Turning in tax cheats

Ethics

I am surprised to learn that 62% of Americans now say they would turn in a neighbor who was a tax cheat, up from 53% last year.  That, according to a poll by the IRS oversight committee, or some such.  More surprising is my reaction.  At first blush I said ''never.''  But, E.D. Hill's question to Brian Kilmeade, the Fox Friend who said the same thing was, ''does that mean you wouldn't turn in people committing other crimes?'' That's the dilemma, but she's right.  Upon further reflection, it's not the IRS I hate, it's our lawmakers who created that agency who are to blame, and the answer is political.  If we really wanted it - and I do mean really, because Congress loves the power the current tax code gives them, and will resist mightily, but we could force reform along the line of a flat-tax.  That can never happen now, because we do not even listen to the same debate any longer.  Still,  I was taught not to snitch, so I would not. Unless I didn't like the neighbor. My head hurts. One more thing.  During the discussion someone asked if there was a reward, and the answer was no. Wrong.  People who turn in tax cheats are given a percentage of recovered money.  Now, that's really insidious. Here's my own Poll, and you can't quibble the way I did. Would you turn in a tax cheat neighbor? Yes No    Free polls from Pollhost.com