It's somewhat fanciful to think the government, upon receiving this windfall of 'reappropriations' will turn around and put them toward paying the national debt (or at least reducing the deficits). More tax income doesn't reduce the individual 'working man' tax burden, spending just increases to cover the windfalls.
BTW, this is very revealing:
"I'm going out of my way,” he said in a prison interview. “Risking my career. Risking my reputation. Risking my life. And trying to unfold the largest fraud in US history."
versus
Birkenfeld's attorneys argue that he's entitled to a percentage of all the tax revenue recouped as a result of his whistleblowing.
At the same time, wasteful thoigh it might be government spending presumably doesn't just go down a black hole. The working man receives a service or at least the fringe benefit of that money being circulated back into the economy.
Either way, any use is more beneficial to ordinary americans than having the rich horde billions of taxable dollars in offshore accounts.
Hoarding money isn't actually bad for ordinary Americans. It removes money from circulation, which the Fed can make up for as necessary to regulate inflation.
Still not a versus. You can try to solve a crime expecting personal gain. For example, many detectives probably wouldn't work for free. They solve crimes w/ the expectation that they will be paid for their results as agreed to by some contract.
Sure, but there's a major incentives issue when people start demanding a percentage of the proceeds for uncovering frauds they initially helped to commit...
I also don't think it's appropriate that he's in prison whilst those he tried to unmask aren't, of course.
BTW, this is very revealing:
"I'm going out of my way,” he said in a prison interview. “Risking my career. Risking my reputation. Risking my life. And trying to unfold the largest fraud in US history."
versus
Birkenfeld's attorneys argue that he's entitled to a percentage of all the tax revenue recouped as a result of his whistleblowing.