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David Burnahm Believes the I. R. S. is "A Law Unto Itself."

Investigative reporter David Burnham. His new book, "A Law Unto Itself: Power, Politics and the IRS," takes a critical look at the Internal Revenue Service, which Burnham calls "the single most powerful instrument of social control in the United States." Burnham's previous book, "The Rise of the Computer State," is about the threat to democracy posed by the collection and storage of data by government agencies. He's also done investigative reporting on police corruption in New York City, and was the reporter Karen Silkwood was on her way to talk to about abuses in the nuclear power industry when she was killed in a car accident. ("A Law Unto Itself" is published by Random House).

21:15
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Other segments from the episode on February 9, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 9, 1990: Interview with David Burnham; Review of Ofra Haza albums; Interview with Galen Rowell; Review of Cindy Sherman's photography exhibit.
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06:56

Yemeni-Israeli Musician Ofra Haza.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews the work of Israeli singer Ofra Haza. Haza's the closest thing to a world music "Superstar," with several very successful albums to her credit.

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11:19

Photographer Galen Rowell.

Photographer and adventurer Galen Rowell. Rowell has been called a cross between Sir Edmund Hillary and Ansel Adams. He's made a career out of traveling to the world's wild places and capturing them on film. An accomplished skier and mountaineer, Rowell has made more than 20 trips to the Himalayas and hundreds of climbs throughout the world.

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