Is The IRS Targeting Conservative Groups?

Political intrigue is lighting up the evening news as the current administration is under heavy fire for their possible role in targeting conservative groups for IRS review. Review, not rejection. In fact, the only group that came up as being denied by the IRS scrutiny is one that identifies itself as liberal. The list of liberal groups that went through the IRS’s targeted approach is out as well, so why the scandal?

IRS inquiries have reached an all time high following the Supreme Court’s Pinocchio decision that magically made corporations real people too. Organizations, including ones who donate to political parties, have all thrown in their application for tax exempt status. Congress should know that the IRS would investigate these requests, as they implemented that requirement back in 1913. This is to prevent groups who might be more interested in influencing politicians than promoting social welfare.

This is not the first time the Tea Party conservatives have raised their voices and cried discrimination, and, if the IRS is unjustly overstepping their bounds then this must be addressed. If this is another attempt to discredit opposition, and weigh change in favor of those taking advantage of the system, then a firm stance must be discussed. No group should be the target of discrimination, just as no group is above the law.

“The Oppressors do not favor promoting the community as a whole, but rather selected leaders”-Paulo Freire

By: Courtney Kidd, LMSW
SJS Writer