Most if not all discussion regarding personal privacy and the Gubmint, so spelled by the sardonic set at Blake’s Place, is hypothetical. Not real. Lacking only the pitch of a Richard Hoagland to convince insomniacs with good AM reception that the Cydonia Public Library has a telescope fixed upon their bedroom window.

I just finished my tax returns. (Every true civil libertarian should do their own taxes) And unlike most of the civil rights demons routinely exorcised by the helplessly possessed at LISNews, taxes are quite real. And effect every one of our adult patrons. In fact, I can think of no other extension of Gubmint that approaches the codified crushing of my right to privacy than four numbers, 1040.

Would you tell a stranger what you paid for your house? How much you sold it for? Your salary? Your child’s trust or the trust, and price, you pay for their daytime caregiver? How much to have your hemorrhoids removed, tooth replaced, or former spouse recompensed? Your contributions to unions, clubs, teams, PAC’s, hurricane’s, Jerry’s kids, PETA’s pets,….

Still, the FISA fixation.

There are two reasons, at least in my opinion, that I can recall precisely zero whistles ever touching the lips of our library civil rights cadre about the U.S. tax code. Ignorance (see above thoughts on doing taxes). Or the more likely reason that this vanguard has a deeper affinity for wealth re-distribution and social contracts. Yes, I believe in taxes. But how can any self-respecting civil libertarian create an entire board game to a past Attorney General, yet, I wager, (W-2G to be declared) be incapable or unwilling to produce just one deck card with a taxpayer right.

For the record, or game, the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Amendments are all routinely sidestepped by the IRS. A sampling.

IRS code 7602 allows records of any type to be obtained without a court order or probable cause. This could conceivably include library records. (Fourth Amendment)

Summary judgments eliminate due process, enforcing decisions prior to court review. (Fifth Amendment)

Burden of proof upon accused. (Fifth Amendment)

No jury trial in tax court. (Sixth and Seventh Amendments).

Keeping with the real theme, 1.2 million federal income tax returns will be audited in 2006. (CNNMoney.com) Up a whopping 21% from last year. That’s 1.2 million minions mucking through Americans privacy within their own domicile.

The Patriot Act paranoia persists.

But perhaps the issue here is relevance for our profession? Consider having to provide titles of every book donated as a charitable contribution? Or rare tomes sold for a capital gain or received as a gift. What about being forced to disclosed every periodical subscription listed as a business expense? You will if one of the unfortunate 1.2 million. Surely you wouldn't trust these Gubmint folks any more than the suits from the Justice Department with your reading habits? Now consider this. Nearly every one of us is a willing accomplice to Gubmint civil rights abuses upon our patrons.

“Excuse me sir, can you direct me to your federal tax forms please?”

But income tax is the law you say. So is the Patriot Act.

Is your blood boiling now? Are you ready to remove your IRS reproducibles? Are we ready for a resolution? How about an ultimatum? Roundtable? LJ editorial? Perhaps even a little bullying i.e. the Boy Scouts of America?

I’ll believe it when I see it. Until then it’s not real.