Let me put this first warning, it is very radical but it is effective too.
Disclaimer: I am not ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST IT, IT IS UP TO YOU. I AM PASSING ALONG INFORMATION THAT I KNOW ABOUT. THERE IS NO NEED TO HORDE KNOWLEDGE, IT MUST BE SHARE AS A WHOLE FOR A SOCIETY TO LIVE IN HARMONY.
“Let them march all they want, as long as they continue to pay their taxes.”
-Alexander Haig, U.S. Sec. of State, June 12, 1982
It is impossible to conduct warfare without soldiers and weapons. However, before governments can buy weapons and recruit soldiers, they must first raise the necessary money through taxes or borrowing. War tax resistance is refusing to pay some or all of those federal taxes that contribute to military spending.
I met this woman during a rally, ever since then she has been one of the few people I really admire. Some of you may know her and some of you may not. The person I am talking about is Kathy Kelly
Here is some info on her:
In 1988 she was sentenced to one year in prison for planting corn on nuclear missile silo sites. Kelly served nine months of the sentence in Lexington KY maximum security prison.
…
Kelly helped organize and participated in nonviolent direct action teams in Haiti (summer of 1994), Bosnia (August, 1993, December, 1992) and Iraq (Gulf Peace Team, 1991). In April of 2002, she was among the first internationals to visit the Jenin camp in the Occupied West Bank.In the spring of 2004, she served three months at Pekin federal prison for crossing the line as part of an ongoing effort to close an army military combat training school at Fort Benning, GA.
Nobel Peace Prize Nominee with Denis Halliday 2000
Nobel Peace Prize Nominee 2001
Nobel Peace prize Nominee, with Voices in the Wilderness 2003
One of the things she has done for 25 years, she is a war tax refuser, she has refused payment of all Federal income tax.
Since there isn’t a specific tax that goes directly to the military, war taxes generally mean individual federal income taxes and as well as some excise taxes (e.g., the 3% federal excise tax on telephone service). Though a case can be made to include Social Security, state, and local taxes, these are generally not considered “war taxes.”
The following information comes from the 2007 United States Budget – “Analytical Perspectives.”
BUDGETTED: Current Military = $563 billion:
- Military Personnel $110 billion
- Operation & Maint. $162 billion
- Procurement $90 billion
- Research & Dev. $72 billion
- Construction $8 billion
- Family Housing $4 billion
- DoD misc. $4 billion
- Retired Pay $49 billion
- DoE nuclear weapons $17 billion
- NASA (50%) $8 billion
- International Security $8 billion
- Homeland Secur. (military) $27 billion
- Exec. Office of President $2 billion
- other military (non-DoD) $2 billion
UNBUDGETTED: Iraq & Afghanistan Wars = $100 billion:
Most of the spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is not included in the President’s Budget but the Administration will seek supplemental appropriations later this year as it has in the past three years. This is likely an underestimate.
Past Military = $439 billion:
- Veterans’ Benefits $76 billion
- Interest on national debt $353 billion (80% est. to be created by military spending)
That information is from our government. Remember Orwell and the Ministry of Truth. Depending on how a watchdog group presents the budget figures, the number will differ from the governments.
Center for Defense Information (CDI) 51% of our federal income tax goes to the war machine.
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) reports 42%.
Like I said, it is radical way to protest and it can be done. Once again, this is my disclaimer: I am not ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST IT, IT IS UP TO YOU. I AM PASSING ALONG INFORMATION THAT I KNOW ABOUT. THERE IS NO NEED TO HORDE KNOWLEDGE, IT MUST BE SHARE AS A WHOLE FOR A SOCIETY TO LIVE IN HARMONY.
If you want more, you can email.
“If a thousand men [and women] were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Incredible diary. I read everything, all the links, everything at Voices in the Wilderness. I’m not fit to shine Kathy Kelly’s shoes.
When I met her, I really didn’t know who she was and I thought she was another person attending a protest rally. I didn’t even know she was going to be a speaker.
The night before the rally, I must have spent over an hour talking. She is one of the kindest person I ever met. In fact, she spent most of our time listening to me ramble about the war and how I thought Syria might be next on the BushCo machine. I think she really appreciated that instead of me asking her the usual 1,000 questions she must get.
She is also a very powerful speaker, she makes you believe that anything is possible. I can see why she was nominated 3 times for the Noble Peace Prize.
If you are the immigration attorney Arminius, I’m sure you are fit to shine Kathy Kelly’s anything…. this diary reminds me of a little problem I have… must email you about that persona non gratis issue.
and yes, I was extremely impressed with this woman. She definitely ranks in the top ten of famous people I have ever met.
I also did a diary on Kathy Kelly back in January.
I asked then if she knew of Gene Sharp’s nonviolent struggle research, and oh, of course, she knew, and mentioned the name of a group that is making use of that knowledge in the hemisphere to the south of us, rather than here in the US.
Kathy is very calm, but also a very powerful speaker. I’d say don’t pass up an opportunity to meet her.
Could that country, who is making using of that knowledge, be the same country that is a torn on Bush’s side?
Nonviolent Peaceforce
BTW, I’m a huge admirer of Hugo.
Hey, I’d like to do a recommend, and I feel bad about not doing one, but I think I’m already in trouble enough for one day.
Noting your disclaimer; I think you’ll understand.
that such a thing will come to pass. I will advocate it, in a comment earlier today, I said that Americans must decide whether they wish to uphold their Constitution or the Patriot Act.
Considering what the taxes are used for, Americans are also empowered to choose whether they wish to obey the tax laws, or a host of international laws and conventions, for some the law of basic morality, and for some, of all faith traditions, God’s law.