A call for full disclosure and publication of tax returns

[Hammster]

If he is running for Congress or President....Yep we should see his. And that goes for me too.

But why? What makes it our business just because they run for, or are in, public office?

 

[Hammster]

Politicians are citizens...who are applying for a job which requires the utmost in trust and honor. If they don't like the conditions for application, they are free to work elsewhere.

I guess I missed that. Where is the condition stated?

 

[zephcom]

Yes, he's no different than a politician (ideally).

And let's not forget to audit Nancy Pelosi and all the rich Democrats, too.

Ah, the implied threat. Frankly I would be most interested in the returns of the people I am actually considering supporting.

 

[Residential Bob]

Politicians are citizens...who are applying for a job which requires the utmost in trust and honor. If they don't like the conditions for application, they are free to work elsewhere.

Utmost trust and honor? Like bankers and teachers? Doctors?

Or does no one else hold positions of trust and honor?

And here's a newsflash: tax audits are not conditions of their positions.

 

[zephcom]

But why? What makes it our business just because they run for, or are in, public office?

I guess a lesson in civics is necessary. These are people who will hold absolute control of both the nation and its citizens. They will be deciding the direction our lives will take.

And we are expected to decide which of the people presented to us we want to do that job. We should have the best factual information we can get about them before we vote. Tax returns which the people know will be audited provide as factual information we can hope to get.

If they don't like the requirements for the job they don't have to apply.

 

[Residential Bob]

I guess a lesson in civics is necessary. These are people who will hold absolute control of both the nation and its citizens. They will be deciding the direction our lives will take.

And we are expected to decide which of the people presented to us we want to do that job. We should have the best factual information we can get about them before we vote. Tax returns which the people know will be audited provide as factual information we can hope to get.

If they don't like the requirements for the job they don't have to apply.

They do not assume absolute control of the nation and its citizens.

Civics 101.

 

[zephcom]

(staff edit)

Then it is an empty threat. -You- may feel threatened to have your favorite candidate's tax returns made public, but I look forward to it. If my candidate doesn't pass muster, -I- want to know about BEFORE I vote, not after they take office.

 

[paul1149]

In the case of someone new to government and running for office, I see this as a dangerous precedent. The obstacles to running for office are already daunting, so that many a good public servant has been dissuaded from running. I can see it if done voluntarily, if by popular demand there is significant reason to question finances.

But in the case of people who have been in Congress for many years, even decades, and live high in opulent mansions, some kind of public review of their financial condition might be in order. It's not hard to imagine the resistance that idea would have, even by those who most loudly call for it from others.

 

[archer75]

Should we see yours as well?

Sure, although I'm not in high public office. But okay, I'll make that deal. Public access to all tax returns. No exceptions, no executive privilege. No nothing. Just transparency.

 

[zephcom]

They do not assume absolute control of the nation and its citizens.

Civics 101.

Yeah, actually they do. Look around you right now. The people who make laws control the nation.

 

[zephcom]

Sure, although I'm not in high public office. But okay, I'll make that deal. Public access to all tax returns. No exceptions, no executive privilege. No nothing. Just transparency.

If one has to make a deal with devil, that isn't a terribly bad one.

 

[Residential Bob]

Then it is an empty threat. -You- may feel threatened to have your favorite candidate's tax returns made public, but I look forward to it. If my candidate doesn't pass muster, -I- want to know about BEFORE I vote, not after they take office.

I would not look forward to dividing my country into classes.

I'd rather the people develop their own classes. I rather prefer freedom.

 

[zephcom]

I guess I missed that. Where is the condition stated?

We are DISCUSSING making that condition.

 

[Residential Bob]

Yeah, actually they do. Look around you right now. The people who make laws control the nation.

That's totalitarianism.

 

[zephcom]

I would not look forward to dividing my country into classes.

I'd rather the people develop their own classes. I rather prefer freedom.

What classes? Its a job application. We can set the conditions for a job application. I hear in the private sector, some people making job applications are required to give away the passwords to their social accounts.

 

[zephcom]

That's totalitarianism.

Which, of course, doesn't change anything I said.

 

[GlabrousDory4]

For what purpose do we need to see them?

Since legislators and executives control policy we need to know any conflicts of interest.

One of the things that I dislike most about Nancy Pelosi is that she was able to make use of a legal loop hole that allowed her to trade some credit card company stock at about the same time as the House was considering legislation on credit cards.

Let's stop making our government a way to enrich the rich.

 

[archer75]

What classes? Its a job application. We can set the conditions for a job application. I hear in the private sector, some people making job applications are required to give away the passwords to their social accounts.

I heard that in the private sector, some people are required to give away their urine.

 

[GlabrousDory4]

Shouldn’t we just let the IRS audit them every year? I’m sure if there’s something illegal, it will be found.

That's a good alternative. But it would be a specialized sub-set of audits to ensure that there is no conflict of interest (as opposed to just auditing to ensure they pay the right amount).

 

[zephcom]

I heard that in the private sector, some people are required to give away their urine.

Yep. We live in a world which makes all sorts of demands on us for the privilege of acquiring jobs.

The people who apply to us to run the nation should expect their returns...and now that I think of it...the results of their annual audit as part of that application.