Who Are Modern Day Tax-Collectors?

I'm reading in Mark 2.15 this morning where Christ is reclining at the table with "tax-collectors and sinners." The tax-collectors were part of the native population hired by someone who had won a government contract to collect taxes in that particular location. They were universally despised because, according to NIDNTT, "The prevailing method of tax collection afforded collectors many opportunities to exercise greed and unfairness."

The way society perceived them at the time can be readily ascertained since they are connected in the gospels with sinners, heathen Gentiles, prostitutes, extortioners, imposters, and adulterers. Ouch! They were hated and despised and yet here you have many following Christ and him appearing to accept and even love them.

This makes me wonder who the modern day tax-collectors are. The people who we think do not deserve to be saved because they are such slime balls that grace shouldn't extend to them. Casey Anthony comes to mind. Imagine if she showed up at your church to hear the gospel. I think in a lot (not all, but a lot) of churches she would not be well received because we think she really doesn't deserve forgiveness and restoration, she deserves judgment. Of course we conveniently forget the we too deserve judgment, and we too are sinners, and we too are in need of God's grace. Christ never forgot this.