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Ron Paul: The IRS Itself Is The Problem

“What do you expect when you target the President?” This is what an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent allegedly said to the head of a conservative organization that was being audited after calling for the impeachment of then-President Clinton. Recent revelations that IRS agents gave “special scrutiny” to organizations opposed…

“What do you expect when you target the President?” This is what an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent allegedly said to the head of a conservative organization that was being audited after calling for the impeachment of then-President Clinton. Recent revelations that IRS agents gave “special scrutiny” to organizations opposed to the current administration’s policies suggest that many in the IRS still believe harassing the President’s opponents is part of their job.

As troubling as these recent reports are, it would be a grave mistake to think that IRS harassment of opponents of the incumbent President is a modern, or a partisan, phenomenon. As scholar Burton Folsom pointed out in his book New Deal or Raw Deal, IRS agents in the 1930s were essentially “hit squads” against opponents of the New Deal. It is well-known that the administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson used the IRS to silence their critics. One of the articles of impeachment drawn up against Richard Nixon dealt with his use of the IRS to harass his political enemies. Allegations of IRS abuses were common during the Clinton administration, and just this week some of the current administration’s defenders recalled that antiwar and progressive groups alleged harassment by the IRS during the Bush presidency.

The bipartisan tradition of using the IRS as a tool to harass political opponents suggests that the problem is deeper than just a few “rogue” IRS agents – or even corruption within one, two, three or many administrations. Instead, the problem lays in the extraordinary power the tax system grants the IRS.

The IRS routinely obtains information about how we earn a living, what investments we make, what we spend on ourselves and our families, and even what charitable and religious organizations we support. Starting next year, the IRS will be collecting personally identifiable health insurance information in order to ensure we are complying with Obamacare’s mandates.

The current tax laws even give the IRS power to marginalize any educational, political, or even religious organizations whose goals, beliefs, and values are not favored by the current regime by denying those organizations “tax-free” status. This is the root of the latest scandal involving the IRS.

Considering the type of power the IRS excises over the American people, and the propensity of those who hold power to violate liberty, it is surprising we do not hear about more cases of politically-motivated IRS harassment. As the first U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall said, “The power to tax is the power to destroy” – and who better to destroy than one’s political enemies?

The United States flourished for over 120 years without an income tax, and our liberty and prosperity will only benefit from getting rid of the current tax system. The federal government will get along just fine without its immoral claim on the fruits of our labor, particularly if the elimination of federal income taxes are accompanied by serious reduction in all areas of spending, starting with the military spending beloved by so many who claim to be opponents of high taxes and big government.

While it is important for Congress to investigate the most recent scandal and ensure all involved are held accountable, we cannot pretend that the problem is a few bad actors. The very purpose of the IRS is to transfer wealth from one group to another while violating our liberties in the process. Thus the only way Congress can protect our freedoms is to repeal the income tax and shutter the doors of the IRS once and for all.

Ron Paul is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and leader of the pro-free market movement in the United States.

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75 comments

idiotwind May 21, 2013 at 10:17 am

i was SO wondering what this cantankerous old fart of a megalomaniac thought about this issue. Ron Paul is a 100% archetype of the dictator. dismantle the bureacracy, throw out all the regulations, fire all the civil servants. and put me in charge because you can trust me to rule justly and without cumbersome oversight.

Reply
arar May 21, 2013 at 10:32 am

well you picked the right nickname.

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;kjkl May 21, 2013 at 11:04 am

yes he wants to rule he doesn’t want freedom

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not_retired May 21, 2013 at 11:47 am

Yes. That’s exactly what he wants to do. You’re smart.

Reply
David Sharp May 21, 2013 at 3:52 pm

I dont think you get it.
You are ruled right now…amazing

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8z0kts6 May 21, 2013 at 4:59 pm

Ron Paul a “megalomaniac” and “dictator”? Wow, I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him smeared in that way, and there have been many smears over the years.

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toria555 May 21, 2013 at 9:50 pm

Idiot wind is a great name for you….The government claiming ownership over your income is a modern form of slavery. Ron Paul is advocating giving that back to you. That YOU own your income NOT the government. Exactly how is that like a dictatorship? Oh nevermind, IDIOT.

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takesonetoknowone May 21, 2013 at 10:38 pm

derp. idiot.

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idiotwind May 21, 2013 at 10:17 am

i was SO wondering what this cantankerous old fart of a megalomaniac thought about this issue. Ron Paul is a 100% archetype of the dictator. dismantle the bureacracy, throw out all the regulations, fire all the civil servants. and put me in charge because you can trust me to rule justly and without cumbersome oversight.

Reply
arar May 21, 2013 at 10:32 am

well you picked the right nickname.

Reply
;kjkl May 21, 2013 at 11:04 am

yes he wants to rule he doesn’t want freedom

Reply
not_retired May 21, 2013 at 11:47 am

Yes. That’s exactly what he wants to do. You’re smart.

Reply
DJS May 21, 2013 at 3:52 pm

I dont think you get it.
You are ruled right now…amazing

Reply
8z0kts6 May 21, 2013 at 4:59 pm

Ron Paul a “megalomaniac” and “dictator”? Wow, I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him smeared in that way, and there have been many smears over the years.

Reply
toria555 May 21, 2013 at 9:50 pm

Idiot wind is a great name for you….The government claiming ownership over your income is a modern form of slavery. Ron Paul is advocating giving that back to you. That YOU own your income NOT the government. Exactly how is that like a dictatorship? Oh nevermind, IDIOT.

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Bob White May 21, 2013 at 10:38 pm

derp. idiot.

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Nowar May 21, 2013 at 10:30 am

The country is so torn apart by those like Ron Paul who want to tear down the government. America used to want to be great. Now there are so many that only think about themselves, and are not concerned about their neighbor. This is selfishness. “My money, my wealth, my guns”, this is the cry of the tea party, and libertarians.

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? May 21, 2013 at 10:50 am

The fundamental ? of course is what you think made America “great” at one time…was it the people or the gov’t?

Obviously there’s disagreement. The difference in outlook is if you think it’s the people that made America great you don’t call those that think it was the gov’t “selfish”, you simply call them wrong.

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dsfas May 21, 2013 at 11:05 am

and that selfishness generates resources. it seems paradoxical perhaps. such is capitalism. oh well

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GrandTango May 21, 2013 at 11:34 am

CORRECTION: This is selfishness. “I want Your money, Your wealth, Your guns”, this is the cry of Obama, the liberals and libertarians.

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nunyabizness71 May 21, 2013 at 11:55 am

Well, it is clear…. You have no idea what Libertarians are…

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wiley6573 May 21, 2013 at 6:11 pm

He does have a picture of a dictator attached to his name…Lincoln also wanted your money, your wealth and your guns. And endorsed the “scorched earth” policy to get it.

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:55 pm

Obama/Liberals and libertarians do not mix at all. Your comment is disturbing because it is obvious you have not taken two minutes out of your life to research the Libertarian philosophy… I’m sure you think that Libertarians are like liberals because their names start with “Liber”. I’ve met many just like you on the street.

There is no helping those like GrandTango, you are a mentally challenged failure.

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Jennifer May 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm

Not concerned about their neighbors: really? How much more concern can Libertarians express for their neighbor than promoting their individual liberty?

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David Sharp May 21, 2013 at 3:50 pm

huh???? this doesnt even make sense

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8z0kts6 May 21, 2013 at 4:57 pm

No, we don’t want to tear down the “Government”, but re-legalize freedom, competition and real free markets. The “Government” will easily collapse on it’s own without our help. And while we’re on the subject of what America used to be, the country had no income tax for over 120 years, it’s mentioned in the article.

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takesonetoknowone May 21, 2013 at 10:39 pm

derp. squared.

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:47 pm

Hey, Nowar – just wanted to tell you that you are the reason America is failing. Your ideals, your mindset. You are a failure.

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Nowar May 21, 2013 at 10:30 am

The country is so torn apart by those like Ron Paul who want to tear down the government. America used to want to be great. Now there are so many that only think about themselves, and are not concerned about their neighbor. This is selfishness. “My money, my wealth, my guns”, this is the cry of the tea party, and libertarians.

Reply
? May 21, 2013 at 10:50 am

The fundamental ? of course is what you think made America “great” at one time…was it the people or the gov’t?

Obviously there’s disagreement. The difference in outlook is if you think it’s the people that made America great you don’t call those that think it was the gov’t “selfish”, you simply call them wrong.

Reply
dsfas May 21, 2013 at 11:05 am

and that selfishness generates resources. it seems paradoxical perhaps. such is capitalism. oh well

Reply
Jennifer May 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm

Not concerned about their neighbors: really? How much more concern can Libertarians express for their neighbor than promoting their individual liberty?

Reply
DJS May 21, 2013 at 3:50 pm

huh???? this doesnt even make sense

Reply
8z0kts6 May 21, 2013 at 4:57 pm

No, we don’t want to tear down the “Government”, but re-legalize freedom, competition and real free markets. The “Government” will easily collapse on it’s own without our help. And while we’re on the subject of what America used to be, the country had no income tax for over 120 years, it’s mentioned in the article.

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Bob White May 21, 2013 at 10:39 pm

derp. squared.

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:47 pm

Hey, Nowar – just wanted to tell you that you are the reason America is failing. Your ideals, your mindset. You are a failure.

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GrandTango May 21, 2013 at 11:05 am

Sadly: Ron Paul is half the time on the side of the Corrupt Oba-mites because they all wallow in the immoralization of America..
Mr. Paul, you cannot sample the leftist Filth of Drugs, Prostiution, Absentee-fathers, Gambling, Race-haters, Slut-mothers, Government Homosexuality-promotion and Abortion w/o being saturated in the same corruption that has come to define Obama, Reed and Pelosi…

Conservatives know that liberal ideology, all of it (even liberals disquised as free-to-do-whatever-you- like Liberal-Tarians ) leads to abject Failure.
Obama not only proves that he, and you, are the fathers of breaking our economic system…you are as corrupt as the baby-mutilators, hateful government Gestapo and Racists you empower…

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southmauldin May 21, 2013 at 11:23 am

BRRAAAKKK! Leftist! BRRAAAKKKKK! Baby mutilators! BRRAAAAKKKK! Gestapo!

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GrandTango May 21, 2013 at 11:31 am

Using my words again…Too D@*n stupid to form a single thought of your own…Another Brain-dead liberal…

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nunyabizness71 May 21, 2013 at 11:54 am

Wait… You don’t like them telling you how to live your life but, it’s OK to tell them how to live theirs?

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Ben May 21, 2013 at 12:34 pm

… you do realize that Ron Paul is personally pro-life, right? He’s an OB/GYN and has delivered hundreds (if not thousands) of newborn babies. His official position is that states ought to choose how to approach abortion legally, but he has always been pro-life.

You do also know that decriminalization does not mean advocacy? If you could point to research that proved that these “heinous” social policies have actually helped more than they have hurt the American economy, please provide it for my perusal. Decriminalization leads to regulation, and regulated markets create fewer black markets than criminalized markets. That is, if you were to legalize marijuana across the board and regulate it as we have regulated alcohol, then we would not only open the market to widespread notice, to standards, and to specialization (see the difference between alcohol produced in the Great Depression as opposed to that produced before and afterwards) – but we will also be benefiting from the taxes these markets produce and ease pressure on local law enforcement to track down the people that commit these crimes.

Apply this philosophy to all the social immoralities you’ve suggested, and their heinous nature will be softened by reasonable and lawful citizens that wish to make them safe for consumption/participation. (This obviously does not apply to whatever you mean by “absentee fathers,” “slut-mothers,” or “race-haters” – although, I think these are closer to the corruption of culture than advocated practices of any political party or creed).

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GrandTango May 21, 2013 at 12:59 pm

Ron-Paul is mis-guided, and thinks legislators have no responsibility in blocking bad people from forcing irresponsible, dangerous policies on society…

Also: Ron Paul is pro-life only in states where that’s the majority. Otherwise, he tries to pander to the “Everything-Goes” crowd, that is ignorant of all the Ills liberalism perpetuates…

And I did not even address Ron-Paul’s contempt for our right to national defense…

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BigT And The Slut-Mothers May 21, 2013 at 1:33 pm

“And I did not even address Ron-Paul’s contempt for our right to national defense…”

Don’t you mean our international policing of the world?

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Jarrod Dowell May 21, 2013 at 1:40 pm

I got this one Ben. National security and nation building are 2 completely different things. A strong national defense does not mean spending more on the DOD than all other nations combined spend on their militaries. It means being able to protect the US at home and from foreign attack. It does not mean the POTUS can wage any sort of war he wants. It also means that any military force that is not authorized by congress is illegal and unconstitutional. The POTUS does have the authority under The Constitution to retaliate against any attack on America or to thwart an imminent attack on America. It does NOT give him the authority to send the military into any combat or non-combat situation he wants. ONLY Congress has the power to declare war, fund the war, end the war. Once war is declared by Congress and clear goals and rules set by Congress to direct the war, and ONLY then does the POTUS have the authority to direct his Generals and troops as he sees fit WITHIN the parameters set forth by Congress.

Dr. Paul wants the government to follow The Constitution not find new ways to subvert and twist it. Just follow what it says.

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Ben May 21, 2013 at 2:34 pm

If your legislators are participating in the immoral acts they criminalize, what does that say about criminalization? Or about large democracies in general?

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takesonetoknowone May 21, 2013 at 10:41 pm

GrandTango. Derp(est). Wow.

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BigT And The Slut-Mothers May 21, 2013 at 1:30 pm

When is our next gig?

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:56 pm

Once again, GrandTango attacking someone he does not understand. I will call you it again, you are a mentally challenged failure.

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Bubbas Brother May 21, 2013 at 11:34 am

Finally, an idea from Ron Paul I can agree with!

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:46 pm

If it is ‘finally’ an idea you can agree with, then that tells me you love to drone little children overseas for the sake of security in America.

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The Colonel (R) May 21, 2013 at 11:34 am

Finally, an idea from Ron Paul I can agree with!

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:46 pm

If it is ‘finally’ an idea you can agree with, then that tells me you love to drone little children overseas for the sake of security in America.

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SJBS May 21, 2013 at 11:56 am

Obviously none of the people who have commented have ever read anything about economics or about how our country worked at the beginning of our time as a sovereign nation. Ron Paul has many things right. Our country is going to sh** under our current government (for the past few decades). Something needs to change to make this country prosperous again. Trillions of dollars in debt to other countries isn’t a good place to be.

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SJBS May 21, 2013 at 11:56 am

Obviously none of the people who have commented have ever read anything about economics or about how our country worked at the beginning of our time as a sovereign nation. Ron Paul has many things right. Our country is going to sh** under our current government (for the past few decades). Something needs to change to make this country prosperous again. Trillions of dollars in debt to other countries isn’t a good place to be.

Reply
GrandTango May 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm

Wow: It’s no wander that this guy can pull a Full 3.5% of the voting public…he’s like Frank Castanza: He’s so prolific…

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Fly on... May 21, 2013 at 1:56 pm

Thankfully it was enough to assure Romney’s loss.

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Toipster May 21, 2013 at 10:58 pm

… and you are so moronic.

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goodfite May 21, 2013 at 9:19 pm

Ron Paul would have made an excellent president. I wish we could trade Obama for him.

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goodfite May 21, 2013 at 9:19 pm

Ron Paul would have made an excellent president. I wish we could trade Obama for him.

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toria555 May 21, 2013 at 9:54 pm

This man should be the president right now. Too bad majority of Americans are too stupid and brainwashed.

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toria555 May 21, 2013 at 9:54 pm

This man should be the president right now. Too bad majority of Americans are too stupid and brainwashed.

Reply

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