Posted on 05/18/2014 6:33:16 AM PDT by Kaslin
As someone whose chosen profession is dealing with governmental tax agencies, I am almost always flummoxed by the realization of others that the people who work for those tax collection operations would be in favor of collecting more taxes. This was recently reinforced by an editorial in the Washington Times.
The Washington Times is one of the many daily publications I read, most of which are left of center because most are left of center. The Times gives me a little respite from the other Times (New York and Los Angeles) that reek of leftist sentiment and pro-Obama cheerleading. They published an editorial titled “Displays of Obama, Democratic support common at some IRS offices.” One can easily picture the celebrations that occurred in IRS offices and other government offices on January 20, 2009, when the pictures of President Bush came down and the new President went up. They probably had government-funded beer bashes and picture-burning parties.
The fact is, as the Washington Times article points out, some employees at the IRS brazenly encouraged taxpayers to vote for Obama; no shock to those of us who work with these people. First, it is because of the nature of the people who tend to take these jobs. Though some people go to work at the IRS to get high level experience and then trade that in for a career in the private sector most are not that way. Most are unsophisticated college grads, who majored in sociology and humanities, and have no accounting background or clue that debits are at the window and credits are at the door. Many years into their jobs they may understand some tax laws, but basic understanding of accounting or how to read a general ledger is something that is just beyond their grasp, and their actions are mostly from rote. They no more have a head for it than I have for Gothic literature.
The current review of IRS activities centers around the IRS treatment of nonprofit entities being improperly reviewed and some even harassed. The focal point of that has become Lois Lerner who was Director of Exempt Organizations. The interesting realization here is this hack for the Democratic Party was appointed to her position in 2006 under President Bush. Of course, Bush would have never had her doing anything other than preparing Texas BBQ if he had any idea of what she was all about, but the very nature of the organization (IRS) allowed someone like Lerner to achieve her position under a Republican President.
The fact that her abuses became clear under a left-wing President may reside in three factors. The first, that the entities under question were principally formed in response to the activities of the new president. Second, the fact that she felt emboldened by the atmosphere created by the new Administration and its Attorney General. The third being direct approval by the same Administration. Point three has not been proven yet because sufficient evidence has not been released, and no one has been turned by a Justice Department that serves only this president and not our country.
There are worst tax agencies than the IRS. They have actually somewhat been tamed by Congressional hearings over the years that have cast a very negative light on the IRS for beating up on hapless taxpayers. Some states are pretty rough on taxpayers as they grub for money instead of living within their means. The worst offenders are states like New York and California that have complex tax codes of their own and believe that a taxpayer is subject to their taxing power if they made a visit to the state to see their dying Aunt Sally in her final days. Remember leftist will use any rational to extend taxation on to anyone.
The worst I have dealt with is the City of Los Angeles. First, it is very challenging to find personnel that speak clear and distinct English. I have expressed to supervisors that I believe that is an inherent right of my client to be able to understand the auditor that is assigned to us. Often the supervisor speaks less comprehensible English than the auditor. There is no appearance of the fact that any of the people here have any understanding of producing income or that anyone would ever appear at a Republican rally.
A perfect example of the mindset occurred recently. In addition to having a business in Los Angeles, my taxpayer owns three properties in neighboring community. The auditor discovered the three properties and asserted a tax against the taxpayer amounting to thousands of dollars. I told her that the properties were in a separately incorporated city and not subject to Los Angeles taxes. She stated some properties that are in the neighboring community are actually in Los Angeles. I asked how a property that is in one incorporated city could actually be in another incorporated city. I sent her a map of the neighboring community off their website which she said was not good enough. She said we had to submit power bills showing the properties were not covered by the Los Angeles city utility. We did and then she said that was not good enough. Finally, a supervisor relieved us of the tax when we produced a copy of a Thomas Brothers map showing the properties were in the neighboring community. Does anyone believe a Republican would ever do such a thing? This staff has an animus toward the successful that goes beyond doing their jobs.
Let me be clear, over the years I have worked collegially and professionally with many fine people at all levels of government working at tax agencies. I have also worked with some hacks, but I certainly do not want to paint a picture that all of them are partisan lackeys.
On the other hand, there is a reason why Northern Virginia has turned so Democratic in recent years as the areas has boomed with the growth of our federal government. The vast majority of people who derive their income from the government have a pro-government mindset. That is, as the old saying goes, “As plain as the nose on your face.”
That is why quite often today it appears the citizens of this country are at war with their government.
Gee. I wonder if that’s why they’ve been expanding government?
And so do food stamp and welfare check recipients. Duh.
The less some entity works for what is somebody else’s,the more they seem to think it is their’s.
they like the 5 year plans...gives lazy bassturd elitists an easy life....
The government is arming for a war.
Whenever you listen to liberals and see how they act and respond to conservatives, there is a vast hatred there. In some cases, if angered enough, enough to kill.
Liberals have a heard mentality. So governmental jobs are perfect for them.
When TSHTF and "our" government is poised against the people, we all might be Americans, but make no mistake, THOSE "Americans" WILL shoot other Americans.
The response to this is that once conservatives control congress and the presidency, that they lay off huge numbers of federal employees.
An important twist to this is that it is much harder to lay them off as individuals than it is to close entire branches of federal agencies, giving pink slips to everyone who works for it.
With the goal, of course, of eventually shutting down entire agencies.
The planning for this must begin early. Its execution is first, the enabling laws created by congress; but the POTUS will also have to appoint a “hatchet-man” cabinet, who take the job not to manage the status quo or grow the agency, but to slash its size and power.
If they are not willing and enthusiastic about doing this, they do not get the job.
Right now, there are about 2,700,000 federal employees. So if possible, about half of them should get pink slips in the first year.
In addition, those federal employees who “obeyed orders” and committed ethical and even criminal violations, should not only be fired, but barred from any government job in the future.
...the government of this country are at war with the citizens.
Some of us earn every penny of our pay. Besides, Many of those who do actually work for their pay do not support the Left or Obama - my workplace is such an example.
In 1990 15% of the population of Fairfax County, the largest county in VA by far, was foreign born. In 2010, it was 30%, Immigration has also played a major role in NoVA becoming a Dem bastion. It is happening all over the country.
The republican party is for less tax and less govt spending and fewer govt. employees.
What govt. employee in their right mind would vote for putting themselves out of a job ?
It’s their cash cow!
Shouldn't that be: ...the government of this country is at war with the citizen?
But if you want to use the are then shouldn't it be: The citizen of this country are at war with the government?
You and you coworkers must be a welcome exception to the norm. I believe 80% of government employees make the 20% look bad.
Nothing misleading about the headline. I got it and my native language isn’t even English
BIG GOVERNMENT IS CRONY SOCIALISM
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”
http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/index.shtml?query
Socialism Is Legal Plunder - Bastiat
See something, say something ALERT!
Maybe I'm an oddball - I vote as conservative as the tickets will allow me to do. While the social experiment with the military is having serious side-effects, many of those in uniform do the same thing because they/we know that our Nation is on the ropes.
While your premise is not without merit, because there has been a push to make the military/civilian workforce into a spitting image of the Left, most of those I work with/around are no different than those in the private sector - we're human and have the same "selfish" traits which make us want to assure our livelihoods. But we also understand that we need to risk the sacrifices inherent with wanting the Nation to get on track with the Constitution if we are to endure.
Many of us served honorably while in uniform and our skill sets, along with our location when retiring from active duty, were conducive to being useful in some of the civilian DOD jobs available. I train new recruits in Cyber careers which works best of you have both technical skills along with a military point of view. Supervisory skills, developed during active duty, round out the qualifications. I retired after 24 years in 1998 but still consider myself to be a member of the military.
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