And then they shoot the innocent. Or steal their scarce resources that they spent a lifetime to acquire.
Looters. Just following orders. Rubbish.

Now that we have 87,000 IRS Agents.
Can we dedicate 535 to ALWAYS Audit our elected officials.

Seems like a reasonable ask, no?

"Fair Tax" to be clear. Removes Income Tax which is a form of slavery. It's a step in the right direction.

And while Tax is robbery, consumption taxes WITHOUT income taxes are a more fair approach.

Finally, in the system, everyone gets a PRE-BATE which would hit a debit card to cover their tax rebate on what is effectively "the amount required to live... Or a $200-300/mo". And this does something else. It makes every homeless person, retiree, or retired vet worth dealing with by private organizations by attaching a value to helping them.

The final piece is that the "Tax Rate" could only be increased by a National Referendum, and it REQUIRES a balanced Budget. No spending money you don't already have.

Most people don't know the details of the short hand reference... Once I dug into it. I actually liked the concept.

I would much rather pay a consumption tax than an income tax. Because I Can CURTAIL consumption and get ahead. Curtailing income, which I am forced to do, has drawbacks for the economy at large.

One thing most people aren't aware of is the taxpayer advocate's office, which is kind of an ombudsman aimed at helping taxpayers who feel the IRS has made a wrong decision with respect to their taxes. I've used them twice, and got IRS decisions reversed both times.

Bureaucracies can create a kind of numbing effect, where the members just want to get through the next day, or follow the path of least resistance to an improved career. As a result, for IRS agents, taxpayers just become a cog in the wheel that gets them promoted. The advocate agents make their bones with successful challenges to the indifferent machine, but you have to be aware they exist, which the IRS does its best to keep as quiet as possible.

In "Government Financing in a Free Society" , Rand suggests multiple options to avoid the use of physical force (or the threat of it) while still providing protection from criminals. One is "that the government . . . recognize as legally valid and enforceable -- only those contracts . . . insured by the payment . . . of a legally fixed percentage of the sums involved." (The Virtue of Selfishness,Signet paperback, p.116-117)

I am not for any so-called "Fair Tax". Taxation is robbery, in and of itself. What I am for is cutting the government down to its proper function(s): protecting human beings from force (including fraud and violence), and paying for its legitimate functions with something like a sales tax, falling on stores, businesses,etc. And if the storekeeper declined to pay it, he could be told, "Suit yourself, but if somebody comes in and holds this place up, and you call 911, nobody will come." And the storekeeper, while allowed to defend himself on the spot, would not be allowed to go after a burglar after the fact, because that would be taking the law into his own hands. That would finance the government's legitimate functions, while protecting the right of private property.

"...the IRS is accountable only to the President and Congress, so it does as it pleases and fears no one." AND it's heavily armed, too! One of the many "standing armies" in the land the Founders warned us about.

Edit add: I liked the comment that said we should send 87,000 IRS agents over to Ukraine where there will a lot of our tax dollars. I'd add they will find a lot of skimming and fraud, too.

I am a member of your choir, Ben_C!

I am for the "Fair Tax" aka national sales tax. Delete all forms of income tax, property tax, corporate tax etc. Obviously this won;t happen but it is still a goal. Of course, if Trump gets pissed off enough he may get the wheels of progress in motion.

lois learner could not be reached for comment

i do hope she can be found for her trail and execution