What next?
Now we find out the IRS is spying on us.
It seems that while hunting "down tax scofflaws, the Internal Revenue Service" has been collecting the political party affiliations of taxpayers in 20 states.
According to Deputy IRS Commissioner John Dalrymple, "the party identification information was automatically collected through a 'database platform' supplied by an outside contractor that targeted voter registration rolls among other things as it searched for people who aren't paying their taxes."
According to Dalrymple, "This information is appropriately used to locate information on taxpayers whose accounts are delinquent."
An IRS spokesman claimed the information was never used as "there are strict laws in place that forbid it."
So which is it? Used? or not used? And WHAT RIGHT DOES THE IRS HAVE TO COLLECT THIS INFORMATION ANYWAY?!!
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash), a member of an appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the IRS called the practice an "outrageous violation of the public trust."
Murray was told of the practice by Colleen Kelly, president of the National Treasury Employees Union (not part of the IRS). According to Murray, the IRS "should not have that type of information."
Even more troubling is that the IRS intends to start using private collection agencies later this year to go after back taxes. Kelly wants Congress to "suspend IRS plans to use private collection agencies until these questions have been resolved."
Cutting to the nitty gritty of the problem, Murray said, "No one should question whether they are being audited because of party affiliation."
Funny, I was audited for the first time in my life a few years ago, when I was actively campaigning for a democratic candidate. And last year, they lost my state return twice. I'm still waiting for for my refund. Creepy, huh?
"According to Murray's office, the 20 states in which the IRS collected party affiliation information were Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin."
Hey, anybody ever hear of "privacy rights"? Remember, before Bushco, when we used to have them?
Link: t r u t h o u t - IRS Tracked Taxpayers' Political Affiliation
6 comments:
they lost it...TWICE? totally amazing to me (somehow i find this hard to believe--not you, but believe they actually 'lost' it twice).
I know...it is hard to believe. But, unfortunately for us, it's true. You wouldn't even believe the BS run around we've gotten when we call or write. It's a bad joke--on us. The incompetence in this country is not to be believed.
unfortunately i believe it--over the last five years, i've gone from being fairly happy to the worst kinda gloom 'n' doom... 'what have they done NOW?' is always in the back of my mind as i read news.
I feel exactly the same way, Rimone. Everything that happens is suspect--like living in a "Wag the Dog" world, and it's truly depressing--not to mention frustrating, appalling, and twilight-zonish. But knowing there are others--like you-- that "get it" sure helps.
i think i got the biggest shock when i went to sleep fairly calm (like a tiny oasis of calm since dec 2000) on the night of the last fucked election and woke up at 3AM (GMT), turned on BBC news, and almost fainted at the 'results' (they had a cute little map behind the news presenter, displaying red and blue states). since then, nothing's been the same. they have a LOT to answer for. |-(
You said it, sister!
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