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That seems like the right thing to dedicate law enforcement resources to.

Tostino 5y ago
If they were putting their resources into actually stopping the tax avoidance, but instead they are put into going after those who scam the people trying to avoid taxes.
- gambiting 5y ago
  It's not a zero sum game. Not everyone who is an FBI agent can be a lawyer or a lawmaker.
  - Tostino 5y ago
    I've had a number of things stolen over the years, but somehow there isn't a whole lot of resources put into it. Strange how that works. Why should these people get preferential treatment with an entire department dedicated to tracking those who may try and defraud them when running their tax avoidance scheme?
    - gambiting 5y ago
      No they shouldn't, but again, this isn't a zero sum game - FBI is a federal agency, while your local law enforcement is a state or even just a city specific department. If we took all money away from FBI or closed their art fraud department, it would have made zero difference to your local law enforcement. But yes I agree it's not fair.
      - pydry 5y ago
        Your local law enforcement is as likely to pull you over and confiscate any cash you've got in the car on the basis that it may have committed a crime. Feels a bit like it is a zero sum game to me.
sneak 5y ago
That presupposes that maximizing tax revenue is a net good for society.
- Tostino 5y ago
  You are simply arguing for those with the most capital to have a tax loophole unavailable to others.
pibechorro 5y ago
Or we can just stop taxing that front of the economy, let it operate in the open legally instead od driving it underground, and save our tax dollars for policing which actually improves our daily life, like burglery, murders, etc. What is the last time the cops ever returned a stolen bicycle? Spending millions to chase tax money is just the machine feeding itself. No one is harmed when a Picasso changes hands without a percentage being handed to the local burocracy. Last I checked we still have rampant crime in all the inner cities the world over. Fix that first.

If they were putting their resources into actually stopping the tax avoidance, but instead they are put into going after those who scam the people trying to avoid taxes.

gambiting 5y ago
It's not a zero sum game. Not everyone who is an FBI agent can be a lawyer or a lawmaker.
- Tostino 5y ago
  I've had a number of things stolen over the years, but somehow there isn't a whole lot of resources put into it. Strange how that works. Why should these people get preferential treatment with an entire department dedicated to tracking those who may try and defraud them when running their tax avoidance scheme?
  - gambiting 5y ago
    No they shouldn't, but again, this isn't a zero sum game - FBI is a federal agency, while your local law enforcement is a state or even just a city specific department. If we took all money away from FBI or closed their art fraud department, it would have made zero difference to your local law enforcement. But yes I agree it's not fair.
    - pydry 5y ago
      Your local law enforcement is as likely to pull you over and confiscate any cash you've got in the car on the basis that it may have committed a crime. Feels a bit like it is a zero sum game to me.

sneak 5y ago

That presupposes that maximizing tax revenue is a net good for society.

Tostino 5y ago
You are simply arguing for those with the most capital to have a tax loophole unavailable to others.

pibechorro 5y ago

Or we can just stop taxing that front of the economy, let it operate in the open legally instead od driving it underground, and save our tax dollars for policing which actually improves our daily life, like burglery, murders, etc. What is the last time the cops ever returned a stolen bicycle? Spending millions to chase tax money is just the machine feeding itself. No one is harmed when a Picasso changes hands without a percentage being handed to the local burocracy. Last I checked we still have rampant crime in all the inner cities the world over. Fix that first.