Top Ten Civil Liberties Abuses of the IRS

CATO Institute ^ | April 11, 2002 | by Chris Edwards

[vannrox]

A good read. Sad but true. Unfortunately NOTHING will ever get done. It's just plain hopeless. HOPELESS!

[vannrox]

[vannrox]

And yet more tables. These pictures tell quite a story!

[EBUCK]

Nothing to see here!!! This is just another flawed study by the hopelessly Libertarian Cato Intitute!!!! /sarcasm

This is out of control. Support the National Sales Tax!!!

EBUCK

[TruthNtegrity]

Bumping and bookmarking

[BenR2]

Agreed.

And stockpile ammo.

[Taxman]

It occurs to me that since so many people dislike the income tax and the IRS, we ought have much difficulty generating support for fundamental tax reform.

What do you think?

[ancient_geezer]

One could only wish!!

Unfortunately a few folks'll have to get off there duffs if we are to see some action.

There seems to be abit of a perception problem out there with most focusing on just the individual income tax as representative of the world. That creates alot of inertia and a requirement to educate alot of folks.

Even the icons of the conservative world tend to have and foster that tunnel vision.

Walter Williams, World Net Daily, 10-25-2000

According to the most recent U.S. Treasury Department figures, ... the top 50 percent ($36,000 and over) paid 96 percent of income taxes. Guess what the bottom 50 percent of income earners paid?

If you're among those who pay little or no federal income taxes, what do you care about tax cuts? Moreover, if you think tax cuts pose a threat to government handout programs, you might be openly hostile and support Al Gore's silly "risky scheme" talk. So many Americans paying little or no federal taxes makes for a natural spending constituency. It's like me in the restaurant: What do I care about extravagance if you're footing the bill?

It is no wonder that 70% of the public clamors for more from government believing someone else to foots the bill.

That is alot of inertia to overcome, we cannot be satisfied with just writing the Congress Critter and hoping for the best. We must take an active roll in learning about the advantages in the alternatives to the current system, and educating our families, neighbors, and associates across all the paths of our lives to reach those willing to work for changes.

We can do it, but we must reach out to everyone, trying to reach a substantive portion of those who vote, and especially those who contribute to the campaigns.

Less than 50% of the voting age population votes. Of that 50% we need only a substantial plurality waking up and desiring change enough to work at it and push on their representatives. 26% of adults can change the makeup of the entire congress and presidency. A much smaller number can effect a tilt into that 26% & hit hard where it counts, the Congress Critter's war chest.

Convince just some of the voters, and reach the contributers it will and can happen.

[EBUCK]

Thanks for the pep talk! I agree with everything you wrote or quoted.

The problem is that less than the required 26% even voted for Bush, the semi-tax-cut guy!! (something like 24.999999999999% I'd imagine)

EBUCK

[ancient_geezer]

That's why it takes a real effort on all our parts to educate our selves first and formost, then reach those we know with our knowledge. That is the way to multiply beyond the limits of the 1 man 1 vote cliche.

One thing is for certain, it isn't going to happen waiting for someone else to to do the job.

[EBUCK]

So long as we are separated by moral issues we will never have the clout to implement tax reform. So long as rats and pubs are separated on abortion, homo-rights, gun-control and drugs there just won't be enough to get it done. We need to stop basing our choices for elected officials on private/local/moral issues and start picking them on the basis of fiscal policy and adherance to the Constitution. Further, until we get the fed out of the regulation of these moral issues most folks won't pay enough attention to what the gubment is susposed to be doing to even notice that we are paying 50%. The moral issues are sideshows, distractions and devious mis-direction polys to keep the populace consumed to the point of apathy.

In the meantime I will be taking your advise and spread the word.

EBUCK

[ancient_geezer]

There is certainly no disagreement here on the points you bring up, there represent our greates danger, and Achille's Heel.

Until conservatives quit cutting their own throats in there search for immediate and total perfection, its is indeed going to be an uphill battle.

[EBUCK]

Until conservatives quit cutting their own throats

I'm glad you agree. Republicans and the rest of the fractured Right (LibTars/Const-ists ect) are really only separated by a few moral issues. The same is true for a lot of the middle-of-the-roaders/would be fiscal conservatives that turn out to be liberal voters because they don't want the fed running their personal lives. Without the issue of abortion or gay rights being the front and center campaign issues they would be voting conservative. If the heart of federal level conservative politicians would leave the moral issues to the People/States (as it should be and as is mandated by the Constitution) and concentrate on fiscal/Constitutional issues the IRS would be through.

Now that we know that, how do we get there from here?

EBUCK

[ancient_geezer]

Unfortunately, I don't have alot of time right now to get into specifics. (I will be available later)

But Here's what I see as a potential bills to support to actually address the problems inherent in the current income/payroll system we are all saddled with.

 

Billy Tauzin offers one solution, a 15% retail sales tax on family consumption that replaces all income taxes but doesn't touch payroll taxes(SS/Mediscare etc.), that comes close to meeting the essentials of what it takes to reverse trends:

H.R.2717
Sponsor: Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy)(introduced 8/2/2001)
Title: To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity for families by repealing the income tax, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

John Linder (R Texas) offers a more comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a revenue neutral replacement 23% retail sales tax on family consumption:

H.R.2525
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 07/17/2001)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Refer: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org

Other bills, moving in the proper direction are:

To get the ball rolling and focus Congress Critter's attention:

H.R.2714
Sponsor: Rep Largent, Steve(introduced 8/2/2001)
Title: To terminate the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
A bill to prohibit he imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005.

the modification then enactment and ratification of:

H.J.RES.45
Sponsor: (introduced 4/25/2001)
Latest Major Action: 5/9/2001 Referred to House subcommitte.
Title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the Untied States Government from engaging in the business in competition with its citizens.

(Modified to prohibit all income, payroll, gift estate taxes as HR2525 calls for, or we will see European VAT style hidden taxes along with payroll excises to take over in the place of the of the current individual income tax(i.e. personal income tax) that Ron Paul amendment prohibits.)

And to keep em reminded that there is indeed a Constitution to pay attention to:

H.R.175
Sponsor: (introduced 1/3/2001)
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2001 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes.

[EBUCK]

Ping, Bump for later read.

Thanks a_g. I'll read up on this stuff so that we can really talk about it.

EBUCK

[EBUCK]

`Each Act of Congress shall contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. The failure to comply with this section shall give rise to a point of order in either House of Congress. The availability of this point of order does not affect any other available relief.'

Now that's what I'm talking about!!

Now, add another bill that makes them go back and run all previous laws thru the same ringer!!

EBUCK

[ancient_geezer]

The interesting thing about that one, is that it could be adopted into House and/or Senate rules. Under that circumstance, there is no excuse of well the Senate won't pass it, or the President won't sign it, or .....

As a rule, it can be adopted unilaterally by either body independant of the others, and serve the function intended. That would place the provision into action until such time as it could be reasonably enacted into a full law.

[Eagle Eye]

Well, other than those points, what's wrong with the income tax?

[EBUCK]

I'd be surprised to see it come to a vote though.
Especially since fiat tactics are so pervasive up there. Having to explain themselves Constitutionaly would only hamper them in their quest to help us.

I really enjoyed Ron Pauls bill too.

Do you have any information as to where these bills are in the process?

EBUCK