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Title: Threats, contempt come with job for IRS workers
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URL Source: http://www.statesman.com/news/local ... ob-for-irs-workers-306383.html
Published: Mar 3, 2010
Author: Andrea Ball
Post Date: 2010-03-03 10:52:30 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 389
Comments: 49
Some Americans heckle or mail tea bags; others, such as Stack, act in more dangerous ways. Michelle Lowry knows first-hand how much people hate the Internal Revenue Service. The 37-year-old Leander woman, who processes forms for the IRS in Austin, confronts that venom regularly. People slip razor blades and pushpins into the same envelopes as their W-2 forms. They send nasty notes with their crumpled documents. Last year during the height of the Tea Party movement, hundreds of taxpayers included — what else? — tea bags with their returns. And then there's the weird stuff. "Sometimes you'll see stuff that looks like blood on them," said Lowry, who has worked as a seasonal employee for five years. "We wear gloves." Americans love to hate the IRS. The federal agency charged with making sure Uncle Sam gets his cut breeds contempt and resentment from nearly every walk of life. On Feb. 18, Joe Stack — an Austin man with a decades-long bitterness toward the agency — crashed his private plane into a North Austin office building that housed IRS employees, killing himself and 68-year-old IRS worker Vernon Hunter. It was an extreme version of the ire directed at the agency. Each year, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which oversees the IRS, investigates more than 900 threats made against IRS employees. Between 2001 and 2008, those threats resulted in 195 court convictions. In 2008, for example, Randy Nowak of Mulberry, Fla. was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trying to hire a hit man to kill the IRS employee auditing Nowak's taxes. The IRS also has a "Potentially Dangerous Taxpayer" list that includes the names, addresses and case histories of people who have threatened, assaulted, harassed or otherwise interfered with the duties of IRS employees. IRS spokesman Clay Sanford said he could not discuss how many people are on that list or whether Stack had been designated a potentially dangerous taxpayer. Most IRS employees never encounter violence. But IRS employees are constantly exposed to other people's contempt for their profession. Christopher Jenkins, who worked as a seasonal employee for the agency last year and is now a salesperson at Nordstrom, said he learned how to how to spot suspicious packages or bombs during his time with the IRS. He also read "long-winded letters about why people thought they were being wronged," he said. "I think it's very easy for someone to hate the IRS as a non-human entity and hate what it represents in their life," said Jenkins, 23. "They forget that a human being somewhere is going to open their hate mail." Lowry is used to the presence of security guards at the IRS office in which she works. She's been through evacuations caused by suspicious items in the mail, such as white powder. (It turned out to be packing material.) And while she has always known the risks of her job, she wasn't concerned about her safety until now. "I'm a little worried, honestly," she said. "Every time I walk into the building, I'm going to think about it." Austinite Jesse Pangelinan, 41, never felt threatened during his 13 years at the IRS. He said it wasn't until after he left the agency in 2000 to become a stand-up comedian that he came face to face with true IRS rage. After he joked about his former job at a comedy club in Ardmore, Okla., one audience member heckled Pangelinan so badly that the heckler had to be removed from the building. "I was escorted back to my car in case he followed me," said Pangelinan, who also works at an insurance company in Austin. "The security guard followed me back to my hotel." Lowry said she has heard everything from silly remarks ("Can you lose my tax return?") to disbelief ("Oh my God, I can't believe you work there.") She's heard tirades and sob stories. IRS officials are "taking additional security measures in the Austin area," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union in Washington, D.C., which represents 85,000 IRS workers across the country. She did not detail what they were. Lowry said that when she went to work this weekend at her office in South Austin, she saw two SUVs marked "security" at the entrance — something she had not seen before the plane crash. Kelley, who met with Austin employees after the attack, said she was impressed with how well workers were dealing with the tragedy. The IRS is providing counseling for employees who need it following the plane crash. "I know that these employees face many hard days ahead but what I saw was their spirit, their strength and their resilience," Kelley wrote in an e-mail to the Statesman. "It is clear that they care deeply for one another." KUT radio personality Bob Branson, who retired as a IRS spokesman 12 years ago after 21 years with the agency, says anger at IRS employees is misguided. "These are people trying to enforce incredibly complex and frequently incredibly unpopular laws," said Branson, 70. "Enforcing the law has to be done by someone, but keep in mind, these are not the people who make the laws... They're doing a job that needs to be done."
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#1. To: christine (#0)
In other words.......Waaaaaa! I'm the IRS, you better be nice to me!
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
From this turd's perspective: KUT radio personality Bob Branson, who retired as a IRS spokesman 12 years ago after 21 years with the agency, says anger at IRS employees is misguided.
these people are willing to take a paycheck. that makes them accessories to a branch of the imf, the irs, i believe it is. oh, i know, you just want to earn a living off the misery of others via an oppressive organization that takes your earnings, sends it to banks, denfense contractors, etc, and you get shit for your money. fucking sociopaths think that they should be entitled to hurt others without them stiking back.
'It is better to have less thunder in the mouth and more lightning in the hand.' - Apache proverb
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
what Eric said. of the few who have done this i.e. Joe Banister and Sherry Jackson Peel, the IRS quickly makes examples of. i can understand, but not excuse, their fear (and justification), but it would take a critical mass within the agency to wake up and rebel. that won't happen until/unless there is an economic collapse.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
I bet there are names on that list of just regular people who write, or have written, letters to the editor exposing their scam.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Just (meaning barely) human.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Effin' moron.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. I have called it the Institute of Revolting Scum for many years. But I can't take the credit for it because I heard someone else call it that.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Reminds me of the famous IRS memo posted on their BB: "Seizure fever: Catch it" These workers complain about how human they are, but they too often forget about how human the victims of their paid work are.
I got ulcers, they threw me out and hired another drone half my pay.
I have called it the Institute of Revolting Scum for many years. But I can't take the credit for it because I heard someone else call it that. I prefer Infernal Revenue Service as it is a Devilish operation. I don't think I could work for the IRS - the thought inspires physcial revulsion. I could work for one of the operations that I do think does good work - Forest Service, Park Service, Coastal and Geodetic Survey, NOAA, etc., ... but the more corrupt operations such as the IRS, CIA, DHS, FEMA, NASA, etc., are morally and ethically incompatible with leading a happy life - I would rather pump Septic Tanks or swim in an Outhouse.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
Gonna put your name at top of THAT list. They said at first I was not sick and was abusing sick leave. Then when I nearly died and was out for months (lots of sick leave) they said you cant do you work anymore so you have to resign or we will take action against you. That after 22 years.
I know what you mean. I would never work for any agency that harasses innocent people, drives them to suicide and even murders them.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. I hear you. Sounds like we are about the same age. As someone forced into a late life career change we're on the same track. Thankfully I am blessed with being a good writer and can write salable prose. I just need to discipline myself to putting in a standard work day at it.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
I honestly do not know how someone could reconcile that with their personal integrity and conscience. That's rhetorical of course - as the late Robert Heinlein put it: "Man is not a rational animal he is a rationalizing animal." I'm sure that even Nazi's were able to lie to themselves that what they were doing was "good". Another quote but I forget the attribution - Burke possibly - "Before a man can do evil he must first convince himself that it is good."
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Men can convince themselves that any number of evil things are actually good things if he sets his mind to it. At least, most can.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. IRS employees know that they will be hated for their brown nose "profession" choice. But they love their masters more than they love freedom.
God is always good!
Men can convince themselves that any number of evil things are actually good things if he sets his mind to it. At least, most can. It is a form of moral cowardice and an inability to confront and see things as they are and not as one would pretend them to be. While I believe that the basic nature of "Man" is good that does not mean that he does not sometimes do evil. However, evil always comes of fear or stupidity. Some are so deranged that their very concept of good is evil and their action upon that does evil to others. I am sure our Bankster "friends" who are now creating so much havoc upon our world see themselves as doing "best" while all the while their psychotic views lead them unto evil.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
Yeah, the bankers probably deceived themselves early in life that they were providing a valuable service instead of committing crimes against humanity.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
Underground economy is a great motivator.
How about funding fedgov the way the founders intended? Tariffs and duties, and an occasional bill sent to the states who had legislature selected senators who could be held accountable if the bill was too high? :)
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
One needs to be innovative and willing to work. The big timers hire lawyers to do the same thing. Cash is KING.
hanging from lamp posts or jumping out of windows when the shit hits the fan. Bankers (the big boys) and their political allies deserve whatever they get.
Prior to the Federal Reserve Act, no political dreamer was ever wild enough to think of breaking down the lines which separate the States, and of compounding the American People into one common mass of slaves. Yet, this is exactly what has happened under Social Security, by creating a revenue base for the collection of interest on a fictitious national debt owed to the Federal Reserve banks, in other words, slavery to the national debt under the so-called 14th Amendment.
Three cheers for that, eh? BAAAAAA “we were respected as the most disinterested and charitable nation in the world.” - Robert A. Taft
So why the hell is the Simon Wiesenthal Center chasing around old men who were prison guards "doing a job that needed to be done"?? The guards didn't "make the laws" in Germany, after all....
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
For many it is. Much of the work or businesses that lend themselves to an underground economy require at least hands on operation and control, or even worse, actual manual labor. It is surprising how many people do not care to get their hands dirty.
Comments (41 - 49) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestEnforcing the law has to be done by someone, but keep in mind, these are not the people who make the laws... They're doing a job that needs to be done."
#2. To: christine (#0)
#3. To: Sarajevo (#1)
#4. To: Eric Stratton (#3)
Yeah right, they're doing a job that needs to be done by whom, or from whose perspective?
#5. To: christine (#0)
#6. To: Sarajevo (#4)
#7. To: gengis gandhi (#5)
Perhaps the people that choose, freely presumably, to work for the IRS (Internal Rash o Shit), should do a little fucking research on precisely who it is that they work for and what their Constitutional authority is for what it is that they do.
#8. To: christine (#0)
#9. To: christine (#0)
#10. To: christine (#0)
The IRS also has a "Potentially Dangerous Taxpayer" list that includes the names, addresses and case histories of people who have threatened, assaulted, harassed or otherwise interfered with the duties of IRS employees.
Lord Acton
#11. To: christine (#0)
"They forget that a human being somewhere is going to open their hate mail."
Lord Acton
#12. To: christine (#0)
"These are people trying to enforce incredibly complex and frequently incredibly unpopular laws," said Branson, 70. "Enforcing the law has to be done by someone, but keep in mind, these are not the people who make the laws... They're doing a job that needs to be done."
Lord Acton
#13. To: Eric Stratton (#2)
Perhaps the people that choose, freely presumably, to work for the IRS (Internal Rash o Shit)
Lord Acton
#14. To: christine (#0)
"These are people trying to enforce incredibly complex and frequently incredibly unpopular laws," said Branson, 70. "Enforcing the law has to be done by someone, but keep in mind, these are not the people who make the laws... They're doing a job that needs to be done."
#15. To: Eric Stratton (#6)
I quit working for the FedGov voluntarily b/c I simply couldn't handle the bullshit and terminal inefficiency, and frankly, otherwise it goes well beyond inefficiency, it gets into wanton abuse of funding
#16. To: James Deffenbach, Eric Stratton (#13)
Perhaps the people that choose, freely presumably, to work for the IRS (Internal Rash o Shit)
#17. To: Cynicom (#15)
#18. To: Original_Intent (#16)
#19. To: Eric Stratton (#17)
...in a rare fit of common sense. Obviously someone wasn't feeling good that day.
#20. To: Original_Intent (#16)
the more corrupt operations such as the IRS, CIA, DHS, FEMA, NASA, etc., are morally and ethically incompatible with leading a happy life - I would rather pump Septic Tanks or swim in an Outhouse.
Lord Acton
#21. To: Eric Stratton (#18)
I couldn't in good conscience work for any of 'em. I do not ever again want a paycheck coming from taxpayer funds. Nor do I want SS, medicaid, medicare, etc. Not that they'll be around when I need them anyway. Sheeeet, I'll be lucky to be alive and living halfway decently by 2020 IMO.
#22. To: James Deffenbach (#20)
I know what you mean. I would never work for any agency that harasses innocent people, drives them to suicide and even murders them.
#23. To: Original_Intent (#22)
Before a man can do evil he must first convince himself that it is good.
Lord Acton
#24. To: christine (#0)
#25. To: James Deffenbach (#23)
Before a man can do evil he must first convince himself that it is good.
#26. To: Cynicom (#19)
#27. To: Cynicom (#19)
#28. To: Original_Intent (#25)
Lord Acton
#29. To: Original_Intent (#21)
#30. To: Eric Stratton (#29)
some days it's tough getting motivated.
#31. To: Eric Stratton (#3)
Institute a flat tax and guess what,
The only real restraint on gummints is people who say "live free or die" ... and mean it. - Enderby
#32. To: Cynicom (#30)
#33. To: Critter (#31)
#34. To: Eric Stratton (#32)
Limited opps
#35. To: Original_Intent (#25)
I am sure our Bankster "friends" who are now creating so much havoc upon our world see themselves
#36. To: Eric Stratton, Cynicom (#32)
Limited opps
BAAA AAAAA
BAAAAAAAA
#37. To: Sarajevo (#1)
Enforcing the law has to be done by someone, but keep in mind, these are not the people who make the laws... They're doing a job that needs to be done."
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?”
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#38. To: Cynicom (#34)
#39. To: Dakmar (#36)
#40. To: Eric Stratton (#38)
Willingness to work is not the issue.
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