Absolute power absolutely corrupts.
This is true. And a few years ago our IRS system became very corrupt, quite a menacing and bullying organization. But they were taken down a few notches by congress. The fact that they could be taken down proved that they do not have absolute power.
IRS has been much kinder and gentler since the beat-down but they are starting up again. A word to the wise: I have heard that the IRS plans to target tax accounting professionals. This means when they find a tax-evader that used a specific tax accountant, they may well audit ALL of the clients of that tax accountant to see if it has been going on with others. If you are using a tax accountant that encourages or allows shady write-offs, you may want to change quickly. You could get targeted as a result of any of his/her clients being audited.