IRS Laptops Stolen

This might not be news to you, but some of the facts might be. Did you know that between January 2003 through mid-June 2006, approximately 490 laptop computers were stolen from the homes, cars, and offices of IRS personnel?

The problem? An estimated 40% of the information stored on those computers contained personal taxpayer information. Information that probably included minor information such as names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and employment information. If you were someone looking to steal someone's identity, could you find a more valuable mine of information than an IRS laptop? Oh, wait...we're talking about the government. The information was encoded and protected so that no one could possible break the code and get the information. Not a government agency. Never happen.

Could it?

Let's see now. The IRS says each laptop probably had information for 10-15 cases. Let's go with the smaller figure: 10 cases. That's ten cases multiplied by 490 equals 4900 cases. Let's say that of those 4900 cases, 44% had personal information (multiplying on fingers and toes)....that's 2,156 cases where personal information could (and I do emphasize could) have leaked to people with less than noble intentions.

Remember, just because Crook A steals a laptop and doesn't use the information himself, doesn't mean Crook A isn't smart enough to sell the laptop to Crook B. Or, Crook A sells the laptop to Fence A who knows Crook B. Crook B is looking for personal information to sell to illegal immigrants, criminals looking for another identity, or Identity Thief A. Of course, Fence A might be the one selling the information, and avoiding the middleman (Crook B).

But of course, we're talking about the IRS. Surely a governmental agency would take special care of it's taxpayer's personal information.

Wouldn't it?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402603.html?referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email&referrer=email

FairTax Endorsement

With April 15th fast approaching, I thought this FairTax endorsement would be an interesting item to share.

The Tennessee Farm Bureau with over 600,000 family memberships is by far the largest in the country.

Flavius Barker was Tennessee President from 1995 to 2006 and justly carries tremendous admiration and respect not only in the Farm Bureau but throughout the agricultural community. He is well known to consider issues very carefully, and state his positions very carefully.

If you've never heard of the FairTax, please, please read the following and go to the Fair Tax website (www.fairtax.org) to learn more about what the FairTax can and will do for you and your family. Sign the petition, contact your congressional representatives and insist that they pass HR25 as soon as possible, and tel lyour friends and family to do the same. It's just too important to our future, our children's futures and the future of our economy. With the passage of this tax reform act, there will be just no stopping the US economy. Our economy and the US in general will be the envy of the rest of the world.

Here is Mr. Barker's statement:

FLAVIUS BARKER

March 27, 2007

To: American Agriculture and Ranching.

We have a serious problem that affects every American. Our tax system is broken beyond repair and must be replaced.

In a hundred different ways the income tax system hurts American farmers and ranchers and our national economy.

I believe the best alternative for our present mess is the FairTax (HR 25). I urge you to learn about it and join me in supporting its passage.

The FairTax is good for farmers, good for ranchers, good for all Americans. In this, it is different from all previous tax debates that pit one group of Americans against another. Here is a proposal that can unite all Americans.

Let’s not accept the empty promise that “something must be done” any longer. Help me enact the FairTax. You can find more information at FairTax.org (www.fairtax.org).

Our children and grandchildren will enjoy a better economy, a better life and thank us for accepting our responsibility to solve one of the most serious problems facing our nation.

Thank you for your help. I look forward to working with you.

With my best wishes,

(signed) Flavius Barker

Flavius Barker
President
Tennessee Farm Bureau
1995 – 2006

"Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

Don't know who said it, but it says it all.