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I have always loved KC's Laugh of the Day. They have gotten me through many a tax appointment. And, as I'm aging fast myself, I loved Catherine's joke where the older person has a response ready (I often think of mine while driving home!). I liked that age and experience triumphed over youth. But, you can always skip the threads labeled Laugh of the Day.

When will it end? At least weekly the IRS is being publically exposed for some boondoggle or another. How many of us had to prod, cajole, and reassure clients that efile was safer than mail? How many times a tax season do we give the speech to wary clients that what goes to the IRS stays with the IRS, that no other agency in the federal gov't protects their privacy so securely. Well, now we look like fools. On a larger level, I am horrified at how one of the best-run agencies in the entire federal bureacuracy, with the best-trained employees, suddenly fell into such disrepute--targeting people for audits for political reasons (allegedly, with several officials pleading the Fifth), taking expensive junkets, and now releasing taxpayers' sensitive data. I know a lot of IRS agents, and find all of them to be dedicated, learned employees who are committed to upholding the tax code and respecting the taxpayers who pay them. Back when the Nixon administration imposed price controls, they borrowed heavily from the IRS labor pool because they were capable and well-trained in learning and upholding the law. I often defend the agency to my clients, explaining that it is not responsible for the mess of the tax code, it can only do what Congress tells it to do, etc. And now this. I think the fault has two levels. One is the practice of Congress to write social policies into the tax code. The IRS isn't just about collecting federal revenues anymore, but administering the nation's largest antipoverty program (EITC), stimulating housing, getting polluting cars off the road, encouraging business investment, helping people go to college, jointly administering labor and pension law, being burdened with a big chunk of Obamacare, etc. etc. These are political actions more than revenue-collection ones, and I guess the agency eventually had to succomb to politics in its operations. Second, Congress has greatly reduced the agency's budget while expanding its responsibilities. The Taxpayer Advocate herself recently detailed how reduced training funds have greatly impacted the effectiveness of her office. It is time to let the IRS return to its original purpose of collecting revenues, not administering social policies. Their staff should focus on Title 26, nothing else. They've been really good at it in the past and I believe can be so again, There are lots of federal agencies that focus on the poor, education, housing, health care, etc., so let these others do that work. Then the IRS can rebuild its former image as a respected (albeit hated) agency that does what it does well.

Yes, Sara, that is what needs to be done. I can't help thinking that most of the 'rot' started when an admitted tax cheat was placed in charge of the agency. It's hard not to believe that the truly dedicated IRS employees, at all levels, found that embarassing and disheartening. And then you add on all the new non-tax responsibilities you mention, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Lion, that was my exact reaction to that joke. Maybe you have to reach a certain age to get to the point you cheer on any smart comeback from an "old guy or gal"? I'm not going to bother with criticisims about jokes. A joke is always an attempt at sharing a smile with your audience. Not all work for all people, but they are all meant in the spirit of sharing cheerfulness, so if it falls flat for me, I will ignore it and move on. Only if I think something was clearly meant to hurt someone would I object. We all need laughs in our lives. After Don died, my boys called often, just to 'check on Mom', and some of the best parts of those calls were the jokes they shared with me. Don had always loved god jokes, and hearing the boys carry on that tradition gave me a great lift in a hard time. If I can give someone else a smile now and then, I will. SLC has been a member since the start, back in Aprill 07, and has only posted 219 posts in all those years, and most of the recent ones have been negative in tone. I hope that's not due to problems in his life. He can attack me, I'm a tough old bird, but attacking Catherine IS NOT ALLOWED.

Its time to abolish the IRS and replace with something new!

Thanks, Jack! That was a great solution.

Click on the "Page" button right next to the "Print" button, works perfectly.

Grandpa: Timmy accept me as a Facebook friend Timmy: WTF! You have Facebook grandpa? Grandpa: What is WTF? Timmy: Welcome to Facebook

Only in Ohio, I wished a Bears fan would thought about this. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/07/09/browns-to-honor-fan-who-took-shot-at-team-in-obituary/

Here's one my cousin sent me. Humorless persons beware; the rest of you have a good chuckle. Normally I avoid discussing any advice regarding buying or selling of stocks, but I felt this is important enough to share and warn you since this explosive situation might prove to be yet another ENRON. Please review any holdings you might have in the following stocks: American Can Interstate Water National Gas Company Northern Tissue Company Due to uncertain market conditions, I advise you to sit tight on your American Can, hold your Water, and let go of your Gas. You may be interested to know that Northern Tissue touched a new bottom today, and millions were wiped clean. It's a tough market out there. Be careful!

I wish there was an undecided button. I might not chime in on this one until November or so.