How long till the practice of government kidnapping and torture morphs into something that could make any one of us a target?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804522/
In the 2007 movie, Rendition is kidnapping and torture, by --who else?-- in order to extract information from a suspected "terrorist". Of course, the whole point of the movie is that the guy they kidnapped had NO political inclinations, ideas and probably no interest in anybody's politics.
Just a guy trying to make a dollar and live his life. Until...
And then of course the story becomes all-too-familiar: Innocent, unsuspecting guy then DEVELOPS ideas and political aspirations as a result of the welcome and hospitality he endured at the hands of his torturers.
So what's the point of all this?
With all the hooopla about tax havens being blacklisted, governments around the world simultaneously running out of money AND getting more desperate to follow so-called "tax-cheats", it's not much of a logical leap to see the day when "terrorism" will be replaced by "catching tax-cheats" or whatever demonized moniker is invented.
Because with the greater mobility of money and with the impoverished governments of the world becoming ever more grasping and rapacious, we may begin to see governments using tried and tested methods from one field in another. And I mean --- why not? From their perspective, it's just an economical use of resources.
Or rather, once the "terrorism" era is over (or at least on the wane), those agencies and people who've developed those competencies will not just lie down and die.
No. As always, they will morph into something else. It's the survival instinct. They will find another mission --- so to speak.
And what will that new mission be?
Well, if they thought they were doing God and Country service "protecting it from terrorists", how much more fanatical and bloody can they become if a new group of people is identified as those who would single-handedly destroy the fabric of society and bring civilization to ruin?
Enter the so called "tax-cheat". And remember, just as the definitions of "terrorist" are fuzzy and shifting, those for tax-cheats will likely be even more vague. So vague and shifting as to ensnare anyone.
Consider: What's to stop some arrogant government with the power to actually carry it out, and one which has actually shown it is immune to any moral limitations in the past --- to freely violate anyone's rights, debase and besmear any creed --- if it serves their current agenda -- their survival?
IF they can convince themselves there's a threat --- a threat to their very survival. And of course, their survival is the ultimate law unto itself. What will stop them?
I mean, why not turn the whole apparatus used to combat one brand of perceived threat to neutralize another?
It's simple. People could be snatched off the streets of almost anywhere in the world and held and tortured ..... until some alleged tax-bill is paid?
Or until the names of banks or the whereabouts of other hitherto unknown assets to come to light, "so they can be properly assessed and rightfully taxed"
How long? And where will it begin?
I can assure you, it will begin with someone gray. That is, someone high enough profile, but maybe not especially well-liked. One who has enemies.
And Assets!
But which do not directly benefit the country in question. Gray also meaning someone who may not always "pay his fair share". He or she will be someone who is very astute and aggressive in paying the absolute minimum tax. She will likely use every know tax "loophole" known.
In other words, he or she will play the game with the tax collector, and with superior intelligence and diligence BEAT the tax-man at his own game.
Yes. Someone who will be easy to point the finger at. And when the political temperature is right --- when enough of the tax consumers feel their government OWES them and they're NOT getting their due ... and government can cleverly point the finger at the "Tax-Cheats" ---then the practice will begin.
I see that day not far away...
But just as taxes started out only for the rich, rendition too, will trickle down. Until... it makes its way to a neighborhood near you --- maybe yours.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804522/
In the 2007 movie, Rendition is kidnapping and torture, by --who else?-- in order to extract information from a suspected "terrorist". Of course, the whole point of the movie is that the guy they kidnapped had NO political inclinations, ideas and probably no interest in anybody's politics.
Just a guy trying to make a dollar and live his life. Until...
And then of course the story becomes all-too-familiar: Innocent, unsuspecting guy then DEVELOPS ideas and political aspirations as a result of the welcome and hospitality he endured at the hands of his torturers.
So what's the point of all this?
With all the hooopla about tax havens being blacklisted, governments around the world simultaneously running out of money AND getting more desperate to follow so-called "tax-cheats", it's not much of a logical leap to see the day when "terrorism" will be replaced by "catching tax-cheats" or whatever demonized moniker is invented.
Because with the greater mobility of money and with the impoverished governments of the world becoming ever more grasping and rapacious, we may begin to see governments using tried and tested methods from one field in another. And I mean --- why not? From their perspective, it's just an economical use of resources.
Or rather, once the "terrorism" era is over (or at least on the wane), those agencies and people who've developed those competencies will not just lie down and die.
No. As always, they will morph into something else. It's the survival instinct. They will find another mission --- so to speak.
And what will that new mission be?
Well, if they thought they were doing God and Country service "protecting it from terrorists", how much more fanatical and bloody can they become if a new group of people is identified as those who would single-handedly destroy the fabric of society and bring civilization to ruin?
Enter the so called "tax-cheat". And remember, just as the definitions of "terrorist" are fuzzy and shifting, those for tax-cheats will likely be even more vague. So vague and shifting as to ensnare anyone.
Consider: What's to stop some arrogant government with the power to actually carry it out, and one which has actually shown it is immune to any moral limitations in the past --- to freely violate anyone's rights, debase and besmear any creed --- if it serves their current agenda -- their survival?
IF they can convince themselves there's a threat --- a threat to their very survival. And of course, their survival is the ultimate law unto itself. What will stop them?
I mean, why not turn the whole apparatus used to combat one brand of perceived threat to neutralize another?
It's simple. People could be snatched off the streets of almost anywhere in the world and held and tortured ..... until some alleged tax-bill is paid?
Or until the names of banks or the whereabouts of other hitherto unknown assets to come to light, "so they can be properly assessed and rightfully taxed"
How long? And where will it begin?
I can assure you, it will begin with someone gray. That is, someone high enough profile, but maybe not especially well-liked. One who has enemies.
And Assets!
But which do not directly benefit the country in question. Gray also meaning someone who may not always "pay his fair share". He or she will be someone who is very astute and aggressive in paying the absolute minimum tax. She will likely use every know tax "loophole" known.
In other words, he or she will play the game with the tax collector, and with superior intelligence and diligence BEAT the tax-man at his own game.
Yes. Someone who will be easy to point the finger at. And when the political temperature is right --- when enough of the tax consumers feel their government OWES them and they're NOT getting their due ... and government can cleverly point the finger at the "Tax-Cheats" ---then the practice will begin.
I see that day not far away...
But just as taxes started out only for the rich, rendition too, will trickle down. Until... it makes its way to a neighborhood near you --- maybe yours.
