IRS Needs To Be Held Accountable

I’ve been thinking lately that there is a bit of a double standard with the way the tax system in the United States works. Okay, it’s not a little bit of a double standard. In fact it is the epitome of double standards, but I though I’d try to begin my essay on a more positive note. Okay, I guess when we are discussing taxes there is not positive note, so I might as well not even try to sugar coat what is as bitter and twelve hour old coffee.
The double standard is this: we are required by the IRS to provide proof of every source of income we have. We are required to provide a completed W2 form from our employers and also to furnish all interest payment information. Additionally, they demand that we itemize our deductions such as mortgage interest or child care. If we have business expenses, we need to provide receipts of those as well. All of this is required to make sure that we don not receive any deductions that we do not deserve and also to ensure that every dollar earned by us is accounted for and taxed. Yes, the IRS goes to great lengths to make certain that nobody keeps more of their hard earned money than what the IRS deems is their just due.
And as we all know, once our money is in their possession, they will fight tooth and nail to make certain that the money stays with them. Anyone who has ever tried to get any assistance from the government knows about all the red tape that needs to be cut through in order to get a pittance for
assistance. In fact, the only time the government is generous with our money is when it comes to paying itself. All politicians have to do is vote themselves a pay increase and there it is, no strings attached.
Well, I suggest, no I demand that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. I demand that before I file my taxes, I want the IRS to provide me with the same thing that they demand of me. I want to see an itemized list to account for every penny of my tax dollars. What percentage goes to defense? What percentage goes to social programs, to salaries, etc? I mean, with the present system, do we really know what our tax dollars are spent on? It is only fair, since we have to account for every penny earned and every deduction taken, that the government should be required to furnish the taxpayer with an itemized list of where every penny we are taxed goes to.
Now, while the IRS has the muscle of the entire federal government behind it to enforce compliance on our part, we may feel that we have no muscle power of our own. Actually, Thomas Jefferson would disagree with that assessment. Remember that the author of the Declaration of Independence and our third president wrote that governments are instituted "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." That is quite a bit of power indeed! We as citizens of this country do not need any more power, we just need to realize and exercise the power that we already have.
So when the IRS, sends you their tax forms with the reminder that you must file before April 15th. Send them your own little reminder that you will not be filing your taxes until they furnish you with an itemized list to account for every last penny they stole from you. Now, I’m sure the IRS will not take too kindly to this, but that is because the giant which is we the people, has been asleep and as a result the IRS has gotten a little too arrogant and power hungry like the rest of the government and has forgotten their place in the dichotomy of freedom. The sleeping giant must awake and put the IRS back in its proper place.
Let’s make this April 15th be a day of dread for the IRS instead of we the people. It sounds like a nice change doesn’t it?