Another Rule for Us

There have always been different rules for our 'leaders' than for us normal people. I know that, you know that, that's the way life is. The USA was/is supposed to be different, but it's not. In some ways the discrepancies between rich and poor are even more obvious here than other other 'First World' nations. What follows are a very, very few examples; much more can be found in any examination of almost anything the government does right now.

Here's an example that was recently highlighted by Krystal and Saagar on Breaking Points: filing taxes in the USA. In this short video they talk about taxes, and how our tax system and the companies and government that run it screw over the little guys: [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JktEjBCDwTE]
One thing that struck me about this, really strongly: I had no idea that in some other countries the government just works up your taxes and tells you what you owe, under supervision and regulation, of course. That makes sense, and, so, the USA isn't doing it. Another thing that struck me, the IRS audits a much higher percentage of people making low amounts of money, in the search for tax cheating that might earn the IRS a fine of a couple thousands dollars, than it does people making large amounts of money like multi-million and billionaires, who always cheat on their taxes and could be fined in the millions or hundreds of thousands. One rule for them, another for us. It's all to keep everyone under control. Here's another article on this highlighted here recently from David Sirota at the Lever: When You’re Mad About Tax Paperwork, Here’s Who To Blame.

Of course, we all know about the differences in the enforcement of laws as related to the rich and the middle/poor classes. If you are poor or middle class and are arrested for a low amount of drugs, you GO TO JAIL. Sometimes for huge amounts of time. If you are rich, well, you aren't arrested or if you are, you aren't given jail time at your trial. The same goes for corporate criminals, of course. None of them pay the price for breaking the law. This article recently highlighted by joeshikspack on the Evening Blues talks about that.

The government, both state and federal, goes after the people in other ways as well. As an example, earthling1 and eyo talked recently about water well fees in a comment thread. There was talk of doing this in my county a few years ago. It died down after much protest from the rural residents whose only source of water is wells, and who paid for both the water rights, and the wells and infrastructure, without any state or county financial help.

Snoopydawg posted a recent comment about doctors and medicare fraud and the fines/fees they might pay. Once again, no punishment for the big guy, but what happens to the little guys that get screwed? Why are 'we' paying for this medicare fraud? Why can't we use the money to pay for, say, health care, or food for the poor, or housing, or schools, or roads, or...? Ohh yea, the insurance companies rule everything, that's why. One rule for the biggies, another for the rest of us.

So, what's on your mind and in your line of sight today? Thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough!