33 Comments
User's avatar
Luke C's avatar

First they came for the billionaires - but I’m not a billionaire, so I did nothing

Next they came for the millionaires - but I’m not a millionaire, so I did nothing

Then they came for the business owners and high earners - but I’m neither of those, so I did nothing

Knock! Knock! Knock!...(or maybe that will read “No Knock” in times to come, as in no knock raids)

Putting on the conspiracy hat for a moment...is this how they achieve “You’ll own nothing - and be happy”? Isn’t it said everyone is in breach of dozens of laws everyday without even knowing it? If these armed IRS enforcement officers find one breach of the thousands upon thousands of pages of tax law, could they start kicking folks out of their homes under “proceeds of crime” laws? Is the US a test case for the greater West?

Expand full comment
WayneRH's avatar

Joel, I truly appreciate your thoughtful and provocative articles and comments (found throughout the week addended to Bill's missives).

Sorry for being kind of trite...

I really thought your naming Sundays' message 'Sunday Sesh' was great. Any chance of returning to that?

Regarding our IRA and Tax collection bill, our armed forces understand the Constitutional restriction on policing the civilian populace. The IRS will fill that void. Such armies are mandatory for Tyrannical Enforcement.

For those who seem extreme mentioning revolution, etc., hope and pray the fore-told message from our founding fathers that the Tree of Liberty requires an occasional watering with blood is stayed. I'm pretty sure they didn't mean fighting meaningless wars elsewhere. *(& I'm not optimistic that they were wrong).

Folks, God first, Family and friends next, our country and finally all other stuff. With God relegated to oblivion the USA has become oblivious. Directly, proportionally related. Best to all. Blessings (Wayne)

Expand full comment
Joel Bowman's avatar

Thanks for your comments, Mr. Hovland. And yes, I like the “Sesh” name, too. It’s very Aussie. Maybe I’ll reinstate it. Best to you and yours!

Expand full comment
WayneRH's avatar

Joel, thanks for the come back and accepting my vote on the 'Sesh' name... You folks at BPR are fresh air in a smoggy world...

Expand full comment
William Doty's avatar

Knock, Knock, Knock........on Everyone's door.

Expand full comment
Max Mason's avatar

The first thing the agents should do is audit every member of congress and include the President to make sure they are paying their fair share of taxes.

I can’t wait but am not holding my breath.

That would be a great day!!!!

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Aug 14, 2022Edited
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Mark S.'s avatar

Fair Tax plan would work, reasearched and written by economic scholars.. would take control and power away from congress and give it back to the citizens. Best of all, no IRS.

Expand full comment
Richard Bloomfeldt's avatar

It is so obviously the right thing to do...... that it will never happen!

Expand full comment
jrj90620's avatar

So,where's the envy in that?

Expand full comment
Anne Keller's avatar

If the "small businesses, households, etc." who don't make big bucks aren't cheating on their taxes, why the big fuss over actually enforcing the tax laws? All these complaints about inflation, but if there's no tax revenue they'll just print more money. Roads are falling apart, so who's going to pay for it? Unless there are some volunteers out there who want to do it, we aren't gonna donate to a Kickstarter for new bridges. EV owners aren't paying the road tax on diesel and gasoline, but an EV is heavier and harder on the roads than the ICEs they're replacing. "Employment taxes" pay for some of Medicare and Social Security. Don't want to pay those? Willing to give up your benefits? Maybe enforcing the laws will finally get them changed, but until we do it's just money spent on non productive bureacracy with no return. Like at lot of so called "industry" these days.

Expand full comment
Joel Bowman's avatar

And yet, amazingly, the country seemed to do just fine before income, corporate and payroll taxes. How could this be so? Now that the state breaks out legs and sells us wheelchairs, we can’t imagine how we could possibly get around without their generous assistance.

Of course it is true that infrastructure is in a terrible state, as is practically everything the government claims a monopoly or near-monopoly over (healthcare, education, “justice,” management of the currency, and on and on...)

Ordinarily, such a terrible track record would result in less, not more, funding. Only when it comes to government does no bad deed go unrewarded. Free individuals, in mutual win-win cooperation, can do better.

Expand full comment
Anne Keller's avatar

If the media hadn't done such a great job turning us against each other I'd agree. But the 1% has worked hard to separate us. The culture "war" thing is a clever way to distract attention from how the elites have destroyed the middle class in the name of buying cheap crap from overseas and paying to have our data sucked up by our cellphones. Many of us aren't seeing anything other than win/lose at this point. We accept crappy customer service, websites that don't work, and cars that Musk can control. Apparently we're willing to put up with crappy government too. Some of the people in Congress have been getting re-elected every 2 years for decades.

Expand full comment
Joel Bowman's avatar

Yes, the so-called Fourth Estate has been utterly despicable. I'd add social media, too, as a massively divisive factor, setting otherwise fundamentally decent folks against one and other. I've been visiting the US for twenty years now, on and off... this last stay, a month over summer, was the most divided I've ever seen people. Not good.

Expand full comment
jrj90620's avatar

The problem is that government wastes so much of what it takes in taxes.I estimate,they have to take 2-3 Dollars to usefully spend 1 Dollar.So,the larger government becomes,as a % of the economy,the poorer is the country.I believe growth of government over the last several decades is the cause of America's decline.You have Democrats punishing hard work,getting educated,investing,saving,doing all the the right things,while they reward the opposite.

Expand full comment
pete's avatar

My thoughts exactly. The greatest parasitical class perhaps, in human history?

I always laugh when I hear, " we need to stop money laundering", as opposed to what?, racketeering.

Expand full comment
Stephen Fahy's avatar

Love the Stories from Argentina. Its a foretaste of what could lie ahead for Western democracies. I have a question about your Bill for " Sushi For 4 " . Sounds like pretty expensive Sushi even with Argentine Inflation. Thats almost $300 USD . Im guessing your had a lot more than a few plates of Sushi lol

Expand full comment
Joel Bowman's avatar

Good eye, Mr. Fahy! Although, at the parallel exchange rate (~300:1) it’s more like $130 for a lunch for four. And this was at a “special occasion” place (celebrating a friend’s birthday). One could easily enjoy a fantastic meal for a fifth of that price. Cheers!

Expand full comment
Stephen Fahy's avatar

Yes i recall now you where talking about the local money changers and the Real exchange rate on the street , so basically the Official Government rate is false. Sounds a lot like so many of the US Government figures you talk about, False unemployment, Rates, False reaI Interest Rates and False Real Inflation rates. Its a terrible state of affairs that we have come to a position where you can hardly believe anything coming out of a Government officials mouth.

Expand full comment
Frank Dombkowski's avatar

In other words,

When it comes to travel, walk or die.

When it comes to heat get used to a cold winter or die

When it comes to food grow it or die

When it comes to housing start digging a cave with the pick and shovel you can not get any more or die.

We will return to the stone age

Expand full comment
Brian Chambers's avatar

Hi Joel (and Bonner Private Research brethren) , just re-read "Transcript of Winter Catastrophe 2022" today. Also I have been subscribing to Bill since 2015. My eye's I think have been opened as to what might really be going on (yeah right). I think I have concluded the only possible goal of the elites, that makes sense, is that they want to reduce the worlds population. I think they have always wanted that but have been unsuccessful. Demonizing hydrocarbons while "saving the planet" might help that goal, relatively quickly, while putting them on the side of angels. If true, the poorest "energy challenged" will obviously not be with us for long. It appears the death toll from 20th century communism is about to be eclipsed (10-20 fold?). My question to you is, how far off from my premise am I (I hope way off)? Set me straight.

Brian Chambers

Expand full comment
Dennis T.'s avatar

Those who's bread is supplied and buttered by the tax dollars always teach taxation and government are the brick and mortar of civilization. However according to the teaching, instructions, and guidance provided by Yahowah in His Towrah the opposite is true. A civilization grew up around Noah's family, the same is true of Abraham, and Moseh. Every time man created cities leading to civilizations and these treated the chosen ones God destroyed these cities and the civilizations they supported. According to prophecy we are approaching a time when mankind will start the ball rolling towards the end of all mankind has attained on his own apart from God. The final act Eden will be restored Adam will return. There will be no human governace, and accordingly no tears.

Expand full comment
Luke C's avatar

The “Inflation Reduction Act” should read as the “Inflation, Reduction Act”.

There will be inflation, there will be a reduction in living standards, and government will very much act to ensure both.

Expand full comment
Steve L's avatar

Yes Joel, The "IRA", The communist Biden's "Irish Republican Army" will be coming after all good readers of your wonderful brief. But as you know, we the people will sit back and let them kill our families, friends and all because we are dumber than they. They think they rule....

I too will be sitting back in a third world shithole, enjoying the show, along with all four of you, along with the corrupt Bush's, Clinton's, Obama'ass's and the brain dead Biden's....such an incredible act to follow in America's political theatre.

Yes my friends, I will be sitting in my little upstate bolthole, along with my little friends, waiting, waiting, for the first shot to be fired. Then the entire third world shithole, AMERICA, will spring into action, and the Sleeping Giant will Awaken! Watch, watch and witness American's Will, God's Will!!!!

Expand full comment
Jeffrey S Donohue's avatar

I’m assuming that you assume the 87,000 new agents will all be competent and effective right off the get go. From what I undetstand it takes minimum 3 years for an agent to get up to speed.

Expand full comment
jrj90620's avatar

I believe we will see a large growth of the underground economy,like most 3rd world countries.

Expand full comment
Max Mason's avatar

I agree.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Aug 14, 2022
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Richard Bloomfeldt's avatar

Guarranteed: FAR WORSE!

Expand full comment
Brian H's avatar

page not found, link no work

Expand full comment
Kevin Leader's avatar

Agreed

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Aug 14, 2022
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Joel Bowman's avatar

An ouroboros style feast!

Expand full comment