Never Going To Pass, But Still Awesome

GOP has introduced the Geithner Penalty Waiver Act. Which is just pure awesome. Forgot to pay your taxes because of Turbo Tax? No problem (well kind of):

Carter says the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates equal penalties for similar offenses, and that the failure of the IRS to assess any penalties against Geithner demands similar penalties for all taxpayers with substantially equivalent cases. “This bill seeks to codify what is now established by the law of precedent,” says Carter. “The Geithner case has established a legal precedent for the determination of penalties by the IRS, and that precedent can be cited in all federal tax courts. The penalty is now set at zero.” “Taxpayers who willfully attempt to evade paying their fair taxes should pay a penalty, or our tax code becomes unenforceable,” says Carter. “This bill is not to reward tax evaders, but to defend the Rule of Law itself. If we as a nation choose not to enforce the law against the politically privileged, then we cannot enforce the law against others without undermining respect for the law itself.”

One of the things that troubles me about over-regulation and more government is that the people who usually make the laws don't feel the need to follow it. Case in point Ted Kennedy, who was all for greener energy but only if it didn't take place in his backyard (I'm not even going to mention Chappaquiddick - although come on!). Or how about that wonderful national Health Care Plan that Barack Obama will not enroll his own children in. Penalties and laws are for the little people, don't you know! In the Soviet Union the Party members lived the good life - there was no food, housing, or medicine shortages when you were a higher up in the Soviet political machine - who got stuck with the nasty effects of their backwards laws? Why the little people! So yeah, I'm happy when there are attempts to show the government they are not above the law.