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America’s Politicized Tax Enforcement Is a Harbinger of Decline
National Review ^ | 5/7/2015 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 05/07/2015 4:14:04 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross

Why did Rome and Byzantium fall apart after centuries of success? What causes civilizations to collapse, from a dysfunctional fourth-century-B.C. Athens to contemporary bankrupt Greece?

The answer is usually not enemies at the gates, but the pathologies inside them.

What ruins societies is well known: too much consumption and not enough production, a debased currency, and endemic corruption.

Americans currently deal with all those symptoms. But two more fundamental causes for decline are even more frightening: an unwillingness to pay taxes and the end of the rule of law.

Al Sharpton is again prominently in the news, blaming various groups for the Baltimore unrest. But Sharpton currently owes the U.S. government more than $3 million in back taxes, according to reports. His excuses have ranged from insufficient funds to pay them to sloppy record-keeping and mysterious fires.

Sharpton, a frequent White House guest, apparently assumes that his community-organizing provides him political exemption from federal tax law. He seems to be right, at least as long as the current administration is in power.

The Clinton Foundation is expected to refile its tax returns for 2010, 2011, and 2012 after failing to separate government grants from donations. If an average citizen tried to amend his taxes for such huge sums and from that long ago, he would probably be under indictment.

News reports of undocumented donations from foreign governments caught the foundation underreporting its income. The well-connected Clinton clan apparently had assumed that their political status ensured them immunity.

In the current political landscape, ideology also offers cover for tax noncompliance. Two of the most liberal talking heads at the MSNBC cable news network, Touré Neblett and Melissa Harris-Perry ...

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: corrupt; decline; tax; vdh
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To: Servant of the Cross

Rule of Man vs. Rule of Law is not where we want to be, but it seems to be where we are heading.


21 posted on 05/07/2015 6:14:30 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: DH

It is long past time to just vote. Go out and work for those candidates you describe. They need volunteers.


22 posted on 05/07/2015 6:16:12 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: madprof98; grania
Look, I agree that McConnell/Boehner is only minimally better than Reid/Pelosi. But the conservatives in both the HOR and the Senate are growing (Exhibit A Senator Tom Cotton's open letter to Iran) ... it is not just Cruz, Lee, Paul anymore.

The election in 2016 includes POTUS ... which also means Supreme Court nominations ... and growing the conservatives even further in Congress.

I believe that there is NO future without a 'GOP' (Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Tom Cotton are 'GOP') victory in 2016. And an imperfect but improving future is better than no future.

I'm reminded of the words of Jimmy Valvano .... "Dont' Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up"

23 posted on 05/07/2015 6:20:43 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Servant of the Cross

They should create a post called History Counsel For The President and fly Hanson in once a week for a two hour discussion with the President.


24 posted on 05/07/2015 6:38:44 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Servant of the Cross
I believe there is no future without a GOP

At this point, I fear there is no future because when conservatives had the numbers to do so, they didn't oust Boehner and McConnell. And Supreme Court judges? GWB gave us Justice Roberts who saved Obamacare and ruined medical care in the US for good.

The other thing is all of the "constitutional conservatives" make me nervous concerning foreign affairs. Do any of them speak out against Saudi Arabia and its allies, the financers of global terrorism? Have any of them done anything at all to save Christians who are being slaughtered? Why aren't they saying you can't save world civilization without Christian values being the base of our and all other civilized nations actions?

No, the 'pubs aren't better with power. If anything, they're worse. They're caving on every issue.

25 posted on 05/07/2015 6:47:10 AM PDT by grania
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To: Servant of the Cross

“...I believe that there is NO future without a ‘GOP’ “

With that said, you are one of the lemmings I speak of.

The GOP is DEMOCRAT Lite!


26 posted on 05/07/2015 7:04:17 AM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: DH
LOL


27 posted on 05/07/2015 7:39:46 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: DH

Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Tom Cotton are “GOP”, are they not? Are they ‘lemmings’ too, in your world?


28 posted on 05/07/2015 7:44:52 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: grania

I believe that we have been given another “CHANCE” with the election of 2016. But it would mean a complete change in Washington. If we elect enough CONSERVATIVES in both the senate and the house, I believe that they’ll change everything in Washington. What are our options? Very little, really, because we are heading for the abyss, and if we don’t change our politicians, we will end up like GREECE. Should that happen, get ready for a DICTATOR whether in the right or left, that will make life, as we know it, obsolete


29 posted on 05/07/2015 8:22:01 AM PDT by gingerbread
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To: pepsionice
It amazes me that no one seems to want to write a book over the history of taxation.

PM me with some ideas - I think I know someone....

30 posted on 05/07/2015 8:25:46 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: Servant of the Cross; grania; DH

but but but...the knee jerk whiners want to give up - it makes their knee jerk whining so much more satisfying to them. They live in the purity of their own irrelevance....


31 posted on 05/07/2015 8:27:49 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: Sir Napsalot
Pres Obama says too many potential role models for boys of color are "languishing in prison over minor non-violent drug offenses." Just think about what Obama said for one second...

Prediction: Before his term ends, the proven liar Obama will pardon hundreds, maybe thousands of these "non-violent drug offenses".

32 posted on 05/07/2015 8:34:56 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator (American Jobs for American Workers)
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To: Servant of the Cross

the USSA is a totally sold-out, corrupt, bananna republic with a dead economy and a TRAITOR at the helm.......


33 posted on 05/07/2015 9:45:18 AM PDT by zzwhale
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To: zzwhale
Yes, yes it is with B. Hussein 0bama in the WH. So ... we need to say .... 'Let's Roll'!


34 posted on 05/07/2015 10:21:56 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Servant of the Cross

Apparently you don’t have very good reading comprehension. I did not say those running in the Republican party were lemmings, I said those (like you) who blindly vote for anyone in the Republican party are lemmings.

Get down on all four and act the part for I know you are positively one for you will vote for anyone the party places before you.


35 posted on 05/07/2015 4:31:59 PM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Absolute stupidity is trying to do the same thing over and over again with the same result.

I think that the conservative voter has finally figured out the fact that voting for Republicans simply does not work. It’s the party...not the candidate that you are voting for.

Time and time again the party has screwed those who voted for it and time and time again the idiots vote for them again simply because they say “We’ve changed.”...and they have not.


36 posted on 05/07/2015 4:36:52 PM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: DH

you know, what you say is somewhat valid, but when you apply it universally, you destroy your argument.

The people who voted GOP for President the last two elections DID NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. The problem was NOT that too many people voted for the GOP, it’s that too many people did NOT.

Thus, your stupidity of over and over again is meaningless.


37 posted on 05/07/2015 5:09:38 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: DH; Servant of the Cross
Apparently you don’t have very good reading comprehension. I did not say those running in the Republican party were lemmings, I said those (like you) who blindly vote for anyone in the Republican party are lemmings.

Get down on all four and act the part for I know you are positively one for you will vote for anyone the party places before you.

This was not aimed at me, but I must point out how ridiculous and absurd you are being. You have not intellectual case, so you have to resort to infantile rants like "down on all fours" and "lemmings" and "blindly vote" - and I assure your teeny tiny brain that SOTC is no lemming, is not down on all four for anyone, and doesn't blindly do anything. Whoever you are, you are not fit to shine his shoes.

38 posted on 05/07/2015 5:12:39 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright (www.FireKarlRove.com NOW)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

There are clearly a number of issues that are becoming more and more intertwined.

Taxation is simply the source that feeds the growing beast.

The beast is also more than Government but how government influences the so-called private sector and State institutions.

Capitalists have co-opted government because they can.

The beast tells both the States and businesses to follow their rules and they will get money or favor.

The rules are getting more and more insane.


39 posted on 05/07/2015 5:28:05 PM PDT by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
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To: C. Edmund Wright
Your kind words are exaggerated but appreciated CEW. Thank you.

I choose not to engage such posters beyond the initial fart.

40 posted on 05/07/2015 6:58:12 PM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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