From Secession 1861 to Appomattox 2015: The View of a Sesquicentennial Tourist
This is a guest post from my Sesquicentennial battle buddy Georg Snatzke. We only spent two days together, but those days are the bookends of my Sesquicentennial real...
Structuring – First Kent Hovind – Now Dennis Hastert
Personally, I’m becoming convinced that structuring prosecutions are a bad idea. My inference is that they are attractive to prosecutors because it is a lot easier to prove than the nefarious activity that the structuring is thought to support. On top of that the forfeiture provisions can make the effort self-financing. It is too easy for supporters of those prosecuted that way to cast them as victims and increase the amount of alienation in the world. Hovind’s travails while receiving almost no mainstream attention have been a staple of right-wing conspiracy outlets such as Alex Jones for a while now, although the Hovindicators chide those venues for lack of zeal. The criminal prosecution of Kent Hovind has proven to be counterproductive to the cause of tax compliance and the use of structuring charges has greatly contributed to his supporters religious persecution narrative. I suspect that the prosecution of Dennis Hassert will also not be something that ends well for the country.
Follow Me
Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.