"TaxDef" = "TaxDuh"

Yes, the Department of Justice announced the creation of a national "tax defier" or TAXDEF (it's the government, there has to be an acronym) inititative the purpose of which is "to reaffirm and reinvigorate the Tax Division's committment to investigate, pursue and prosecute those who take concrete action to defy and deny the fundamental validity of the tax laws". Apparently, the term "tax protestor" is now out of favor due to the potential it had for representing some "noble effort" says Assistant Attorney General Nathan J. Hochman. Hochman further stated:

"These folks link themselves to so-called patriotism, but at the end of the day, all it is about for them is their greedy self-interest." This TAXDEF initiative should send an unequivocal message to honest taxpayers that, to the extent any of their neighbors on their right or on their left engage in tax defier conduct, their neighbors will go to bed knowing that tomorrow may be the day when their crime will be prosecuted to the fullest".

I don't even know where to begin. Okay, first the TAXDEF or Defier Intitiative is obviously a response to Mr Snipes' acquitttal of the felony offenses for which he was charged. Second, I quoted Hochman because if I hadn't, some would have said something was lost in the translation. I actually checked the announcement date to see if it was April 1, but it was April 8. 

Let's make this deal. How about next time you lose a case where a major motion picture actor admits his crimes in a 500 page written statement and there is a website that details how the crimes were committed, we don't thereafter spend tens of millions of dollars on nonsensical deterrence efforts. Next time, just spend the money to prosecute the case. Then, just then, my neighbors might sleep. 

John M. Hanamirian