Difference between 'avoid' and 'evade'

So let me see if I have this straight. I just witnessed the president of the United States on television (May 4) flanked by the Treasury Secretary and head of the IRS, talking about closing loopholes and other tax "avoidance" problems within the U.S. Tax Code that permit individuals and companies to store some of their money in so-called "tax havens" in foreign countries.

President Barack Obama referred to these few individuals and companies as practically scofflaws and dodgers for taking advantage of completely legal avenues to avoid paying income taxes. Keep in mind, we're talking about "avoid," not "evade;" something distinctively defined regarding our Tax Code.

If that weren't enough, Secretary Timothy Geithner stepped up to the podium and with a straight face exclaimed that he was going to go after these individuals and companies for not paying their fair share in taxes. Now just how preposterous is that?

Still, I suppose it does make sense. Ever since the last two weeks in January everything seems to have gone topsy-turvy within the Beltway. Actual tax-"evaders" are now permitted to enforce rules and laws of which they themselves find little reason to obey, and completely legitimate companies exercising legal relief afforded by the Tax Code are being labeled as nearly criminal for not voluntarily paying taxes that they have no obligation to pay.

The solution? Change the Tax Code — but don't vilify anyone for obeying the rules, especially when those very regulations are being enforced by bona fide tax cheats. The hypocrisy might be lost on some, but hopefully not on the majority of Americans, who are quickly realizing that there truly are rules and laws that those in power and authority don't need to bother themselves with, while successful and profitable Americans and American companies who now need to keep a close watch over their shoulders for the Obama revenue-generating machine begin running for cover.

The trouble is without a clear understanding about the definition of "right" vs. "wrong," all of us might find ourselves on the wrong side of the law, even when we've done nothing wrong.

Confusing? Apparently not to the President or Treasury Secretary.

Jerome Kinderman
Lodi

Reader Feedback

Billy Rubin wrote on May 30, 2009 9:23 PM:

" It looks like Toshway follows the same policy as Safeway and doesn't revisit his letters to the editor. "

Report Abuse

Billy Rubin wrote on May 29, 2009 4:00 PM:

" Oh, I wish Toshway
would find hisway
back here to show me the way
he says I used "hate spewing crap" someway
against Lodisafeway

Maybe someday
but hey
he works the rat way
so prolly no way "

Report Abuse

Bob Loblaw wrote on May 29, 2009 12:46 PM:

" So now Jeromeway has a groupie. I wonder if toshway has Jeromeway's many, many, many manifestos pinned up in his bedroom, maybe up on the ceiling? "

Report Abuse

Billy Rubin wrote on May 29, 2009 11:18 AM:

" So I can properly repent, is there any way you could quote for me the "...hate spewing crap..." you say I used? That would be most helpful. Father Sheridan down at the mission says I must change my wicked, wicked ways and only with help from caring citizens like you will I be able to achieve my goal. "

Report Abuse

Billy Rubin wrote on May 29, 2009 11:14 AM:

" Me? Write?
I can barely speak, let alone hook two cogent words together.

No, no I fully realize I'm far too stupid to match wits with a towering intellect like Mr. Kinderman; and the Lodi News-Sentinel never stoops so low as to print drivel like mine.

Thanks for the compliment, though. "

Report Abuse

tosh conn wrote on May 28, 2009 8:36 PM:

" I read this several times and find it accurate, concise and well written. Then I read hate spewing crap from people like "Billy Rubin" whose points are far afield and unrelated to the carefully crafted prose of Kinderman. Billy, lets see if you can write ? Write a few paragraphs to the LNS and see if they are coherent enough to get printed. "

Report Abuse

wtf wrote on May 28, 2009 9:05 AM:

" Jerome wrote: "Actual tax-"evaders" are now permitted to enforce rules and laws of which they themselves find little reason to obey..."

Jerome, Jerome, girardway....(sigh) you just don't get it, do you? LOL!

It doesn't matter if it's Bush, Obama or any other politico, you have to realize that it's not the really big crooks who break the laws....

No, the ***really big*** crooks MAKE the laws. ;)

Now I've heard that the best way to make sure crime **doesn't** pay is to let the government run it; but I haven't seen any evidence of this yet. "

Report Abuse

Billy Rubin wrote on May 28, 2009 6:48 AM:

" Since this Jerome Kinderman letter will be instantly recognizable to all LNS readers as a lightly, though repetitiously edited version of his Obama Rant No. 22 (seen regularly on these pages), I think we can all save time by giving equally recycled resonses, numbered for brevity: 6, 7b, C and M.
Oh GOD yes, M. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes

Difference between 'avoid' and 'evade'

Reader Feedback

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads

Weather

Services

Contact Us

Office

Newsroom

Subscriptions

Advertising

Classifieds