Originally published on Forbes.com May 2nd, 2013
Somehow the idea of tax collectors out in the street protesting seems just a little odd, but that is what will be happening on May 7th. The rally will be held at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, site of the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building.
The rally, at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, will feature President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and Frank Heffler, president of NTEU Chapter 47, the host chapter, which represents IRS employees in Manhattan. In addition, it will include members from NTEU chapters in Customs and Border Protection at JFK International Airport and the New York Seaport, as well as participants from other NTEU chapters in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Employees from federal agencies in 290 Broadway and 26 Federal Plaza will also be present. As a result of sequestration, the IRS is planning to shut down all public operations on five days between May 24 and August 30. An additional two days of unpaid furloughs could occur in August or September. These unprecedented closings will result in an inability to assist taxpayers seeking help.
National President Colleen M. Kelley is the leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the nation’s largest independent federal sector union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 separate government agencies.
I’m having a little trouble puzzling out how furloughing people who work for the IRS is going to help with the deficit. Although the rally organizers frame things in terms of the hardship on taxpayers “seeking help”, there may be more than a few taxpayers who are pleased at the prospect of the IRS being slowed down.
What is more interesting to me is how this might play out with other people inclined to demonstrate. Will the Occupy Wall Street people be in solidarity with the IRS people out in the streets ? Frankly, the 1% is probably a lot more worried about the IRS than your normal run of the mill occupiers.
Lest you think that tax collectors lack revolutionary potential, it is worth remembering that Thomas Paine was an excise man early in his career.
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
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