The Geithner Precedent - Already?

Besides being ethically disqualified, another reason many opposed the nomination of noted tax cheat Tim Geithner to serve as Treasury Secretary was because it would set a precedent that ethical shortcomings - specifically tax issues - were no longer disqualifying for cabinet positions. What we didn't realize was the precedent would apply so soon. Another Obama nominee, Tom Daschle failed to pay over $100K in taxes.

Thomas A. Daschle, nominated to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, did not pay more than $128,000 in taxes over three years, a revelation that poses a potential obstacle to his Senate confirmation.

The back taxes, along with $12,000 in interest and penalties, involved unreported consulting fees, questionable charitable contributions, and a car and driver provided by a private equity firm run by entrepreneur and longtime Democratic Party donor Leo J. Hindery Jr.

Many have argued in recent years that the tax code is too bloated with loopholes, exceptions, etc. and needs to be scrapped and replaced with either a flat tax or a national sales tax. The resistance to changing the tax code has mostly come from the same clowns who caused the problem - Congress. Why does Congress like the status quo? Because there are basically two reasons to bribe a congressman (or pay for his lunch) 1) how government spends money; and 2) how government confiscates money. Maybe, not likely, but maybe, these high profile cases will open some peoples eyes to what a mess we've created with the current tax system.