Through the IRS Looking Glass

 

 

 

"What is good for the goose does not seem to be good for the gander..."

It has been another interesting week watching the adventures of "IRS Gate" on Capitol Hill. It would be funny if it were not so sad. Watching high level people from this most powerful organization sit in front of Congress and smite them rather than answer them, is way beyond the pale. And yet the man who is in charge of this whole mess, says nothing. He is overseas trying to regain some "street cred" by making nice with the Pope. In fact, President "Bystander" and his minions still refer to the entire IRS issue as a "phony scandal".

Most citizens in this country are good, law abiding people. They go to work, they raise a family, they pay their taxes. If for some reason an unexpected letter comes in the mail from the IRS, they might be running to the medicine cabinet for Tums and Di-gel. Why? As most of us know, the IRS has extraordinary power. They can ruin a person's life at the drop of a hat.

Back to the activity on the Hill this week. After you thought you saw ultimate arrogance and total lack of respect coming from Lois Lerner, we now have act two. One Wednesday, John Koskinen (the Commissioner of the IRS) was called to testify in front of Chairman Issa's committee. The request from Issa was for the IRS to turn over e-mails which might shed some light on how conservative non-profit organizations were handed. What Issa got in return was more sass.

"Oh, we can't do that. It will take too long" the Commissioner told the committee. Sometimes, it almost looked like the Commissioner was half-smirking. It seems the IRS can call any one of us in to their office, grill us like a criminal, and then adjudicate some kind of financial or penal remedy. On the other hand, when Lerner or Koskinen are asked questions, they can either take the 5th or smirk.

Well, the adults in Congress are running out of patience with this sideshow. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) is not someone to mess with. A former prosecutor, he is ready to lower the boom on these bad actors from the IRS. The tag team of Issa and Gowdy will turn the most sunny day into a bad storm for any recalcitrant who mocks the power of Congress.

Is it possible that Lois Lerner is not guilty of tampering with non-profit exemptions for conservative groups? Yes, it is possible. However, it is also possible I will see a leprechaun today. Possible, but not very likely.

Part of taking back our country is taking back our freedom. Out of control agencies like the IRS, NSA and EPA need to be reeled back in, and fast. Remember these lessons in November folks - as Steppenwolf said in their 1970's song, "There is a monster on the loose".