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Chris Hedges’ Civil DisobediencePosted on Nov 21, 2007
The Truthdig columnist writes in The Nation that he will not pay his taxes if the United States attacks Iran. Like Henry David Thoreau before him, Hedges will not help finance an immoral war. “I realize this is a desperate and perhaps futile gesture,” he writes. “But an attack on Iran—which appears increasingly likely before the coming presidential election—will unleash a regional conflict of catastrophic proportions.” Read Chris Hedges’ Truthdig columns here.
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By 1drees, November 30, 2007 at 4:18 am # LEFTY: all you do is ACCUSE everyone of your newly discovered concept of BIFPAT, Now I have been reading papers and never ever found that word on any reputable journal 9 or any other journal except your writings). Could it be that you are one of the paid stooges who are paid to introduce certain new concepts eg BIFPAT which has never been heard of before so that these become usable after a certain given time? you are a very weird one, if i discount your brainwash which seems to be a very typical zionist one, i mean you cannot see certain things at all or even feel them, dont worry its not that you are another kind of an animal its just that you been brainwashed since childhood for certain purposes and hence you are incapable of understanding somethings and associating with certain kinds of people, namely ones that are nonzionist. What I would advise you to do is to keep your hands away from the keyboard as you can simply not do any good or honesty and do what your name (lefty) suggests, keep it to your crotch.
By James Babb, November 27, 2007 at 8:20 pm # So wars against 3 Arab countries is OK, but attacking a fourth crosses the line? Stop paying now because acts of war have already been committed against Iran. The income tax is primarily a social control device, not a significant revenue source. The big theft is done by devaluing the currency with the Federal Reserve.
By vc, November 27, 2007 at 7:00 pm # bad news for you-- income taxes do NOT fund ANY government spending!!!!
By Godfrey, November 27, 2007 at 3:33 pm # The liberals created a Frankenstein Monster. They fed it with taxes, they removed the shackles of the constitution from its limbs and now it runs amok in the world. Look upon what you have wrought. Do you now FINALLY begin to understand the nature of power?
By Mike Schroeder, November 27, 2007 at 3:16 pm # The so-called “income” tax is actually an excise levied against the most valuable piece of property an individual owns: his labor. There is nothing in title 26 of the U.S. code (the Internal Revenue Code) that requires an individual American to pay a tax on the fruits of his or her labor; the reason being that it would violate the fifth amendment right not to be compelled to testify against yourself. Section 6103 (h)and (j)of the IRC, says that all returns and return information may be given to the DOJ for criminal prosecution,which is compelled testimony. Therefore the IRS says compliance with the tax is voluntary. The Supreme Court backs this up. In Flora v. U.S., 362 US 145, (1960), the Court declared that our tax system is based on individual self-assessment rather than distraint (force). The progressive income tax, along with it’s mother, the FED, is a Marxist mechanism designed to create the “classless” society by breaking the middle class. Ron Paul understands this, and has rightly called for the doing away with both. These two mechanisms, and the American sheeples compliance with them, are what allows the Bushies and the Clintons of this world to expand the empire. While it is of utmost importance to elect a Ron Paul to lead us, it is equally important for individual Americans to stand on their unalienable rights and stop complying with the unlawful decrees and demands of the Federal leviathan.
By J D Smith, November 27, 2007 at 12:00 pm # Chris Hedges’ decision to protest an attack on Iran by refusing to pay taxes will affect those who give the Bush Administration marching orders much like a decision to enter a noise contest with a thunderstorm, then passing flatulence, would affect the thunderstorm. It’s a no contest. Comments #115120 (boycott Xmas Spending), #115202 (If you have income and spend it, then you’re paying taxes.) show understanding of what really funds our Federal Government and #115297 (the Tolstoy quote) explains the historical and current motivation for war. Those who would stop aggressive war should vow to stop all (self-determined) OPTIONAL con-sumption and inform their Senators and Congressman they have done so. An explanation of moti-vation should be included. This general but limited boycott – when and if enough individuals take the proposed action – will quickly effect a change in marching orders. A precipitous drop in US taxable income will convince the worlds banking cartel that funding war is no longer a good investment. The money save via boycott should be kept on hand to assist those whose jobs disappear – there will be plenty of them.
By Friends Of Liberty, November 27, 2007 at 11:15 am # The Fascist, Warfare-State Neocon Republicans love Big Brother. The Socialist, Welfare-State Democrats love Big Brother. Neither the Pachyderm nor the Jackass is good for America. Only Ron Paul is good for America. He is our only hope of stopping the madness and returning America to its former state of greatness. We are a result of Alexander Hamilton’s statist ideology. Let’s go back to Thomas Jefferson’s ideology of freedom. Ron Paul is a Jefersonian Constitutionalist. He is our one last hope. Are you tired of the same old politicians making the same old promises to fix America’s same old problems with the same old failed ideas? Then let’s vote for someone with different ideas, who will use a different, proven, method to make America great again. Vote for Ron Paul
By Paul D., November 27, 2007 at 8:37 am # “Paul has steadfastly refused to repudiate the support given him by white supremicist...” Here’s a good answer to this silliness by Justin Raimondo: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/give_the_money_ba ck_hell_no/ It’s amazing to me how many have taken up this smear launched by the neocons. That is, how many on the left have made themselves tools of the neocons. Geez, folks, think what you are doing! Hell, for all we know this is nothing but a setup. The stormfront guy might have been paid off by the neocons to make this contribution; what easier way to torpedo a campaign that is threatening the ruling class. Don’t be a dupe. If you want to stop the war, there are only two candidates: Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. Don’t carry the neocon’s water by attacking either of them. Pick one and do everything you can to support him.
By Doktor Jeep, November 27, 2007 at 8:12 am # Keep in mind that it should not be just an unjust war that simply motivates. People have been killed or sent to prison making a stand on the grounds that there is NO LAW that says government can tax individuals. Google Ed Brown. The income tax was never ratified or legalized, yet is enforced at gunpoint. THEY have the guns, the courts, and the prisons, so they can say what they want and enforce what they want. Even if it is an anti-war stance, the masses will still be sold on the “not paying their fair share” bullshit. Enslaved people get some satisfaction watching those other slaves with more courage get the jackboot on their neck. Good luck, you will need it. When enough people do this, then you have a movement, and a revolt.
By David H. Miller in Sacramento, November 27, 2007 at 1:48 am # Johnny B. wrote: >If you didn’t pay taxes this is what would happen. Hmmm… You don’t think FedEx or UPS would be willing to get into the first-class mail business? Did you know that for over a century and a half, private firms have occasionally tried to compete with the Post Office but that the Feds keep using legal powers to shut them down? >Not a clue whether you should have an umbrella, coat, or galoshes to wear. Or I could just look outside the window. >No calls on your phones; satellites not maintained. Gee, the government manufactures and maintains satellites? Back in the ‘80s, I worked for a private firm that made the satellites. Guess I just fantasized all that. >No churches to pray because they are not getting monies covertly from government. Well, I’m an atheist, but, unfortunately, I fear the Christians will keep forking over their money to the Elmer Gantrys, government or no. >No defecating without a shovel; toilets don’t work. Hmmm…. I pay private firms for my natural gas, phone and cable service, etc. Why couldn’t I pay private firms for waste disposal and water supplies in the same way? >No Space Station because of any money to regularly boost it into a higher orbit. Good. Let it burn. I’m a scientist (Ph.D. in physics, 1983, Stanford). The Space Station is of no scientific value and NASA keeps getting astronauts killed pretending falsely to do science. Shut’em down. >The paucity of innovations; no government seed money to give them birth. I’ve done research at federal research facilities (Department of Energy), in the defense industry, and in private industry. The government-funded research was a joke and a fraud. If taxpayers only saw what I’ve seen, they’d shut it down. But the one I liked best was: And of course, our precious armed forces really protected us on 9/11, didn’t they? They couldn’t even scramble the jet fighters! And, if the Defense Department had any men of character left in it, why didn’t they disobey Dubya’s illegal orders to start a war against a country, Iraq, that had never posed any threat to the United States? Let’s be honest. Chris Hedges’ point is that the pirates have already landed and taken over the US: the pirate leaders’ names are President Richard Cheney and his Veep G. W. Bush. And anyone who thinks that Hillary or Obama is any different does not follow the news. Kucinich and Dr. Paul do seem to be different. I’ve followed both men’s careers for over twenty years, and while I don’t agree with either completely, both seem to be honest. And I find the he’s-from-Texas-and-racists-like-him-so-he-must-be racist smear of Cong. Paul to be ludicrous. If Cong. Kucinich starts raising real money, he’ll face similar concocted smears. But neither Kucinich nor Paul is going to win. So Chris is right. It’s time to think about how the people can re-take control of this country from the oligarchy that has ruled it for more than a century. Let me be blunt, JB. The ruling oligarchy has bought your soul: they have you so terrified that your toilet will stop working or that you’ll lose your satellite TV or that your fellow citizens will eagerly cut your throat if you are not defended by government cops, that you lack the courage even to applaud the sort of mild civil disobedience advocated by Chris Hedges. Two and a quarter centuries ago, Americans took up arms against a King George whose depredations were insignificant compared to those of George W. Bush. That you are unwilling to rid this country of the monstrously evil leviathan on the Potomac out of fear that it will unsettle you pathetic middle-class existence speaks volumes about the degradation that now pervades this country. Dave Miller, Ph.D.
By Charles Merrill, November 25, 2007 at 8:17 am # Good for you. I haven’t filed income taxes since 2004 protesting the corrupt government of King George. Yes indeed, It is again time to throw the tea into Boston Harbor. Our biggest enemines are accountants that promote fear of the IRS in order to get rich.
By John Borowski, November 25, 2007 at 6:57 am # If you didn’t pay taxes this is what would happen.
By Conservative Yankee, November 24, 2007 at 1:32 pm # LEFTY “The Gilded age...where(sic) the leading causes of death were infection and starvation?” Actually not so. The leading causes of death were measles, influenza, and Scarlett fever.
By Nancy, November 24, 2007 at 10:36 am # Just don’t forget; Politics make strange bed-fellows.
By Conservative Yankee, November 24, 2007 at 5:45 am # 115368 by Ernest Canning on 11/23 at 4:59 pm “ElkoJohn: I hope you realize that Ron Paul was amongst those who joined in seeking to table impeachment when Mr. Kucinich introduced the articles before the House on a motion of privilege. I think that disqualifies Paul as a “constitutionalist” prepared to withstand the fascist onslaught against our constitution and the rule of law. Mr. Kucnich is the only presidential candidate who warrants our vote.” One of the things I hate most about politics is things are “Alice-in-wonderland” confusing. As Mr Carol noted in his political expose` things just keep getting more confusing. cyrena says that Jews should reject Ron Paul because he says the Israeli lobby is evil and powerful. My Grandmother felt the same way, and she (coincidentally) WAS a Jew, with a number tattooed on her arm! He4r saying on the subject (she had a saying for EVERYTHING) was “We couldn’t live with Nazis so long and learn nothing from them.” As to his connections to white supremisists, remove one word in his sentence and replace it with three, and that argument disappears. My campaign literature reads; ““We are constantly told it is evil to be afraid of black men, it is hardly irrational. Black men are convicted of murders, rapes, robberies, muggings and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers.” Jesse Jackson said something similar: “There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery—then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved.” Is he a racist? Stating facts in a political campaign is not a bad thing. I have removed my support for Ron Paul due to his anti-choice stand which seems (to me) is at odds with his other libertarian views! I have a feeling that a true libertarian would not survive in Texas! Add Your Comment |
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