Do tax laws apply to all?

Editor: Forgive my naivety, but I thought that our country’s tax laws were meant to be applied equally to all.

Personal observation, as well as conversations with persons who should know, seem to indicate that, although there are many merchants who keep records of their sales, copies of cash register tapes, give out receipts with the appropriate tax stamps attached, keep accurate books (or have accountants who do), and pay their appropriate taxes, there are many who do not. {{more}}

Receipts given to customers, no tax stamps are used, and whatever books are kept certainly not consulted as far as taxes owed are concerned. And I am not talking about street vendors; I am talking about established storeowners.

I cannot believe that the appropriate enforcement officials are unaware of this. I have, in fact, heard the Prime Minister obliquely refer to this situation. I had hoped that this would have led to a crackdown on such practices, but it seems my hopes were in vain as the practice continues unabated.

How many government employees could be given better wages? How many roads could be more quickly improved? How many school facilities could be upgraded with better lab equipment and improved teaching tools? What new medical equipment could be purchased for our hospitals and clinics, if the existing tax taws were equally and vigorously enforced? And why aren’t they? Let us not lose sight of the fact that many U.S. gangsters, drug dealers, and con men are behind bars, convicted on tax evasion charges.

Are there not known drug dealers living in this country spending money made from unreported income sources? Are there no applicable tax laws that could be used to arrest, convict, and fine such persons, thus recovering at least a part of their heretofore evaded tax obligations? Or are we so wealthy as a country that such revenue sources can be ignored?

Cassandra H