ANOTHER one of Obama's nominees...the Chief Performance Officer ( ) dropped out because of tax issues. So we have her, Tom Daschle and the damn Treasury secretary http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/03/performance.nominee.withdraws/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
No big surprise to me. Its not like it's limited to government either, I have met lots of other folks who have got themselves into trouble for not paying taxes. There is a reason there is an IRS. It's because people try to get away with as much money as possible.
And now one of those people who tried to get away with as much money as possible runs the IRS. What a country!
Fair Tax it! there's a difference between someone who is "other folk" and the persons RESPONSIBLE for running the damn system. The tax system in this country is broken. Look at California...now they are going to issue "IOU's" on the tax refunds for the state. WTF, and this is the BEST way to do this thing?
Its a sign the IRS is a fucking joke. When the person running it doesn't even follow the damn rules. Simplify the tax code, abolish the IRS.
So that's the third big-name withdrawl of Obama's cabinet.....Daschle, Richardson and Killefur (well, she's not that big-name). Geithner SHOULD have withdrawn his name.
Eric Holder looks like a good pick: WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder, on his first day on the job, signaled a clean break with past policies of the Bush administration and promised to hold Wall Street accountable if any major financial institutions engaged in fraud that contributed to the global financial crisis. Vice President Joe Biden swore in President Barack Obama's choice — the first African-American to hold the post — in a Tuesday morning ceremony before dignitaries and employees at the department. The lanky, 58-year-old former prosecutor, federal judge and No. 2 official during the Clinton administration promised the start of a new era at the Justice Department, which was wracked by Bush administration scandals over politically motivated hirings and firings. Holder has pledged to restore its reputation.
I agree with many of you about simplifying the taxes. It should be simple, and the laws should not discriminate. For instance, I don't think that people who are married should have to pay different taxes than somebody who is not. I do believe if they have children they should get a credit, but just because they get married their rules are different? If you did go to a flat tax or something like that it would be much simpler, the IRS could be reduced in size each year until all of the old rules involving auditing were out the window after 7 years. The main thing would be getting the "rate" right so we don't F up the system.
A long time ago when I worked at Bonneville Power Administration we had a the best answer for when somebody asked us what department we worked for: "I work for the redundancy department of redundancy, photocopy division!"
While I certainly would not argue that our federal tax system is easy to navigate, I will point out that Geithner's tax evasion was about as blatant as can be. He literally had to sign a document provided by the IMF that stated he would use the money being given to him in exchange for his signature to pay his federal taxes. Frankly, the guy should be in jail for what he did. Instead he comes "clean" at the 11th hour and now runs the IRS.
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is taking responsibility for mistakes in the handling of the tax controversy that led to Tom Daschle's withdrawal as President Barack Obama's nominee to be health and human services secretary, saying: "I screwed up." The president did a series of back-to-back television interviews in which the subject of failed nominees was a top subject. Obama told NBC "I'm frustrated with myself" for unintentionally sending a message that there are "two sets of rules" for paying taxes, "one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks." "I take responsibility for this mistake," he told Fox News http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/daschle_taxes I wonder if Bush, with all the mishandling he has done, ever admitted it and took responsiblity. What jumps out in my mind is Katrina. There were many mistakes . . . but I think Bush's philosophy is it does no good to place blame on someone (thus continued support for the way "Brownie" handled the situation). For me it is a breath of fresh air to hear a president admit he made a mistake . . . but I could see how that could be looked at two different ways.
not really. I think its posturing on his part.... IF he TRULY FELT that he screwed up, then the actual guy who is running the TREASURY DEPARTMENT would be out on his ass right now. Chances are, Obama didn't know about Daschle's tax issues prior to the confirmation process. So I don't see how he can say he "screwed up". Obama told NBC "I'm frustrated with myself" for unintentionally sending a message that there are "two sets of rules" for paying taxes, "one for prominent people and one for ordinary folks." ? Yeah, you dumbfuck, look who runs the Treasury Department. Actions speak louder than words beeeeyotch.
