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Obamacare creates jobs; 16,500 new IRS agents


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2010 Mar 27, 1:19am   8,751 views  72 comments

by RayAmerica   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

EDITORIAL: Obamacare's federal police force
By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

President Obama's nationalization of health care is bad enough on its own, but the plan's implementation will require drastic measures that are just as troubling to those who value freedom. Of particular concern is the bill's expansion of the Internal Revenue Service.
A report released last week by House Ways and Means Committee Republicans estimated that the dreaded agency's ranks would swell by 16,500. The newly sworn agents would be charged with ensuring the public's obedience to Mr. Obama's health care directives. The IRS also would enjoy the enhanced powers and budgetary authority required for monitoring the health care status of 300 million Americans on a month-to-month basis. The total cost of the effort is likely to exceed $10 billion.
The investigations will gradually ramp up until 2016, when the individual mandate tax kicks in fully. After that, if the O Force wins a second term, the unprecedented levy will fall upon citizens who fail to purchase health care coverage acceptable to Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. IRS agents would conduct the audits and impose a fine of either $2,085 or 2.5 percent of income - whichever is greater - on disobedient households. According to Congressional Budget Office figures, this tax will generate $17 billion by 2019.
Of course, not everyone will pay. The Democrats carved out exemptions for two of its favorite constituencies: illegal aliens and imprisoned criminals. Only law-abiding citizens will face the wrath of the IRS - a wrath that can be substantial.
Consider the case of Aaron Zeff, owner of Harv's Metro Car Wash in Sacramento, Calif. Mr. Zeff paid his taxes on time and did everything he was supposed to do. Nonetheless, a team of IRS agents descended on his business earlier this month. "They were deadly serious, very aggressive, very condescending," Mr. Zeff said in describing the incident to the Sacramento Bee. His crime? Mr. Zeff reportedly owed 4 cents on his taxes in 2006.
That's the type of overzealous enforcement and lousy customer service we can look forward to as IRS agents are handed more power to terrorize law-abiding Americans. The president's plan moves us in the wrong direction. We need to dismantle, not expand, the most hated agency of the federal government. Fundamental tax reform and repeal of Obamacare would go a long way toward restoring American freedoms.

#politics

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33   Honest Abe   2010 Mar 31, 3:21am  

Liberty is the only stimulus America needs.

34   Vicente   2010 Mar 31, 3:30am  

I'm sorry to break the news to you, but Liberty is dead. RIP Liberty! (also Gerald Ford)

35   Honest Abe   2010 Mar 31, 5:55am  

Unfortunately for America - you are right

36   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 2, 11:34pm  

Greater government involvement, whether in health care, student loans, banking, education, housing, automobiles, or insurance guarantees higher prices, lower productivity, more bailouts, bigger deficits, increased taxes, diminished industrial output, fewer private sector jobs, less freedom...and a falling standard of living.

Gee, that kinda sounds like SOCIALISM.

37   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 3, 12:20am  

Honest Abe says

Greater government involvement, whether in health care, student loans, banking, education, housing, automobiles, or insurance guarantees higher prices, lower productivity, more bailouts, bigger deficits, increased taxes, diminished industrial output, fewer private sector jobs, less freedom…and a falling standard of living.
Gee, that kinda sounds like SOCIALISM.

The same government that gives is the same government that can take it away. A perfect formula for power and control over the serfs they have created.

38   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 3, 3:09am  

Well, we USED to have the greatest freedom and the highest standard of living until the politicians from both parties began to systematically dismantel capitalism and liberty. "A program whose basic thesis is, not that the system of free enterprise has failed in this generation, but that it has not yet been tried". Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) 1882- 1945.

And I can tell by the personal attacks that I am striking a nerve. What I want, and millions of other Americans want is smaller, constitutional government with freedom and liberty for all. Central planning is not the answer. Collectivisism, with it documented record of producing tyranny and misery seems to be a superior solution for you. Yet individualism, has a record of producing freedom and 'plenty'.

Collectivism, socialsim, do-goodism, and the like are emotional arguments, based on "feelings".Freedom,liberty, capitalism, individualism and the like are rational arguments based on logic and the rule of law.

Government has proven that it is incapable of organizing resources and obtaining a favorable result. It becomes mired in bureaucratic confusion, fraud, mismanagement and inefficiency, if thats what you want - comrade.

39   Vicente   2010 Apr 3, 3:21am  

Honest Abe says

...bureaucratic confusion, fraud, mismanagement and inefficiency, if thats what you want - comrade.

Actually what I want is whitey herded into death camps by soldiers of the New World Order. Might as well get it out into the open.

;-)

40   elliemae   2010 Apr 3, 3:57am  

Vicente says

Honest Abe says


…bureaucratic confusion, fraud, mismanagement and inefficiency, if thats what you want - comrade.

Actually what I want is whitey herded into death camps by soldiers of the New World Order. Might as well get it out into the open.
;-)

Yet you seem so suave and debonair - okay, you can herd me (even though my pic is a herding dog...)

41   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 3, 10:43am  

That is what happened, and still is happening. Maybe you haven't been paying attention to whats going on in America. Why do YOU think millions of Americans - Independents, Democrats, Republicans, and Liberterians are taking to the streets???

I, and many millions of Americans are not squandering our freedom...we are fighting FOR OUR FREEDOM.

42   elliemae   2010 Apr 3, 10:58am  

Honest Abe says

I, and many millions of Americans are not squandering our freedom…we are fighting FOR OUR FREEDOM.

...by sitting on our asses and typing messages on a real estate message board. I feel free-er every time I get up to pee!

43   HousingWatcher   2010 Apr 3, 11:00am  

It's always interesting to see how fast the latest GOP talking points end up on blogs. ANyway, here is an analysis of the claim of the new IRS agents by factcheck.org, a nonpartisan site:

Q: Will the IRS hire 16,500 new agents to enforce the health care law?

A: No. The law requires the IRS mostly to hand out tax credits, not collect penalties. The claim of 16,500 new agents stems from a partisan analysis based on guesswork and false assumptions, and compounded by outright misrepresentation.

http://factcheck.org/2010/03/irs-expansion/

44   elliemae   2010 Apr 3, 11:07am  

HousingWatcher says

It’s always interesting to see how fast the latest GOP talking points end up on blogs. ANyway, here is an analysis of the claim of the new IRS agents by factcheck.org, a nonpartisan site:
Q: Will the IRS hire 16,500 new agents to enforce the health care law?
A: No. The law requires the IRS mostly to hand out tax credits, not collect penalties. The claim of 16,500 new agents stems from a partisan analysis based on guesswork and false assumptions, and compounded by outright misrepresentation

Wow, thanks. I wondered about that. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't wonder enough to look it up, I've been a bit busy lately. BTW, it's nice to have a non-partisan answer to the question.

45   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 3, 11:21am  

You must be happy with the direction of our country. You must be unaware or approve of trillions of dollars in debt, rampant unemployment, our currency, once "good as gold," now in a death spiral, inflation, bailouts, socialization of private businesses, government intervention & loss of freedoms.

Hell, we were in World War 2 to prevent our country, and the world, from being overtaken by the National Socialists. Now we've got socialists as some of our political "leaders"...UGH.

46   Vicente   2010 Apr 3, 11:42am  

Honest Abe says

You must be happy with the direction of our country.

More so these days, as we pull slowly back from the gaping abyss we were looming over thanks to "zero-regulation" zealots like Greenspan, Rubin, etc. I'm apalled by the bailouts, but that's not socialism, that's crony capitalism.

47   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 4, 3:48am  

Taking over entire industries is socialism. You know - health care, the auto industry, education, insurance, finance, transportation, etc.

48   Vicente   2010 Apr 4, 3:52am  

Honest Abe says

Taking over entire industries is socialism. You know - health care, the auto industry, education, insurance, finance, transportation, etc.

Is Lloyd Blankfein collecting a Government Service paycheck now? I thought Government Sachs owned the government, not the other way around. Obviously I haven't been paying proper attention.

49   elliemae   2010 Apr 4, 1:32pm  

Nomograph says

We are a nation that celebrates rugged individualism. In other words, as goes Abe, so goes the nation. Your fate is in YOUR hands.

Omigawd! He's so screwed!

50   burritos   2010 Apr 5, 4:43am  

I don't get it. What freedoms have we lost again? Please cite specific amendments.

51   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 6, 2:48am  

burritos says

I don’t get it. What freedoms have we lost again? Please cite specific amendments.

Ever hear of a thingy called the Patriot Act?

52   burritos   2010 Apr 6, 3:25am  

RayAmerica says

burritos says

I don’t get it. What freedoms have we lost again? Please cite specific amendments.

Ever hear of a thingy called the Patriot Act?

I didn't know that was passed under obamacare. I guess you do learn things on the intertubes.

53   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 6, 3:44am  

burritos says

I didn’t know that was passed under obamacare. I guess you do learn things on the intertubes.

Of course it wasn't passed under Obama, it was extended recently under him. Also included in the Patriot Act extension Obama signed is the practice known as "rendition." Ever hear of that? It is the method by which a "suspect" that has NOT BEEN CHARGED with any crime is removed to another country whereby they are tortured in order to obtain information. Funny how you leftists attacked Bush and give Obama, et all a free pass for the same acts. And all this time you thought Obama ended torture.

55   elliemae   2010 Apr 6, 1:43pm  

RayAmerica says

And all this time you thought Obama ended torture.

Who said that?

Rayray, everyone who disagrees with your narrow view of all things Obama doesn't necessarily agree with everything he does. You are the one who is a hater, who attempts to belittle anyone who disagrees with your black/white view of the world. I guess that where ever you are, you have nothing else to do except stew on your anger.

Are you in prison? Sure seem to have alot of time & hatred on your hands.

56   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 6, 2:02pm  

Ray, why are you arguing with idiots? It's pretty clear who the "haters" are - it's those who prefer to attack success and strive for utopia. Small thinkers insist on attacking the messenger while ignoring the message. Its pretty clear who is spewing anger here - and it isn't you.

57   Vicente   2010 Apr 6, 2:39pm  

Well look at this way. Their family & friends in the Real World, are probably happy that Ray/Abe are off spending hours doing battle with a bunch of internet people. Keeps them off the street.

58   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 7, 6:26am  

Abe, we can't stop them from drinking their KoolAid, but we can help make it taste a little worse. Little elliemae, otherwise known as the Queen of Hate, must be having a hard time drinking hers when it's pointed out Obama hasn't stopped torture. So much for Hope & Change. LOL

59   Vicente   2010 Apr 7, 6:30am  

You overestimate your impact & powers of persuasion.

60   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 7, 6:38am  

You just keep smoking that pot and watching Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Everything will be cool.

61   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 7, 8:33am  

Los Angeles Business Journal, April 5, 2010. "Company ripped by steep taxes". After battling local, city and state regulations, a tax bracket adopted by the City Council last month was the last straw. The city stands to lose as many as 1,000 jobs if the company (LegalZoom) decides to relocate to another state. The city may compromise...if not, "bye bye now".

But no, government regulation has NO relation to jobs moving out of state or out of the country, hahaha.

62   Vicente   2010 Apr 7, 9:22am  

RayAmerica says

You just keep smoking that pot and watching Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Everything will be cool.

I've never smoked pot, nor watched "Idol and Dancing with the Stars". I don't own a TV my evening entertainment is play with Little Vicente and reading him stories. Books are better. Cheers!

63   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 7, 10:02am  

Go back to 3:33pm and read why government regulation has no relation to jobs moving out of state, or out of the country.

64   elliemae   2010 Apr 7, 11:43am  

RayAmerica says

Little elliemae, otherwise known as the Queen of Hate, must be having a hard time drinking hers when it’s pointed out Obama hasn’t stopped torture.

No, not really. I do appreciate being called a Queen though. It's nice that you recognize how awesome I am, especially since you obviously are trying, really trying, to impress me. It appears that I have a lot of power - but that's what being a Queen is all about.

Honest Abe says

Go back to 3:33pm and read why government regulation has no relation to jobs moving out of state, or out of the country.

It sure seems to be important to you that we follow your instructions. I hope you have health insurance for the vessels you're popping in frustration when you can't get us to do as you say. And that you have no pre-existing conditions that might cause a denial of coverage. Oh, yea, that's right - healthcare reform has passed and that's not gonna be a problem for you.

Vicente says

You overestimate your impact & powers of persuasion.

What he said.

65   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 9, 4:40am  

What other government scheme has caused at least 14 states to file lawsuits against it?

66   RayAmerica   2010 Apr 9, 5:54am  

It's now up to 18 states suing the Federal Government ... with more to follow. Way to go Obama. You are proving to be quite the "uniter" afterall.

67   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 9, 6:47am  

Yea, it looks like "Hope & Change" has turned into "Hope & Chains". Unfortunately for America, the worst is yet to come. They are known as unintended consequences - OOP's

68   soeren   2010 Apr 9, 10:19am  

elliemae says

So, you have a problem with new jobs being created and a source of revenue?

Elliemae, I have followed your posts for quite some time, and am generally impressed, but either you are being sarcastic or naive(which is it?) when you refer to these non-producing,taxpayer-dollar-sucking
"jobs' being created. These net-tax-sucking "jobs" are NOT a "source of revenue" - if anything, they are a drain on the economy.

69   elliemae   2010 Apr 9, 12:39pm  

soeren says

elliemae says


So, you have a problem with new jobs being created and a source of revenue?

Elliemae, I have followed your posts for quite some time, and am generally impressed, but either you are being sarcastic or naive(which is it?) when you refer to these non-producing,taxpayer-dollar-sucking
“jobs’ being created. These net-tax-sucking “jobs” are NOT a “source of revenue” - if anything, they are a drain on the economy.

I was being sarcastic (one of the many services that I offer). I didn't believe that 16,500 jobs were created by the bill and according to the non-partisan link provided somewhere above, it was a number pulled out of someone's ass to impress others politically. It's all about how you spin it these days, and not about whether it's good or bad. It's a sad state of affairs, and it's truly amazing that anything gets done these days.

70   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 13, 10:11am  

"Being sarcastic, one of the many services that I offer"...being irrelevant must be another.

71   elliemae   2010 Apr 13, 3:12pm  

Honest Abe says

“Being sarcastic, one of the many services that I offer”…being irrelevant must be another.

Yea - you do offer us irrelevance. Glad ya recognize it.

72   Honest Abe   2010 Apr 14, 1:00pm  

"The modern liberal agenda of welfare statism and moral relativism are pathological distortions of normal social instincts." From - The Liberal Mind, The psychological causes of political madness by Dr. Rossiter.

Dr. Rossoter recieved his medical and psychiatric training at the University of Chicago. He is board certified in both general and forensic psychiarty and has diagnosed and treated MENTAL DISORDERS for more than 40 years. He has been retained by courts and private attorneys as a forensic psychiartist and has counsulted in more than 2,700 civil and criminal cases in both state and federal jurisdictions. His conclusion after 40 years of practice with mental disorders is that liberalism IS a mental disorder.

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