[pnh102]

Snipes was only acquitted of the felony charges because he is a celebrity. I am angered that the IRS did not do more to ensure a conviction on all counts against him and send him to prison for life.

While I applaud the maximum sentence he received, he deserved a lot more. As much as I hate paying income tax, it is something we all must do. If we want to change the laws to get rid of the income tax, we can work within the system to do it. Until then, we have to obey the law.

[goldstategop]

The higher your position in society, the harder you fall. With your privileged background and lifestyle, a great deal is expected of you, especially as a role model for the community and an example for your fellow citizens. The French called the principle noblisse oblige. That's why the government made an example of Wesley Snipes. His fame and having influential people on his side couldn't help him escape the consequences of not obeying the laws.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Cementjungle]

He took a gamble and lost.

[kennyboy509]

That article really did not say why.

The tax code is a joke and Snipes should be appauded for standing up to it.

[apillar]

Another thing the judge might have taken into consideration is that when these charges were announced, Snipes was, conveniently enough, sitting in some African nation with no extradition treaty. He took a couple months to return too the US, (his agent said he was studying for a movie part and didn't have “time” to rush back). More likely he was waiting for his high powered lawyers to assure him that he would be acquitted...

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Why Wesley Snipes Got the Maximum

Because Wesley's really not "special" after all, the way he (plainly) believed himself to be.

[Names Ash Housewares]

Blade couldn’t beat the real bloodsuckers.

[Hildy]

Here's a long, but interesting article about how Snipes got to where he is...

You’ll Never Eat In This Town Again

[Wpin]

The message from the courts is clear, when it comes to taxes there is no reasonable argument, there is no mercy and there is no questioning the IRS. America fell by the wayside somehow...God Bless Wesley Snipes for being a good American standing up for what he believed in and trying to restore liberty. His defiance is heroic on an epic level. He has everything to lose and he chose to risk it for freedom’s sake.

[dragnet2]

In defense of his actions, he essentially asserted tax protest arguments that have consistently been brushed aside by the courts.

LOL! Everyone working in the courts is on the government payroll and make a good living off peoples taxes.

Of course the courts and the government are going to "brush aside" tax arguments.

[PzLdr]

Other people [tax cheats] watching. Like Willie ‘No Jail’ Nelson?

[OeOeO]

The government get’s it’s pound of flesh. AND NOT AN OUNCE MORE.

[philetus]

Snipes won’t serve 6 months.

[microgood]

Snipes exhibited a “history of contempt over a period of time” for U.S. tax laws, the judge said.

Hope that is not against the law or I'm screwed.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

This guy was averaging 10 to 15 million a movie at one point, but somehow he’s now claiming he’s broke and can’t pay his taxes?
What a joke.

[shaft29]

“Why Wesley Snipes Got the Maximum”

“the action movie star had submitted written character testimonials from Judge Joe Brown”

[visualops]

Woody Harrelson as a character witness? LOL

[Hebrewbrother]

You can bet Judge Hodges knew full well that lots of people who maintain similar beliefs to Snipes and his co-defendants were watching the case and would be encouraged not to file and not to pay if Snipes hadn’t been given the max.

You don't quite get the point of your own words do you?

[CodeToad]

Applauding someone going to jail for income tax is just sad. The income tax is nothing but slavery, a shakedown by the Mob we call government. There is nothing different between the mob telling a shop owner he had best give them 35% of his income or else and the federal government doing the same. Nothing.

Before any applauds this his jail term, according to several legal studies everyone does something nearly every day that could land them in jail if the maximums were applied.

[wildbill]

The IRS and the Courts collude every year in convicting and imprisoning a high-profile celebrity AT OR NEAR THE APRIL FILING DATE pour encourager les autres.

You also see well-known execs and celebrity arrests made in the months and weeks leading up to the filing date. It gets publicity in the media for free.

It is a standard procedure in the IRS manual for reminding us to be good boys and girls when filing our taxes.