John Lewis, February 21, 1940-July 17, 2020

 

Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring. (from his Last Letter)

"The Wealthy Can't Stop Not Paying Their Taxes"

From The New York Times:

...the I.R.S.  lets hundreds of billions of dollars slip through its fingers each year. This “tax gap” — recent estimates pegged it at $381 billion a year between 2011 and 2013 — comes from people and businesses that under-report their income, pay less than what they owe or owe taxes but simply don’t file a return. 

Most of the gap is owed by the wealthy, who can pay accountants to mask their income and lawyers to protect them if the taxman comes knocking.

As a taxpayer, I find this personally offensive. As a citizen it’s offensive and unfair, not just to those who pay the correct taxes but to citizens who benefit from those taxes. That would be all of us. But the IRS needs money to enforce the tax rules. For the last ten years they have requested more funding and congress won’t give it to them. And this is one of the few expenditures that would actually make money for the government.

Consider reading this article and writing your legislatures. Ask them to fund the IRS.

Write Your Legislatures

I’m a Democrat in a Republican state. I’m used to not having my vote court. Still, I keep voting. And from time to time, I write letters to the people who are supposed to represent me. I consider it another opportunity to vote. 

Sometimes I write a letter and mail it to them. Other times, I go to their websites and follow the instructions for contacting them online.

I don’t know whether it will change anything. But I keep voting. And I would really appreciate it if you would too.