Where Are Our Tax Dollars Really Going? Part 1

This is the question I'm posing, and through a series of articles will be investigating, researching, compiling and reporting evidence from wherever I can. I don't think I'm the only one who wants to know "where our tax dollars are really going".

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities- cbpp.org says,"The federal government collects taxes in order to finance various public services. As policymakers and citizens weigh key decisions about revenues and expenditures, it is instructive to examine what the government does with the money it collects."

I agree, it is quite instructive indeed. We're being instructed with barely any input either, isn't this supposed to be a government for the people? These lobbyists and lawmakers, budget makers and corrupt politicians are making all the decisions, and I'm not too pleased. I really don't think any of us are these days.

Cbpp.org goes on to say, "In fiscal year 2010, the federal government is projected to spend $3.6 trillion, amounting to 24 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). While the level of 2010 expenditures - as a share of GDP - exceeds those of recent years, the composition of the budget largely resembles the patterns of recent years. Of that $3.6 trillion, almost $2.2 trillion will be financed by federal tax revenues. The remaining $1.4 trillion will be financed by borrowing; this deficit will ultimately be paid for by future taxpayers."

The above statement literally makes me ill, but what's worse? Read on my friend, read on. You won't believe your ears with this one...

Millions of our Tax Dollars are Being Scammed by Inmates

Where are our tax dollars going? This one's easy...why, it's to the inmates committing tax fraud in jail of course -that's where our tax dollars are going. No really, this is for real folks. Millions of our hard earned tax dollars are finding their way into the hands of scam artists in our country's jails (this is especially running rampant in South Florida).

"The inmates are stealing millions of your tax dollars while sitting behind bars."-Stephen Stock of CBS Channel 4 Miami reports. Stephen discovered that the tax scam is so simple and so easy that some inmates are swearing off all other crimes and focusing on just stealing this way.

Oh great... and get this-the following is just one example of this type of fraud going on all over the county:

The CBS4 Miami's I-Team got their hands on Arturo Garcia's tax return that he filed while in prison (after being convicted on two attempted murder charges). On the tax form Mr. Garcia attempted to file with the IRS he claimed $45,400 in income and requested a refund check from the IRS of $5,135.
"It was money he never earned for a job he never held at an employer that did not exist." See more of Stephen's report here.

Yeah, I know...I was in complete shock myself when I first heard of it. Are you getting a little perturbed yet? Well, if not, just read on...

At FOX 13, an investigation (that began in 2005) exposed Florida prisoners filing bogus tax returns from behind bars and getting refund checks in the thousands of dollars.

"The scam turned out to be much bigger than anyone could have imagined, with hundreds of millions in your tax dollars sent to prisoners in jail to spend as they wish. Lawmakers took the extraordinary step of calling a congressional hearing and promised big changes. That was five years ago. But despite promises to crack down on the problem, the federal government has failed to slam the door on the 'H&R Cell-Block' and is still giving away your tax dollars to prisoners."

See the rest of FOX 13 article here; http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/inmate-tax-scam-110410

Diane MacKay said, "I literally fell out of my chair when this story came out. How can this happen? Incidents like these go to show just how dysfunctional our GOVERNMENT and IRS are. How stupid that the checks are being sent to jail addresses. Where are the WATCH DAWGS? No wonder America is going broke. We can just raise taxes to replace the 65ML that was sent out to criminals. Right? Who said crime doesn't pay? Apparently it does in America! My daughter has yet to receive her $8000 Tax Credit for Home Buyers...probably because it was sent to a prisoner - twice. Imagine that! Can you tell that I am steaming? You bet I am. Obama where are you? Maybe we Americans should rebel by not paying our taxes. The worst that can happen...is that we will be incarcerated. That's not a bad idea."

I agree with Diane wholeheartedly, how about you?
Stay tuned for more of, "Where are our tax dollars going?" Part 2.

Resources & More Reading;

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities- cbpp.org http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258

Stephen Stock of CBS Channel 4 Miami report;http://cbs4.com/local/i.team.inmate.2.1985219.html

FOX 13 article here;http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/inmate-tax-scam-110410

"Where are our tax dollars going?" Part 2