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Anti-war activists withhold their tax returns
Washington Times | 4/15/02 | AP

Posted on 04/15/2002 12:23:00 AM PDT by kattracks

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Tax day is here, and Susan Quinlan hasn't filed her form 1040 yet. She doesn't plan to.
     As an anti-war activist, she objects to paying taxes that fund the nation's defense budget.
     Most of the 10,000 or so conscientious tax resisters nationwide send letters to the Internal Revenue Service each year explaining that they are withholding their cash and putting the money into an interest-earning fund. Then they donate the interest to what they deem life-affirming, peaceful causes.
     "We're upset that our tax money is funding militarism," said Larry Harper, a tax resister from Sebastopol.
     "This is not tax evasion," said Bill Ramsey of St. Louis, a spokesman for the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee. "This is tax refusal and redirection. It's a public act and an act of conscience."
     The practice isn't without risk — the IRS considers resisters to be tax cheats. Mr. Harper said the IRS took $1,200 from his bank account the first time he resisted in 1982 but has left him alone ever since.
     Critics argue that tax resisters could take advantage of charity tax credits, already part of the tax system. They also say resisters are selfish because they benefit from government services funded by citizens who do pay taxes.
     "The vast majority of salaried employees file and pay voluntarily," IRS spokesman Anthony Burke said. "Most Americans, I think, are law abiding and honest citizens."
     Just days before today's tax-filing deadline, Miss Quinlan and Mr. Harper led a workshop in Berkeley and dispensed brochures, information and support to 15 tax-resister recruits.
     The movement started after the Vietnam War and rose again during the Persian Gulf war. Miss Quinlan said interest has been piqued this year by the war in Afghanistan.
     "I wondered after September 11 if we'd be deluged with people," Miss Quinlan said. "We weren't initially. But we are seeing more now."
     Instead of putting a check in the mail today, Miss Quinlan and some of her fellow Northern California resisters will have a party and make contributions to charities from $10,000 earned as interest on their diverted tax endowment, which they call the People's Life Fund.
     Mr. Ramsey and 50 resisters in St. Louis have purchased $10,000 in medical equipment for clinics in Afghanistan. Outside the IRS office in St. Louis today, they will present the equipment to nurses who will take the supplies overseas.
     Nearly 29 alternative funds across the country plan to use $100,000 in interest this year to make grants to shelters for battered women, homeless programs and AIDS prevention.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: California
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To: kattracks
I don't want to pay taxes either. Too many social programs going to liberals. I'm not a liberal. If they get away with the referations scam, and liberals don't have to pay taxes, that means no one should pay taxes. It's equal protection under the law.

Hope this starts a movement. Where will the left wing get their support checks then?

41 posted on 04/15/2002 7:07:18 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: Cindy
Oh goody! Public statements by liberal dummies. Now what is the IRS going to do about this? Hmmm.....

Nothing. They pay out millions in illegal reparations without a hitch. Why hunt down liberals when they still get honest Americans to foot the bill?

42 posted on 04/15/2002 7:12:29 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: kattracks
I wonder if Rush has heard about this. I can never get through to his program. The line is always busy. Taxpaying citizens need to hear this one!
43 posted on 04/15/2002 7:20:11 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: jaq
Yeah. No one should pay taxes if objectors can opt out without
penalty. I don't think my taxes should fund international abortion promotion, or domestic Planned
Parenthood programs. I'll set up a life trust fund, too, to fund pro-life causes instead of promoting violence and
death.
44 posted on 04/15/2002 7:30:08 AM PDT by Persuasion
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To: kattracks
Since I don't care to fund left wing marxists at America's colleges and universities, perhaps I should withhold my income taxes as well.
45 posted on 04/15/2002 7:36:46 AM PDT by OldFriend
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To: kattracks
I really don't think it is appropriate for Freepers to post arguments urging people to resist paying U.S. taxes. This board is followed by federal authorities and posting such arguments may cause harm to Free Republic.
46 posted on 04/15/2002 7:37:55 AM PDT by ex-Texan
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To: ex-Texan
Are they keeping an eye on Liberal sites, too? They should.
We're pro-America. There's a big difference.
47 posted on 04/15/2002 8:03:42 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: jaq
E-X-C-U-S-S-S-E ME! But, this is against the law, and I wanna know how the hell they're getting away with this. They send letters to the IRS, and they're not prosecuted? That's B.S.
Does anyone remember what happened in Michigan a few short years ago?

A certain church in Indiana also comes to mind.

48 posted on 04/15/2002 8:09:34 AM PDT by Charles Martel
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To: kattracks
I'll bet if Israel starts kicking butt, they'll be calling for U.S. intervention. Guess we'll have to tell them we can't afford it.
Someone didn't pay their taxes.
Guess we'd better bring home the peace keepers, the Red Cross, Planned Parenthood. Can't afford them either. Someone didn't pay their taxes.
49 posted on 04/15/2002 8:33:33 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: kattracks
. Nearly 29 alternative funds across the country plan to use $100,000 in interest this year to make grants to shelters for battered women, homeless programs and AIDS prevention.

Time to stop federal funding for these programs. They're already getting paid.

50 posted on 04/15/2002 8:44:28 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: weikel
DITTO!
51 posted on 04/15/2002 8:49:38 AM PDT by Let's Roll
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To: kcvl
The NWTRCC maintains a list of names and addresses of more than a hundred individuals and local organizations in forty states that may assist you in finding the support you may need to decide about acting on your conscientious objection to paying taxes for war and the military,

How come our side doesn't have something like this to act on our conscientious objection to paying taxes for the support of illegal immigrants, deadbeat, "retired" politicians and the Clinton's secret service deal that pays the mortgage on their NY home? Sheeeeeet!

52 posted on 04/15/2002 8:58:17 AM PDT by Attillathehon
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To: ex-Texan
For the "federal authorities" monitoring Free Republic, READ THIS - I don't work - I let my husband - why? Because I'd only get about 1/3 of the money I earned anyway due to the marriage tax....so instead I AM POLITICALLY ACTIVE, working for CONSERVATIVE causes......take that and rub it where it feels good.
53 posted on 04/15/2002 9:02:25 AM PDT by goodnesswins
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To: Lazamataz
As you said;
"I grant you all of the above, but the stated reason these people are 'protesting' -- defense -- happens to be one of the only federal government programs spelled out in the Constitution."
Personal income taxes were first levied during WWI, wern't they? To support a European war, over there, over there...
It was promised that the tax would end with the war. Later, Social Security (which now make up the bulk of taxes I'm required to pay) when implemented, was to not excede--- what was it?---1 1/2%?

And the numbers assigned were strictly NOT to be used for identification purposes. There were a few Senators which held out for that particular stipulation.

I suppose some of them were even thinking at the time, "mark of the beast", or generally opposed to giving too much power to Federal (or State) Goverment over individuals. But we are slowly losing that battle, it seems... Just recently (within the last 2-3 yrs) the State of California recieved "correction" from the courts for their requirment that S.S. numbers be given in order to recieve a driver's license. Now, one need not give their #. That "judgement" sets good precedent, I think. But the State of CA still requires Social Security #'s on other licenses. Must one "take them to court" for each and every breach of Federal Social Security guidelines? It looks like that is the case.

54 posted on 04/15/2002 9:05:23 AM PDT by BlueDragon
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To: firebrand; StarFan; Dutchy; stanz; OneidaM; n.y.muggs; evilC; RaceBannon; NYC GOP Chick; ELS...
ping

Berkeley... why am I not surprised?!

55 posted on 04/15/2002 9:06:04 AM PDT by nutmeg
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To: nutmeg
My favorite radio station, WBAI, had a nifty discussion about this this morning in fact. Didn't catch the name of the chick in the interview, but maybe this was her?
56 posted on 04/15/2002 9:08:50 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: nutmeg
I'm assuming they are all self-employed or consultants of one type or another, otherwise the with-holding would make this a moot point or even better by refusing to file and possibly receive a refund they are in fact donating more to the military!!
57 posted on 04/15/2002 9:20:07 AM PDT by Nitro
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To: kattracks
The IRS will pay a percetage of any money collected to those who turn in tax cheats. They ask for the tax cheat's Social Security# but I'm sure they'd appreciate any info you could provide.

Maybe they just haven't heard about these folks yet. You can donate any reward money you get to your own favorite charity.

58 posted on 04/15/2002 10:17:38 AM PDT by ibbryn
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To: Sandy
Mr. Harper said the IRS took $1,200 from his bank account the first time he resisted in 1982 but has left him alone ever since.

WTF? I'm gonna have to try this.

Could be the $1200 was all he had and he has no more.

If any of these protesters earns a salary or wages the taxes have already been deducted, and all they are doing is failing to have their papers in order. Or are they all independent business poeple? I think not.

I suspect this is more a case of "indolence for the purpose of avoiding taxation", that is no income ==> no income tax (but you are still required to file). I remember several year back some religious pacifists forming a subsistence farming and barter community this way. They didn't mind selling a bit of produce and paying local tax on their real estate. Wrong-headed but honorable.

These, on the other hand, I believe to be trust fund hippies.

59 posted on 04/15/2002 10:46:57 AM PDT by Salman
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To: Salman
I suspect this is more a case of "indolence for the purpose of avoiding taxation", that is no income ==> no income tax

How can they donate to trust funds then? Welfare checks a little too big?

60 posted on 04/15/2002 11:07:13 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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