14 ms·

No, because then you end up squandering enormous resources on trying to make sure everyone is obeying the law, and your end result is far less desirable than if

by magduf 8y ago

No, because then you end up squandering enormous resources on trying to make sure everyone is obeying the law, and your end result is far less desirable than if you had relaxed enforcement. What you're proposing is basically a police state; those never work out well in practice. However, you have a good point about going after big fish, because those are the ones where the gov't is losing the most money, most likely. Some drift-net tactics are OK, where you use some random spot-checking to make sure the smaller fry aren't cheating badly and scare the rest of them into being honest, but don't expend a lot of resources on it because you won't get back the money you spend. But yes, I agree, going after the big fish should be the primary strategy, even if it is much more difficult.

sandworm101 8y ago
>> What you're proposing is basically a police state I take it you have never lived in a "police state". I have (middle east). Deterrence is how law works in a modern society. We cannot catch everyone and so must rely on a bit of fear. Fear of being caught it why we obey laws with which we disagree. I personally may think the speed limit on a road is ridiculously low. But that limit wasn't created by the police. I obey it because I don't want to pay a fine, not because I live in a police state. In a police state rules don't matter. I'd get the speeding ticket regardless of how fast or slow I was driving. A real police state is one where the police both enforce and write the rules, where they are no longer under the control of legitimate government. The IRS is nowhere near that. It remains totally subservient to the elected government. Its budget comes from an external source. Allow it to self-fund and that leash is gone.
- magduf 8y ago
  What I'm claiming is that excessive enforcement isn't worth the effects that come from it. The "bit of fear" you cite doesn't require extreme enforcement, only a certain amount, so that anyone breaking the rules knows they're gambling the odds and might get caught.
  - Retric 8y ago
    When Evasion is ~40 times the IRS budget we are a long way from over enforcement. Not paying your taxes is stealing from the general public, that’s really not acceptable behavior.
    - chrisweekly 8y ago
      Unless you're a corporation.
- SamReidHughes 8y ago
  > Deterrence is how law works in a modern society. I think there's also a sense of fairness. I wouldn't like obeying a law if I knew everybody else is ignoring it and getting away with it. I'd be happier following it if I thought everybody else was. You wouldn't want to be the only bottlenose dolphin that didn't back-date your stock options.

by magduf 8y ago

sandworm101 8y ago

>> What you're proposing is basically a police state I take it you have never lived in a "police state". I have (middle east). Deterrence is how law works in a modern society. We cannot catch everyone and so must rely on a bit of fear. Fear of being caught it why we obey laws with which we disagree. I personally may think the speed limit on a road is ridiculously low. But that limit wasn't created by the police. I obey it because I don't want to pay a fine, not because I live in a police state. In a police state rules don't matter. I'd get the speeding ticket regardless of how fast or slow I was driving. A real police state is one where the police both enforce and write the rules, where they are no longer under the control of legitimate government. The IRS is nowhere near that. It remains totally subservient to the elected government. Its budget comes from an external source. Allow it to self-fund and that leash is gone.

magduf 8y ago
What I'm claiming is that excessive enforcement isn't worth the effects that come from it. The "bit of fear" you cite doesn't require extreme enforcement, only a certain amount, so that anyone breaking the rules knows they're gambling the odds and might get caught.
- Retric 8y ago
  When Evasion is ~40 times the IRS budget we are a long way from over enforcement. Not paying your taxes is stealing from the general public, that’s really not acceptable behavior.
  - chrisweekly 8y ago
    Unless you're a corporation.
SamReidHughes 8y ago
> Deterrence is how law works in a modern society. I think there's also a sense of fairness. I wouldn't like obeying a law if I knew everybody else is ignoring it and getting away with it. I'd be happier following it if I thought everybody else was. You wouldn't want to be the only bottlenose dolphin that didn't back-date your stock options.