IRS the "New Gestapo"

[okie1tax]

IRS vs

@Gary2 Here's some support for your viewpoint.
http://trishmc.typepad.com/

[Gary2]

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."[

That's Godwin's law, which I mentioned in my first reply, and which is why I've avoided this thread recently. It's an insidious phenomenon.

But terminology aside, I am disappointed by the lack of appreciation for the ways in which the IRS has improved in the last decade or so. Are people unaware of the history and purpose of the Collection Due Process? Or the Taxpayer Advocate (notwithstanding the scaling back recently)?

[kpangelinan]

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/07/11/politics/lepage-probably-will-work-with-the-gestapo/

[Roberts]

Generally speaking, in any "discussion" once any comparison to Hitler (or in this case the Gestapo) is made, it's a good time to exit the entire conversation and move on to more productive pursuits.

FE

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."[

[AZ-Tax]

Here Here......I 2nd.

Generally speaking, in any "discussion" once any comparison to Hitler (or in this case the Gestapo) is made, it's a good time to exit the entire conversation and move on to more productive pursuits.FE

Here Here......I 2nd.

[kpangelinan]

Generally speaking, in any "discussion" once any comparison to Hitler (or in this case the Gestapo) is made, it's a good time to exit the entire conversation and move on to more productive pursuits.

FE

I might be inclined to agree with this, however, we do have "freedom of speech" and if this was the case, the thread would have had "zero' replies as the title begins with the word, "Gustapo" in it. A good observation and a great point though.

"IRS the "New Gestapo"

[FEDUKE404]

Observation

Generally speaking, in any "discussion" once any comparison to Hitler (or in this case the Gestapo) is made, it's a good time to exit the entire conversation and move on to more productive pursuits.

FE

[kpangelinan]

So you're saying the IRS barges into homes in the middle of the night, and ships people off to concentration camps, if they didn't torture them to death first? Or did the Gestapo have Concentration Camp Due Process hearings and a Political Prisoner Advocacy Service?

I guess I still fail to see the slightest similarity.

I don't know what other people saw, but what I saw was the governor was saying the Gustapo had abusive power and the IRS has abusive power. Nothing more, nothing less. I certainly don't believe he was comparing them as you have above. I didn't see it that way when I first heard about it.

And to further clarify my own thought process and to guess what the Maine Governor was thinking when he said it, I agree with and quote DaveO's eloquent statement above: "Words have meaning and politicians engage in hyperbole and overstate the obvious seeking to score points with the less erudite of their constituents. Just as any political scandal invariable ends up with “gate” appended to it and every president or unpopular foreign dictator is ultimately compared to Hitler these words lose their meaning."

[AZ-Tax]

Trash talk.....

Basically that is all it boils down to. A famous college coach once said "we do our talking on the field". DaveO you know who that coarch is (still living). When I hear trash talk like this Maine Gov not to mention my own AZ Gov, I think of the scene in that one Clint Eastwood movie where Clint says "nag nag nag". Maine Gov, come up with a CBO scored alternative to the IRS with similiar revenues. If cost cutting is the answer, start by cutting your own salary Gov, paying more of your health ins premiums, I believe you reside in a public paid house, go pay for your own housing like the middle class do etc.

[DaveO]

Words have meaning and politicians engage in hyperbole and overstate the obvious seeking to score points with the less erudite of their constituents. Just as any political scandal invariable ends up with “gate” appended to it and every president or unpopular foreign dictator is ultimately compared to Hitler these words lose their meaning.

People are right to be afraid of the IRS. A protracted audit can be the ruin of a business and everyone involved in one certainly feels as if they have been singled out for “special treatment”. We all know that while the power of the IRS is considerable it does terminate somewhat before the ability to drag us out of our homes and shoot us in the street. Still I have to chuckle when some politician lets his mouth override his brain and blurts out such a comment.

[JohnH]

Maybe the guv'nor (and a host of other politician and public figures in this country), should heed the warnings of master wordsmith CS lewis in this regard:

--> Don't use words too big for the subject.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very";
otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. <---

[Gretel]

So you're saying the IRS barges into homes in the middle of the night, and ships people off to concentration camps, if they didn't torture them to death first? Or did the Gestapo have Concentration Camp Due Process hearings and a Political Prisoner Advocacy Service?

Not yet, it didn't start that way in Germany either.

[Gary2]

Also, to clarify.....I do understand that many could and do get offended by certain words and for that, an apology may be called for. But I'll stand by the governor and believe that although his choice of words wasn't the best, his intentions wasn't to indicate it's his belief the IRS is similar in nature to what the Gestapo did and stands for.

So you're saying the IRS barges into homes in the middle of the night, and ships people off to concentration camps, if they didn't torture them to death first? Or did the Gestapo have Concentration Camp Due Process hearings and a Political Prisoner Advocacy Service?

I guess I still fail to see the slightest similarity.

[kpangelinan]

I'm sorry, but if you think it's not too strong of a word, then either you haven't thought about it very much or you don't know what the word Gestapo (the correct spelling) means. And that's the reason there's such outrage at the remark - because too many people trivialize its meaning.

Consider a huge difference, touched by your statement. There was no wide criticism of the Gestapo in Germany, for the simple reason that the Gestapo would make sure that critics disappeared.

Also, to clarify.....I do understand that many could and do get offended by certain words and for that, an apology may be called for. But I'll stand by the governor and believe that although his choice of words wasn't the best, his intentions wasn't to indicate it's his belief the IRS is similar in nature to what the Gestapo did and stands for.

[kpangelinan]

I'm sorry, but if you think it's not too strong of a word, then either you haven't thought about it very much or you don't know what the word Gestapo (the correct spelling) means. And that's the reason there's such outrage at the remark - because too many people trivialize its meaning.

Consider a huge difference, touched by your statement. There was no wide criticism of the Gestapo in Germany, for the simple reason that the Gestapo would make sure that critics disappeared.

I still think it's just an expression of one's feelings. I highly doubt a governor of a state literally believes that the IRS runs like "THE OFFICIAL SECRET POLICE OF NAZI GERMANY". That is just way too hard to believe and outright ridiculousness.

I've told the joke:
What's the difference between a Revenue Officer and a mugger?
Answer: Revenue Officers wear suits.

That doesn't mean I believe Revenue Officers use their badges and authority to literally assault someone with a club/knife/gun/etc. It just means that some people feel like they've been mugged after an audit, while still having the ultimate respect, not for them maybe, but for their authority and professionalism.