Wesley Snipes Plight
Are we to believe that the government wants Wesley Snipes in jail for tax evasion? Let us examine Wesley Snipes’ case. Firstly, Mr. Snipes had hired whom he believed to be a professional tax accountant; at least, that was how this person presented himself. For this reason Mr. Eddie Ray Kahn is now serving 10 years in prison, and rightfully so. However, how is this determined to be Mr. Snipes’ fault? This question arises because Wesley Snipes did give power of attorney to his tax accountants. Thus, the tax were prepared, singed, and filed or not, in Mr. Snipes name, while he conducted his other affairs (Barrow, 2010, video).
In essence, if one were to go down to his or her local H&R block to have his or her taxes done. Also, if one were busy running a business, and give H&R Block power of attorney to sign said tax return which they did, and filed one’s taxes. Now, let’s say that the tax preparer fouled-up the tax filed, or failed to file the taxes. Who is at fault? It would be the same as if one paid a contractor to build a house. Now that the home is occupied, the building inspector comes by, and fines the occupants, because the building is not up to code. The contractor is the one who built the house, if one knew how to construct a house one may not have hired a contractor. Consequently, the contractor is the one at fault. The simple minded may not over-stand this, and this is what they are counting on. But know this, for those that have the mentality to create an empire, it may cost them more to stop and pick up a $100.00 bill than to pass it by. It’s called opportunity cost. Some people’s time is just that important.
What’s more, there are two jurors from Wesley Snipes’ case who declared that Mr. Snipes was guilty even before the trial began. So, the question should arise; did Mr. Snipes receive a fair trial? And, the answer to that question would be no! One is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty! Not presumed guilty, and then set out to prove it; that my friend, is called a witch hunt. According to Shepard (2010), “two jurors have stepped forward to say others on the panel decided the case without hearing any evidence” (P. 1). Not to mention, “Prosecutors also are accused of hiding damaging information about a key witness from the jury” (Shepard, p. 1). Once again, I don’t care what the alleged crime is; all I am saying is this, we the people need to ensure all receives a fair trial!
As a final point, the actor Wesley Snipes surrendered himself to the Bradford Pennsylvania prison on Thursday 9th, 2010. Mr. Snipes was denied a new trial, even though the first was flawed due to prosecutors withholding key information. Plus, the government did not disclose that Kenneth Starr (Wesley’s Account), was under investigation for other tax related criminal activities. Mr. Kenneth Starr is facing a 45years sentence for stealing millions from his clients. And, lastly, what about the misconduct of the jury during the trial? Mr. Snipes’ lawyer stated there is evidence to support that fact; still no new trial (BNO News). Where is the justice in that? It appears that the law is being manipulated; or, like we say in the islands, different strokes, for different folks.
According to the IRS’s site (2007):
The roots of IRS go back to the Civil War when President Lincoln and Congress, in 1862, created the position of commissioner of Internal Revenue and enacted an income tax to pay war expenses. The income tax was repealed 10 years later. Congress revived the income tax in 1894, but the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional the following year (p. 1).
While AFN (1999) states, “the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wasn't even created by an act of Congress!” (p. 1). I must note here, that I am not advocating that one should not pay his or her taxes. If one refused to pay his or her taxes, whether it’s legal or not, one will land a free ticket to prison. However, do checkout “the case of Pollack vs. Farmers Loan & Trust Co., US (1895)” (AFN, p. 1). What the majority believe is what comes to pass, collectively, you create your reality.
References
AFN. (1999). IRS: The real facts. Retrieved December 10th, 2010, from
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