It's millions we're talking about
And they don't grow on trees.
I gave you thirty-two.
My tax return shows it.
You tell me it is short,
By more than one,
But less than two.
It's millions we're talking about
And they don't grow on trees.
Your Revenue Code says,
By rule of thumb:
It's fraud when it's off,
By twenty-five percent or more.
Even if you are correct,
That I did not pay enough.
We're quibbling about less than ten percent.
So, it's not fraud.
You tried me in a court of law.
The jury of my peers did not have a hotel queen among them.
The good and honest people lived lives that did not require risk and dare.
Their daily decisions were probably routine, without inovation.
All were secure in their employment.
The zealous prosecutor also had a secure job.
He sought to tear up my empire because of omission and errors.
What I built up, despite the errors and imperfections
Provided a better quality of life
For the people using my hotels
And for the employees of my empire.
You know that my payment of thirty-two
More than covered the cost of this entire show;
The judges and prosecutors salaries
And all the other expenses.
Now, if to prison I must go
All the thousands of people I employ
May be out of jobs--on unemployment lines.
My hotels might be closed.
Does this make sense?
The people who use my hotels may be upset.
The man and women on their honeymoon.
Or those that share a room without the vow.
Those that seek the best
May have to settle for less.
We wrote off expenses for my mansion.
No doubt, it should have been
Allocated to each of my hotels,
Instead of creating bills to effect the same.
But in the numbers game
I leave it to the accountants,
Although, they too tell me
That they don't understand Your Revenue Code!
Your Revenue Code!!
Ben Podgor
Atlanta, GA
Copyright 1989