This segment of What’s Ahead spotlights a chilling proposal from the White House and congressional Democrats that would ultimately destroy all vestiges of your financial privacy.
If Congress approves, the IRS will track every bank account with more than $600 in activity a year. With straight faces, proponents claim this gross invasion of privacy is necessary to catch tax cheats, especially those nefarious billionaires. That rationale, of course, is preposterous, as the truly well-to-do have plenty of accountants and lawyers to protect their interests.
The real target is the middle to upper-middle class and small businesses who don’t have that kind of access and can therefore be more easily intimidated and shaken down.
And make no mistake, the IRS wants to get its hands on every financial account you have, whether it be credit cards, debit cards, PayPal or anything else.
This ghastly initiative must not become law.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.
Steve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers,
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Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media.
Steve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steve’s signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy.
Steve helped create the recently released and highly acclaimed public television documentary, In Money We Trust?, which was produced under the auspices of Maryland Public television. The film was inspired by the book he co-authored, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy – and What We Can Do About It.
Steve’s latest book is Reviving America: How Repealing Obamacare, Replacing the Tax Code and Reforming The Fed will Restore Hope and Prosperity co-authored by Elizabeth Ames (McGraw-Hill Professional).
Steve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” A widely respected economic prognosticator, he is the only writer to have won the highly prestigious Crystal Owl Award four times. The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.
In both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.