Welcome to the July Agribusiness issue of NorthBay biz magazine. Also this month, we have a special report on Health and Medicine. As observed and reported over the past 38 years, the magazine has been published in the North Bay, Calif., and has long-suffered the excesses of its “boom or bust” business cycles. These swings define the state’s bipolar nature. However, in the North Bay, the ag community not only sets the tone of the economy, but also the rhythm of local life. So enjoy the stories and features in this special issue as we attempt to capture the spirit of what makes life here in the North Bay so special.
“When a government becomes powerful, it is destructive, extravagant and violent; it is an usurer which takes bread from innocent mouths and deprives honorable men of their substance, for votes with which to perpetuate itself.” —Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero (106-43B.C.)
As usual, my timing in addressing things is slightly off. The last couple of columns have talked about the pressing need to do something about the country’s tax system and its enforcer, the IRS. (My recommendation was to abolish the 16th amendment and adopt the Fair Tax system.) Having made my argument, I believed that in this month’s column, I’d move on to another topic.
Apparently, I was wrong. A new IRS scandal has exploded onto the scene and, even though it’s not getting the extensive coverage it warrants from the MSM yet, the depth of apparent widespread corruption is such that, this time, the “Teflon” administration should be overwhelmed by its complicity.
The arrogance on display from every agency or department of this administration is astounding. For example, Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS division in question, was called before the House Oversight Committee and stated that she and her agency did nothing wrong, broke no laws nor any IRS rules or regulations in targeting conservative groups. Nor were any of its actions politically motivated. She finished her testimony by defiantly stating that she never provided any false information. She concluded by saying she refused to answer any questions on the grounds of self-incrimination. Anyone have any problem with that stance?
I guess when you firmly believe you and your agency are above the law, how dare a lowly Congressional committee convene to question you about your actions. When the IRS can act as the accuser, prosecutor, judge and jury, it doesn’t take long to not only think you’re above the law, but to act that way, too. As the administration’s top officials are fond of saying, here’s a crisis that’s too good too waste. Tax reform and even the abolition of the IRS would be a fitting and proper conclusion to this scandal.
This enormous abuse of power—done in a way that demonstrates how little thought was given to the ramifications when these actions were exposed—is truly troubling. The level of intimidation applied is chilling: What’s the content of your prayers? Let’s see a list of all donors.
Then, just for fun, the IRS released tax returns, read personal emails and applied pressure wherever it could to help thwart the legal rights of these conservative groups. These groups’ only sin was having a point of view or belief that didn’t comply with administration goals and ideology. Don’t debate your political foes; it’s much easier to crush them using the full power and resources of the federal government. Law be damned. The end justifies the means.
The message conveyed from every quarter of this administration has been, “Do whatever it takes to quell political opposition.” From Senate Democrats urging in letters to the IRS to investigate these “Tea Party” type organizations, to several other federal agencies applying pressure whenever possible to individuals and groups in opposition to this regime’s agenda.
I’d like to pose a question: What do you think would happen if we had a Republican administration and, take your pick, liberal, ethnic or gender-based groups had been targeted for this kind of treatment by the IRS? While I don’t doubt the IRS is filled with incompetence, it’s laughable that that’s what’s being used in the defense of the agency actions.
A couple more questions: If it was just incompetence and not ordered by the “higher-ups,” why did it manifest itself in the same way by all the people involved? And if it weren’t politically motivated, wouldn’t this incompetence have been applied equally to both liberal and conservative groups? Instead, it’s quite obvious the IRS’ targeting was the implementation of a political agenda for which it was providing the “muscle.”
Remember, the IRS is in the process of hiring 16,000 new agents to be better able to police and enforce Obamacare. How better to enforce compliance than with your own little police state? The IRS has immense power, and if it accuses you of a transgression, you’re literally stripped of the protections provided you in any civil or criminal proceeding. Fail to comply with warrantless search and seizures and the agency has the power to ruin you financially and put you into prison. The IRS is the only entity that presumes guilt until you can prove your innocence. How is it that it’s above the law?
Politicians of all stripes love to pay lip service to the increasing need for tax reform and to reign in an agency that’s gone rogue. Maybe now is finally the time for politicians to actually do something useful beyond braying, self-serving sound bites. It’s time to remember and reinforce the notion that government must be the humble servant of all the people, not their master demanding subservience.
That’s it for now. Enjoy this month’s magazine.
