of the government and sell the business. Our government wants us to be a third world country and not be harding working, free thinkers. Not owing anyone anything brings freedom and peace of mind. Sell your house after you pay it off in full to a corporation and rent it back to yourself. Do volenteer work, write off your mileage and have hobbies. No one can trust any function of the U.S. government. Taxed dollars for schools isn’t used right and government schools are purposely ‘dumbed down’. Gas tax at the pump doesn’t get used for roads. Property taxes sent to the state you live in and relocated to a general fund and depersed. The reason this entity doesn’t trust individual workers is because they lie, steal, and cheat and know they cannot be trusted. There isn’t a single voted in politicians who hasn’t been bought. I wouldn’t want a single one of them for a neighbor. The IRS is a brutal strong arm tool of the administration and pretty much has a free hand. You’d think that paying in 38% to the IRS would be enough, but jeolousy has no boundaries. Should have a flat 15-25% tax. That includes someone who earns 25K per year. Paying a person’s fair share should provide pride that an individual is paying his/her way, but instead, we have to pay the way for those who decided to make other things a priority in their life like having children not being married, not have adequate housing and all the things that go with, and not saving those things. Everyone has a chance to learn a trade in high school or if they go to college, then so be it. Low income people are that way, because they either haven’t learned a trade, gone to college, allowed themselves to live beyond their means. I am sick to death of socialism, lazy people, lyers, cheats and theives.
I see you believe in the IRS mantra, “Pay your fair share”. Just what is your fair share? Even the 16th amendment to the Constitution didn’t give the US Government the right to tax or take the fruits of your labor. It’s called slavery or indentured servitude. Do you want to be a slave for the rest of your life? We don’t need an income tax to properly run this country. We need the government to obey the constitution. The federal government has only 19 enumerated powers and if the federal government would just obey constitution, there would be no need for income tax. For those that support “paying your fair share” and other forms of slavery, I suggest you simply depart this country and find a poverty stricken third world county in Africa and live there. I guarantee you slavery in one of those places, especially if you are a human female.
The progrrssive movement began when we allowed the first true Ivy league liberals
Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and later Roosevelt to take office (Dear Wodrow stated
that the Constitution stood in his way) and finally our doom was sealed when the Frankfurt School
(fleeing Hitler) and its doctrine of “Critical Theory” established a Marxist institue at Columbia University.
The true Cultural War was defined by the leaders such as Lukacs, Adorno, Marcuse, Lowenthal,
and Fromm who redefined the intellectual theory of Marxist ideology to a common denominator, acceptalble to the intellectually deprived collegiate masses, to criticize traditiional beliefs, to challenge all levels of authority under the slogans of “Political Correctness” (a code word for cultural Marxism) and “make love not war.”
They used the philosophy of Nietzsche, Freud, Hobbes, Honneth, and Dewey et al, to ingrain the doctrine of secular humanism into all facets of American Society,the political arena, the media, the schools, the entertainment industry, the judiciary and the Church.
That institue is still at Columbia (of course the name has been changed tp protect the guilty). And where did the current President receive his undergraduate degree.? And tnot oo long ago Obama used the term “critical thinking”.
In order to create the emergence of the mystical socialist man these Marxist would avoid a confrontation with the theological and philosophical tenets of the Church as defined by Aquinas, Augustine, Adler, Maritain, et al. Instead they would use man’s sinful nature to create a society where the intellectually emancipated and talented elite will lead us by force if needed into a future envisioined by the atheist George Bernard Shaw in his play “Back To Methuselah” when the Devil said to Eve “You see things and you say ‘Why’. But I dream things that never were and ask ‘Why Not.’ Thus the elite have almost realized their dream of a humanistic godless society.
um i guess you forgot to print that the irs dropped all charges and returned the money.can you at least tell the whole story? i mean i know you are determined only to scare people and make them angry but how about just once you tell the entire story.btw this story is almost a year old.c’mon people do your own research and stop believing every thing you hear or read.benghazi! lol
Sure, and out of the goodness of their “Christian” hearts … What? … Only AFTER they were challenged in court! They, what, admitted they had made a mistake? If they were allowed to “fleece” an “average joe” citizen here and get away with it, they’d be even more embolden to go after more. No one would be safe from “THE IRS GESTAPO” and the Socialists who cry wolf over income inequality. But, then again, in Socialism the poor people would all be “equally” poor! I take it, Mr. 1945cubs, lives in a fantasy world hoping to win the lottery to escape his misery. Otherwise, he screams “inequality” … You do know the old saying “Misery loves company” … If you can’t better yourself let’s all be miserable, like you!
Um, I guess you failed to read the whole article!
You are certainly delusional if you think the IRS voluntarily acknowledged the “mistake” and gave back the money with apologies. Had they not done something about it the IRS would be spending that money of theirs toward a “vital conference” in Las Vegas or the Bahamas. \
BTW, if you, the average schmoo is one day late with a tax payment you get a bill for late charges AND interest. I bet you think those poor victims of the IRS Gestapo got interest and a small bonus for their troubles along with a letter of apology, don’t you? You need a dose of reality – don’t file your 1040 next year just for yuks and then you will get to know your warm and fuzzy local IRS office. Then follow up on this experience with your comments next year.
The fair Tax is the solution! Read how the Fair Tax works because there is so much misinformation out there.
steve storrs, The fair tax is NOT the solution!
Consider the following scenario. Let’s take the case of “Bob” who earned 10 million dollars in reportable income last year. Let’s also pick a tax rate of 15%. I know, I know, Gates, Buffet, Bloomberg, etc, etc. regard such income as being chump change but I want to use “Bob” because he is a run of the mill millionaire. Bob is a frugal person who only spent 1 million dollars for items that were subject to the “Fair Tax”. He would have paid $150,000.00 in taxes on those taxable items. Bob took the rest of his earnings, $8,850,000.00, and reinvested it to generate even more income in the future.
Now let’s consider what Bob would pay in taxes under the “Flat Tax” model. He would have paid $1,500,000.00 in taxes, (15% X 10 million dollars).
Under a fair tax system Bob would pocket $1,350,000.00 instead of paying Uncle Sam the $1,500,000.00 taxes under the flat tax model.
OK, who would suffer worse under a “Fair Tax” system? Well the middle class would pay somewhat more than they are now paying under the Progressive tax model, but the lower earnings classes would really be hurt. These people pay little or no Federal Taxes now but would be forced to pay 15% on just about everything they earn because they have to spend almost everything they earn on items subject to the Fair Tax.
If I were “Bob” the millionaire, I would promote and support anyone who promises that the fair tax is ,,,,,,,well, fair.
EVERYBODY needs to have some “skin in the game”, even the “poor” and the illegals, neither of which are ever going away.
THIS HAPPENS -AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN-AND WE DO NOTHING TO ABOLISH THE DEADLY IRS
VOTE –CONSERVATIVE-IT IS OUR ONLY HOPE TO ABOLISH THE IRS
If we had a flat tax law, the IRS would be obsolete.
YES , And Accountants . This is what is really needed in USA> But it will never happen with the people we have in Washington. Vote out incumbents. 1
In the 1960’s I wrote a letter to the editor for a local newspaper stating that a government with dictatorial intentions will
first disarm the people and then eliminate the right of free speech. We are currently in the process of loosing our 1st amendment right for free speech. The lackeys in our government like bringing up reasons to control our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights because it always results in more and more law suits. This allows the feeding of more and more lawyers at the tax trough.
The only real solution to this criminal problem is to vote those so called representatives of the people out when any of them are involved in this kind of extortion at the expense of the tax paying people. This would encourage our elected representatives to do their job. One of them is to protect our Constitutional rights instead of using our rights to rob us by pretending that it is OK to find fault with these rights.
This kind of irresponsible behavior is one of the reasons that the country is now over $17 trillion in debt.
VOTE AGAINST LAWYER POLITICIANS!
This IRS article upsets me to no end. People have said that the IRS should be eliminated and I agree.
Well, the IRS had to get the money from somewhere to pay the bonuses to the lazy civil “servants.”
Yes, the IRS PAID bonuses to employees that actually OWE back taxes. Isn’t this just great???, when they go after Grand Ma & Grand Pa for owing $1. 50 cents on their taxes !? Do you Smell corporation in the IRS?? Write your useless representative and ask him or her what they are doing about it ?
As long as the IRS keeps “hiring” attorneys instead of accountants, this will continue to happen!!! When Obamacare was passed by the Socialists in Congress, President Obama immediately added 12,000 attorney “brothers” to what? 1. to provide cushy government jobs to an over-abundance of “needy” attorneys … 2. to ensure he had enough “legal” law enforcers to strong arm unwilling citizens “to pay up” … 3. to expand the “real” power brokers branch of the federal government, the court system (where you can’t lose when you “stack the deck” … ie: prosecutors and judges, who are all paid for with taxpayer monies, to find ways to extort more monies from taxpayers) … 4. all of the above
The correct answer is 4. All of the above!!!
This is exactly what happens when clowns and scalawags (er: attorneys) are elected to feed at the public trough of power as elected officials!!!
We might have a “two party” system of elected officials, but it’s a “one party” system of the fraternal brotherhood of greedy attorneys who are now dominating most local, state and federal governments. Vote all attorneys out of politics now or hope that the military will come to our rescue in the near future. I truly feel that Dr. Ben Carson is our last hope to save our once, great country, otherwise we have lost all our freedoms our forefathers tried to help protect the “average citizen” by establishing the Constitution.
Urge Dr. Ben Carson to run for the Presidency by signing the petition at RunBenRun.org as I have already done.
Can’t really urge Dr. Carson to run for president. First of all, he’s too quiet-spoken to fight off the screaming Democrats and second, he would instantly be deemed an Uncle Tom traitor-to-his-race because he’s a conservative (you can’t be a real black unless you’re willing to take from the “rich” and give it to the blacks).
I do love Dr. Carson and think there should be a place for him in politics, a place other than “pundit.” But running for the presidency ain’t it.
People, if Dr. Ben runs and he gets just 17% of the “black” vote, he wins … It’s very doable and Dr. Ben is “considering” running, but only if he feels God and the “people” want him to do do this! So, urge him and “America can’t lose” with Dr. Ben Carson!!!
BEN CARSON, PLEASE RUN!
Reasons to elect Dr.Carson
He is not a politician.
He already has all the legacy any one man could.
He is a self-made man from the most humble of beginnings.
He has a real work ethic.
His life’s work required teamwork, not “I” work.
He walks softly and carries a big stick, paraphrase: “He talks softly and carries a big pitch.”
He speaks reason and people listen. He abhors pc speech. He looks at a situation and see the truth which he then speaks softly so one has to listen. His words are his and require no teleprompter.
Dr.Carson, PLEASE RESCUE THIS COUNTRY! I have heard no one else in the arena with the solid observation and analysis you gave in the 2013 prayer breakfast speech. WE NEED YOU!
impeach every one in Washington, vote democrats out of office, they are the main cause of this gov’t.
I have to agree with Wyoman. If we could devise a tax system devoid of the IRS, we could all breathe a little easier.
Personally, I favor a national sales tax (often referred to as the Fair Tax). The less one spends, the less tax one pays. We could exempt food and medicine, but we could also do away with those loopholes everyone complains about. Just think about getting a paycheck without any federal income tax being withheld.
My second choice would be some sort of flat tax where all income above the poverty level is taxed at the same percentage for everybody.
These things will probably never happen in my lifetime because politicians are reluctant to give up any sort of control over the social engineering the tax code has become.
David, Art. one, Section 2 of the original (before amendments changed it) stated that the only form of direct taxes were to be based on the several States enumerated numbers per censis and levied against the States like the number of House members were allotted. This would allow the separate States to choose the method of collection and give them an incentive to push back should the central government get too greedy. The present system (the income tax) removes the States’ interest. Neither a flat, fair or national sales tax would get the States involved. I think they should be involved and a “head tax” based on population would so involve them.
No knock raids, civil forfeiture, warrentless searches and seisure, are all tools of the police state as are the IRS, DEA, ATFE, FBI, CIA, Fatherxx Motherxx Homeland Security, and even FEMA if you will, to say nothing of the Bureau of Land Manxx mis-Management. The Department of the Interior (under which the BLM falls) is a terriorist organization. No, the government does not fear the people, like Paul Bolcar said below. But the people had better wake and realize that the central government and the police state that it has created (too much like the brown shirts) should be feared. Just wait till they come for you. Don’t think it can’t happen. It can. It has before.
FAIR or FLAT, either one will just be ADDED to the INCOME TAX!