In a case that's more instructive in government power and control than most anything a liberal, or civil libertarian might opine upon, Wesley Snipes received the maximum sentence, 36 months in prison for not paying his taxes.
While I personally believe too much is made of alleged civil liberty encroachments under Bush and in the so-called war on terror - there is no greater threat to freedom in a capitalist society than that of the government to tax and regulate activity.
I'm not suggesting Snipes isn't guilty, or shouldn't go to jail, but you never hear a peep from the supposed freedom loving liberals when it comes to how government taxes and spends, thereby controlling our lives, as well as our livelihoods.
You can peace march all you want, try to persecute telco's for providing information to the government, and stage all the faux torture events you want in protest of government actions.
But what's perfectly clear in America today is one thing - you don't screw with the tax man. Never let it be said that our government doesn't know from whence its power springs.
It would be wise to consider that when debating hyper-regulative responses to issues like global warming and supporting politicians who love big government. It always comes with a price. And ultimately that price is freedom, just as much as it is dollars.
In relative terms, there will be little or no liberal hand-wringing over the Snipes conviction, which causes one to wonder if they really understand freedom at all. Snipes appears to be guilty, but he WAS striking Big Brother at its heart in a way few if any anti-war protesters ever do.
And the message is clear - Big Brother knows how to deal with threats to its collective heart when they really matter.
Issues like the above are why I genuinely question the motivations of liberals today. They claim to be championing liberty. Yet nearly everything they champion calls for more taxation and regulation. One can't do both and be intellectually consistent, or honest.
I point out a nutroot propaganda ploy, and I get accused of being Mr. No Taxes. And no, Mr. Nutroot, not taxing someone is not the same thing as giving them something. What is so difficult about this concept for you to understand? In other words, to make it easy for you, not taking something that belongs to someone is not the same thing as giving them something. One is by force, the other is not.
Posted by: templar knight | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Templar,
You say tax cuts are not giving. I say they are. Specifically when they are disproportional cut to favor the wealthiest Americans.
But does it really matter what we call it?
Taxes are here to stay and we need to find a way to pay our bills.
Do you like paying a higher rate than Warren Buffett?
Posted by: jharp | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 05:11 PM
"Do you like paying a higher rate than Warren Buffett?"
We always will so why whine about it?
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 08:08 PM
"We always will so why whine about it?"
As long as the republicans are in charge, I agree.
I plan on doing something about it. Like voting them out of office.
Posted by: jharp | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 11:10 PM
You've never voted a Republican in office, jharp. So you're not doing anything you don't always do, and I'm smart enough to know that Warren Buffet will always pay a lesser rate of taxes than me because he can pay an army of accountants millions of dollars to take advantage of loopholes his cronies in Congress have put in tax law just for people like him. Democrats are no different. They put loopholes in laws that favor their friends, so voting for a Democrat will change nothing as far as Warren Buffet is concerned. I'll still pay a higher percentage of tax.
The only way to rectify the problem would be to have a flat tax with no deductions, and you Dems would have none of that. So don't act as if your side has tax honesty. When it comes to taxes, the rich have the advantages, whether they be Republicans or Democrats.
Posted by: templar knight | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Wahoo will at times defend Harpo. My opinion is that Harpo is not capable of being defended. That is what I find so offensive about Harpo. Look at this statement by this incorrigible dope, for example:
"Like the $4 trillion the current administration just pissed away.
Posted by: jharp | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 04:51 PM"
Over and over again he has been shown that this statement is incorrect, that it cannot be true under our form of constitutional government. Links have been provided for his convenience. Yet he persists. He goes on, untroubled in his conscience.
At least Moe, LOL, Boob and our other friends, when they, on those so rare occasions, are confronted with incontrovertible refutations will change the subject or use some other device to slip out of the noose. Oh sure they may days later go back to the SOS, but at least they wait for some of the sting to go away. But not friend Harpo. Oh no, Harpo is oblivious to truth, has no shame, and will jump back in with both feet 15 minutes afterward. That is why I believe Harpo has zero sincerity and is dishonest.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 11:39 AM
"Wahoo will at times defend Harpo."
Now Fred old friend I prefer to think that I 'defend' everyone occasionally around here when I think someone misunderstands them.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 02:46 PM