Should I run for political office?

[john828]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hbca1B6HG_Pll1HiP0eGOpHslkIQD968B8KG0

Prosecutors: Jail ex-D.C. mayor Barry over taxes
By BRIAN WESTLEY – 12 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors asked a federal judge Monday to send former Washington mayor Marion Barry to jail for failing to file his tax returns for the eighth time in nine years.

In a motion filed in U.S. District Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Zeno said Barry, who's also a current District of Columbia Council member did not file his taxes in 2007, violating his probation for previous tax offenses.

Barry, 72, was given three years of probation in 2006 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges for failing to file his tax returns from 1999 to 2004. As part of a plea bargain, he agreed to file future federal and local tax returns annually.

Two years ago, however, prosecutors sought to have that probation revoked after Barry failed to file his 2005 taxes. But U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson refused, ruling that prosecutors did not prove Barry willfully failed to file his returns, even if he was aware that he missed the deadline.

A little background:

From 2003 to 2005, I was self-employed and in 2005 I made an obscene amount of money but failed to fully pay my taxes.  I still owe uncle Sam a little over $30K.  For three years I shirked this debt.

Should I run for political office?  I never felt qualified until recently when I saw that so many leaders of the political world had done the same.

[Monkeyleg]

Only if you're a Democrat. If you're a Republican you can get bounced out of office for bumping into someone in an elevator.

[john828]

Thanks for the advice monkeyleg.  I guess all my political aspirations are dashed.   

For a minute I was having delusions of grandeur considering there seems to be a bunch of tax cheats in high offices.  I guess I will continue mailing them my monthly check as I eke out a hardscrabble existence. 

[Gowen]

Again! democrats don't care if they raise taxes, they don't pay them anyway.