Saturday, February 20, 2010

NATION OFF COURSE

Joe Stack, the Texas engineer who seemingly intentionally flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austen and killed one person, was, of course, inexcusably wrong to do so...and had he survived the crash, he would likely and deservedly have been charged with murder. No question there.

But other questions remain.

Stack apparently had an ongoing dispute with the IRS. There are reports that he had failed to pay certain income taxes. In a note he allegedly left, he attributes that failure to his accountant and says he tried but was unable to peacefully settle his tax problems. He railed against a government that he claimed was run by and for the rich at the expense of the middle class. He deplores the "unthinkable atrocities" committed by big business and the government bailouts given to them with his money. He had come to the conclusion that violence was the only solution. To the IRS he wrote, "here is my pound of flesh, take it and sleep well". He chided Americans for their gullibility in naively believing we are a nation of freedom, justice and equality.

There is nothing in that note, nor in the comments of his friends...psychiatric expert that I am noy, to suggest that Stark was psychopathic, or otherwise out of control. He certainly had anger at things happening in our country, and thw his government treated him. He seemed to me to be quietly thoughtful and responsible, someone who loved the country America was meant to be. That's what is so frightening.

I have written before about the injustice of income taxes. I believe all taxes deny our property rights. But I want to deal with other matters here.

The amount of taxes, for one. Im 1913, when the federal income tax laws were passed, the tax rate was 1% (that is one penny on the dollar) for income up to $20,000...which was pretty high in those days. The rate increased slowly to a max of 7% on income over $500,000 (who earned that?). In 5 short years, the max rate was 77%, rising to 94% in 1944. (Was it George McGovern who proposed in his Presidential campaign in 1972 to raise it to 100%?)

Today, the max income tax rate is 35%. Then add to that: state and city income taxes, corporate income taxes (which are a form of double taxation), sales taxes, capital gains taxes, real estate and school taxes, gift and estate taxes...and coming soon, energy use and green taxes. We seem to be working not for ourselves but to satisfy the whims, vagaries and predilections of corrupt power-riddled politicians. It is insanity.

Political leaders have the misguided notion that OUR money is for THEM to spend. No limits! A trillion more in bailouts to often corrupt and/or inefficient enterprises. Aid and never to be repaid loans to countries we could not find on a map. Fifteen trillion dollars (that is $50,000 for every man, woman and child in America) in federal debt...and counting. I, for one, am tired of politicians putting their hands in my pocket. soon What will the federal income tax rates be in 5, 10 or 20 years?

Mr. Obama and every other political figure now and in the future had best learn soon that theirs is not an "anything goes" domain...the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors and under the table, the wasting billions in giveaways and benchmark handouts (buyouts?), the unrestrained spending of our money, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

One thing further. The government may think it is Big Brother, but it isn't acting like one. Before the government despoiled that title, Big Brother was synonymous with camaraderie and fellowship and appreciation and benevolence and protection and support. Treating citizens and taxpayers like Joe Stark with hostility and enmity and rancor takes America off course and will surely and shortly bring our country down, building by building.

Stark's anger may have been justified, his handling of it was not. We ought throw out of office those who abuse the privilege to serve that has been bestowed on them. Our vote should be our preferred weapon of choice.

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