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 Hang Up on WarPosted on Apr 3, 2007
By Amy Goodman If you are upset that Congress won’t defund the war in Iraq, there’s something you can do: Stop paying a tax. Legally. The Internal Revenue Service is giving a rebate this year on a telephone war tax. This is one of those line items at the bottom of your phone bill. The tax was instituted in 1898 to help the United States pay for the Spanish-American War. Individuals and businesses have one chance to obtain a refund on this telephone war tax, by asking for it in their 2006 income tax returns. Remarkably, the Internal Revenue Service has made it easy to request the refund, yet IRS Commissioner Mark Everson says that many taxpayers are overlooking it. Obtaining the refund is easy. But first, a little history. The Spanish-American War lasted from April to August of 1898 and was predicated on a U.S. government demand that Spain abandon its colony in Cuba, which the U.S. subsequently occupied. By the end of 1898, the United States had also taken over the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. The war was also used as an official pretext to take over Hawaii. The Senate debated over the annexation in secret, some arguing for total annexation, others for just Pearl Harbor. Sen. Richard Pettigrew of South Dakota derided the annexation plan as money “thrown away in the interest of a few sugar planters and adventurers in Hawaii.” Military bases and raw materials—sound familiar? Advertisement The telephone tax of 1 cent per call targeted the wealthy, who were generally the only ones who had telephone access in 1898. After the war, the tax was eventually raised to 3 percent. Since the Vietnam War, it has been the target of war tax resisters, people who refuse to pay taxes because they do not want to fund war. Tax resistance has a long history. Henry David Thoreau promoted it in his essay “Civil Disobedience” to fight slavery: “If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood.” The IRS has vigorously targeted full-fledged tax resisters—ranging from those refusing to pay the Pentagon’s percentage of their taxes, to those who outright refuse to pay anything to the government—making an example of them by garnishing wages, sending them to prison for tax evasion and confiscating their homes. Tax resisters figured out that they could protest the telephone tax simply by writing their checks to the phone company, withholding the amount of the tax. The IRS deemed the collection of the tax too expensive, relative to the small amount of the tax itself. According to the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, early collection efforts by the IRS included the auctioning of Jim Glock’s bicycle for $22 in 1973 and of George and Lillian Willoughby’s VW Bug in 1971 for $123 (in 2004, Lillian, at 89, with the support of her husband, George, 94, was jailed for protesting the Iraq war). Court losses convinced the IRS to dump the telephone war tax in 2006 and to offer the retroactive rebate for phone taxes paid between March 1, 2003, and July 31, 2006. Typical refunds will be between $30 and $60. Ironically, while the IRS has dropped the tax on long-distance and “bundled” services, like high-speed Internet, the tax remains for older, standard local phone services and rental of equipment that enables the disabled to use phones. Thus, this tax on the rich is now a tax on the poor. Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga., has submitted a bill to permanently wipe this remnant clean. Two-thirds of the bill’s co-sponsors are anti-tax Republicans, so Democrats might be leery about passing it. The website, www.refundsforgood.org, lists step-by-step instructions on how to recoup the telephone tax rebate, and recommends donating it to charity. While Congress and President Bush trade barbs over war funding, with a simple check mark on your tax return you can help to defund the war. Claim your telephone tax rebate. Let the Pentagon hold a bake sale. Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on 500 stations in North America. © 2007 Amy Goodman Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment
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By Skruff, April 18, 2007 at 9:19 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
63195 by ralph orellanes,Ph.D on 4/10 at 3:29 pm says:
“On 9/11 we came together as one Nation to defend and destroy AlQuida.”
Nope, as soon as those planes hit my father (WWII vet)said: “Son, now you are going to get to witness the government doing what they do best… covering up a lie before the lie is uttered.”
My mother (also a WWII vet) said in response “The American people will never believe that soem old man in a cave could attack the world’s only ‘superpower’ three times before we could mount a repelling force”
They bet a buck, for which my father didn’t have to wait 24 hours.
Report thisBy The Wise Owl, April 17, 2007 at 8:49 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I think i came up with a good idea,why dont the Repbs and Democrats all get together and vote a Democrat in next election and 2012 elect a Republician,and next a Democrat and so on because each President that is elected,no matter which one,the other half dont like him so it would even it up and keep them honest.ho ho.Then maybe everyone could get along once again.I think that were letting the politicions dictate to us and this way we can dictate to them.Signed The Wise Owl
Report thisBy ralph orellanes,Ph.D, April 10, 2007 at 7:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Finally, the people of Amrerica are beginning to wake-up. On November 7th Americans fired Republicans who sold their souls to K-Street; or, “...to the company store.” The Founding Father of their party, Abraham Lincoln,warned them:”...a goverment of the people, for the people, and by the people.” Unfortunately, they did not listen. They sold themselves to the evil of K-Street.
On 9/11 we came together as one Nation to defend and destroy AlQuida. It started well. We began to desroy his caves in Tora-Bora. We were on his heels. Our elite Special Forces were about to close the trap when the order came: ‘stop the chase!. WHY? Because, with the capture of Osama bin Laden the WAR would, 1) have been over, and 2) our soldiers, with their mission complete would have been brought HOME.
These Neo-Cons want the war to go on, and on; forever, for 100 years, at least! Eisenhower warned us:’‘'beware of the military industrial complex! He predicted how these Neo-Cons would become war profiteers on K-Street.
That photo-op on the rose-garden was evil. He told family members that they might never, ever again see them. To ues this tactic on the famity is insensitive to say the least; let’s say it like it is:EVIL!
Rumfeld was very cavalier about their deaths. His anaswers to reporters was always, ‘’‘they would have died on the roads of the US of A! The soldiers are part of his arsenal, no more or less; and like bullets they are expendable. The evidence is in the pudding: Walter-Reed!
Now if the Commander-in-Chief wants to continue his fiasco, let him! We all know that Blackwater is his favorite private army. Remember when these contrcators were hung-up on the bridges of Fuluja he responded with a vengence by sending the Marines. Many Marines were lost; but, unlike Blackwater, they are expendable! Blackwater is protected by laws tnat immune them from court-martial,etc, etc! The President pays them very well; they are paid like CEOs:$1oo,$1000 or more a day.They are allowed to use lethal weapos that rip the insides of the victim. If our soldiers were do use these guns they would be in Abu-Graib.
So let him march with Blackwater for another 100 years; he’ll be well protected, like a queen-bee! Also the Prssident stated Blackwater was very effective with hurricane Katrina. Let him go! GO! Go1 GO! GO! In fact, Mr. President, lead them like Custar did. Let him parachute out with Blackwater yelling Jeronamoooo! Some-one will writea book about it: that will be his legacy! So let us all say to him; please be-gone with you!
Report thisBy Robert Riversong, April 8, 2007 at 8:37 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
In response to #62786 Skruff, the Social Security Trust Fund is (supposed to be) separate from the federal budget.
According to the official government pie chart (see link provided below), which illegitimately includes SS spending in the federal budget and hides much of the defense-related expenditures (including most of the debt payments), the defense portion is a meager 21%.
Yet in absolute terms, the US spends more on defense than all other nations on earth combined. Is this how we want to spend our precious resources, let alone the precious lives we’re expending in foreign misadventures?
- Robert
Report thisBy Skruff, April 8, 2007 at 10:23 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
#62668 by dick on 4/07 at 10:02 am
asserts:
“War costs, direct and indirect, amount, now, to 40 per cent of your income tax. This is the highest amount of any catagory of the tax.”
Not really the cost of social security and medicaid eclipse the cost of defense about 2 to 1.
I actually agree with the thrust of this post however. We get something for our social security dollar. we get nothing from war.
Report thisBy Robert Riversong, April 7, 2007 at 11:53 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
In response to 62668 “dick”, the Fiscal 2008 federal budget is 51% dedicated to past, present and future war-making, making this the largest priority of our nation (see http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm).
Much of that percentage is hidden in other federal departments and in the national debt, which is primarily due to war-making.
As long as war-making remains the most profitable “business” of corporate America and the politicians whom it has purchased, we will continue to be the most despised nation on Earth, will become ever more vulnerable to attack, and will continue to suck our domestic economy dry.
And this “business-as-usual”, which has been the foreign policy of the US since the Spanish-American War, will continue as long as American citizens continue to foot the bill.
- Robert
Report thisBy dick, April 7, 2007 at 2:02 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
War costs, direct and indirect, amount, now, to 40 per cent of your income tax. This is the highest amount of any catagory of the tax.
Report thisBy Robert Riversong, April 6, 2007 at 10:11 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
In response to Katy, who opposes the war in Iraq by also opposes defunding it because she believes the propaganda from the Bush adminstration that defunding means abandoning our troops.
Perhaps you don’t remember that the illegal and immoral war against Vietnam ended only when Congress, after enourmous pressure both from citizens and active duty GIs, DEFUNDED that war. The troops weren’t then abandoned, but brought home alive (those that survived that long).
Until the American people demand that Congress, as OUR representatives and sworn to uphold the Constitution, get a backbone and do the right thing, our troops will continue to be killed by the “enemy” that they think they are defending, the sovereign people of Iraq (and Afghanistan, and soon Iran).
- Robert
Report thisBy Dangerous Dan, April 5, 2007 at 11:56 pm #
Robert Riversong.. Please, if you have time and the inclination…go to my website http://www.ExpendableElite.com
Report thisand you will note that I represent the truth in what I writeand I am sorry that is misled you with my words about fighting for freedom. I do believe that our military fought for freedom for many countries in WWII, including ours. Me and my men thought we were fighting for the freedom of the 64,000 Buddhist Hoa Haos in An Phu District in South Vietnam. What we didn’t know was that our nation was about to betray the South Vietnamese and abandon them..We must NEVER send our military to wage war unless it is a declared war by the Congress and that it be based on a request from a free nation under attack by an aggressor. We must no longer be an invader or a force to fight a war to keep an arms and equipment industry making a profit. We must again be a “Defender of Freedom” I mean strictly a “DEFENDER OF FREEDOM.” I pray this helps you to understand what I meant to say.
By Katy, April 5, 2007 at 11:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
In response to the “Hang up on War”, as someone who does pay taxes with a frown on my face every year, everytime I make a purchase, or get a pay check…I also know that the tax dollars don’t always fund defense funds, well, in a perfect world that is.
As must as I wish President Bush would stop acting as the “DECIDER” and start listening to his cabinet, Congress, or .. ANYONE… It scares me to think that there is legislation pointed toward de-funding the war in Iraq. WHY? Certainly not because I support the war, if that’s what you are thinking. But simply because I have several loved one’s there who are soldiers in Iraq. If there is no funding, they are essentially abandonned. Whether you agree with the ‘idea’ or not, they are still people and they are doing what they BELIVE in.
If we are such a free country, then why do we consistently condemn and judge those that act and stand up for what they believe? We are, against the war. Well so are the one’s who support it. (just another perspective)
If I felt that defunding the war in Iraq would actually bring the soldiers HOME and end the war, then by all means, I’m for it! But cutting off funding NOW when we’re STUCK, would be similar to taking your child to a deserted island surrounded by its worst enemies, leaving him/her there without any food or water… And then picking up your child afterwards and saying: “Hey glad your home” ....
Defund = Neglect, simply put. End the war yes! But how about this foreign concept called diplomacy, could we TRY THIS?! If its too late for diplomacy, then don’t you think neglecting to pay taxes as a protest is also a little late coming too?
Report thisBy Louise, April 5, 2007 at 9:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Regarding Truth Be Told (Comment #62222)
Aside from the fact that your name may be a misnomer, let me point out something.
If in fact the elected dems raise taxes, it will be to try and salvage what’s left of our economy when the lid is finally slammed shut on what’s left of the treasury!
“The last act of a Despot is to loot the Treasury.”
Over and over again we watch elected repubs destroy the economy and when the people have had enough they elect the dems. The dems save the economy. But because, as Daddy Bush pointed out when Florida was busy trying to hide Gore votes, “The people can’t remember anything for more than three months.” The people will be persuaded by the repubs that everything bad was caused by the Dems and vote themselves squarely “behind the eight ball” once again.
That doesn’t make all elected repubs wicked and well trained on how to use and abuse people for personal gain. Current leadership just makes it look that way.
More to the point, it shows how little attention the people pay to who their abuser is. Something that plays well into the agenda of people dedicated to slandering those who try to right wrongs.
Report thisBy Robert Riversong, April 5, 2007 at 8:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
While I sympathize with LTC Daniel Marvin’s fight to reveal the duplicity of our political and military leaders, the question is not are we giving aid to the enemy (we know that Bush has done much to allow his family friend bin Laden to escape justice), but who is the “enemy”.
There are many who legitimately hate the foreign policy of the US, which has be foisted on so many innocent peoples and nations, and consider themselves enemies of America. But the people we are at “war” with - the people of Afghanistan and Iraq (and soon Iran) are simply ordinary people striving for their own freedom from the neo-colonial occupier - the US of A.
Where I have to disagree with Daniel Marvin is when he repeats the myth that America has fought its wars for our freedom. While I have no doubt that many good soldiers believed (and still do) that they are fighting for freedom, America’s 200 or so wars and covert military actions have been in defense only of corporate elites. You can take Marine General Smedley Butler’s word on that: “War is a racket”.
- Robert
Report thisBy LTC Daniel Marvin, USA (Ret), April 5, 2007 at 7:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
COURAGE NEEDED in The Press, the Pulpit, the Politicians and the People
I writethis because I care for those who fight for this nation and who keep us free. I fought in two wars and have two grandsons who are combat veterans of the Iraq War. One is Air Force security man and the other is an Army paratrooper who was wounded in
Action, home on convalescent leave and now back in Iraq in the war with his buddies. Our armed forces are the bravest and the best and we need to back them in what they do.
In my book, Expendable Elite - One Soldier’s Journey Into Covert Warfare, I writeabout my year in Vietnam (Dec 65 to Dec 66) as commander of an independent force of Green Berets and Buddhist irregulars who fought the enemy along a 30 mile stretch of border with Cambodia. The well armed enemy, who outnumbered my forces four to one, operated out of what had been their safe haven inside Cambodia. That sanctuary ended the day I took command, but continued in all other areas - giving the enemy the advantage over our forces.
President Johnson had ordered that safe havens be provided the enemy all along the Cambodian border with South Vietnam. General William Westmoreland, rather than resign and tell the American people the truth, secretly made certain the enemy was allowed their safe havens from which they attacked our forces, killing and wounding thousands, while General Westmoreland played tennis in Saigon and steered clear of controversy. He did nothing to prevent the continued use of the Mekong River by large foreign ships to carry enemy war goods into Cambodia for them to turn on our forces and shoot with impunity. How many suffered and died because of those actions? General Westmoreland corroborated these facts in his biography, A Soldier Reports. I quote him in my book on how he was “ordered” not to tell Congress or the media about the enemy safe-havens.
My publisher, Kris Millegan, and I were taken to Federal Court in Charleston, SC in January 2006 in a vain attempt by the Special Forces Association to bankrupt us and prevent us from publishing more truth about illegal covert operations, aiding the enemy, CIA retribution against Americans and allies, and how our government covers these actions with lies or subterfuge. We won our battle in court with five days of testimony and documentation. We proved that my book, Expendable Elite - One Soldier’s Journey Into Covert Warfare, was an honest portrayal of events in An Phu, South Vietnam. The jury took less than two hours to deliberate and reach a unanimous verdict in our favor.
You might ask “This happened forty years ago. Why should we care?” If you care about our men and women who are now in the armed forces you should get up the courage to demand action by the White House, Congress and the Department of Defense to make it a criminal act to ever, regardless of the situation, aid the enemy. I pray that you ask that myself and MSG Gerald Willsey be called to testify before a Congressional hearing regarding covert operations which no doubt persist to this day as we continue to bury those valiant warriors who fight a tough war in strange lands.
ASK YOURSELF:
Why has the world press refused to publish the truth?
Why have most pulpits lacked courage to demand that Christians act to support our troops and to deny the enemy any choice other than defeat?
Why has Congress permitted the aiding of our enemies?
How many of our present day military leaders permit the enemy any advantage over our forces?
©2007 LTC Daniel Marvin, US Army Special Forces (Retired)
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, April 5, 2007 at 5:54 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
This is simply token BS. Our system of taxation is so cleverly crafted that no one knows how much we pay for anything is actually hidden taxes. If the gov. doesn’t get it from the telephone, then you can rest assured they’ll get it from you somewhere else. I think the average refund is more like 30 bucks. The bill for Eyerack is now, they’re telling us (and probably low-balling) about a half-trillion. Remember the plastic bag ban in SF? This is just another plastic bag. They give us back 30 bucks and while we’re distracted by our eagerness to “put one over on the gov.,” they’re adding 100 bucks to our tax obligation someplace else. If the colonists thought taxation without representation was so egregious, they should have tried it with representation.
Report thisBy Jack, April 5, 2007 at 4:52 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I volunteer for a VITA site (volunteer income tax assistance) in New Orleans preparing taxes for those that qualify for the Earned Income Credit. We use software provided by the IRS and our local coordinator has the software set up so that every patron automatically gets the $30 credit without even asking for it. The gov’t has screwed us enough in recent years I feel an extra 30 bucks back is the least we deserve. To be honest I didn’t know the war connection before today. But that’s even better.
Report thisBy Eleanor Walden, April 5, 2007 at 4:03 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
If you pay your phone bill by check each month you can deduct the tax from the total. Writea note saying that you do not pay this war taxes as a matter of conscience each time you deduct. It works.
Report thisBy James V, April 5, 2007 at 2:34 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Truth Be Told,
Really? Wow, that’s interesting. And here I thought all those hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars Bush has been bleeding into Iraq magically appeared under his pillow at night from the War Faery. You mean that “we the people” actually have to PAY for it? >.>
What they should do is tax the hell out of any and all companies profiting from war. War should not be a profitable business. If the people have to pay for it, these big businesses should too. I bet THAT would get our troops out of there pretty damn fast…
Report thisBy Skruff, April 5, 2007 at 1:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Comment #62222 by Truth Be Told on 4/04 at 5:44 pm Says:
“Speaking of taxes, the .”
TRUTH is a rare commodity in these times. The above post claims “Democrats are now preparing to give Americans the LARGEST TAX INCREASE in history” without saying that paying for Mr Bush’s wars and his ill-considered prescription drug plan requires money. It’s not like the D party went out and bought a new car…
Now I’m not a Democrat, and I don’t care how people smear them… BUT truth is whole truth, and the D party doesn’t hold a exclusive on ripping off taxpayers.
Frankly, anyone in US politics today can be targeted for “outragous spending.” D, R or I
Report thisMy problem is with the American people who employe
these assholes.
By Harold I. Kinchen, April 5, 2007 at 10:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
62222 poster is right. The tax increase will be on people earning more than 250,000 a year.
Report thisIt is about time that the people benifiting the most in this country start paying their fair share of taxes. There are several reasons for this. First, and most obvious is that they are the only ones that can afford it with the middle class under so much pressure. Corporate wellfare must end and a tax to change that is long overdue. Off shoring needs to be adressed with a tax to make it less profitable to avoid US tax.
By The Wise Owl, April 5, 2007 at 2:51 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
To Truth to be told.Why dont you go to Mexico to live if you dont like to pay taxes,they have NOTHING.They are what your President is looking to get the United States in the same shape.He dont like the VA,Soc Sec,he dont like taxes,he dont like Unions,he dont like the middle men and women,he dont like to see the united states prosper,he claims its doing great but ask the people so why dont you give up on those stupid sayings ,get an education and quit being so STUPID and become a wonderful Democrat,they are the best of two evils.signed-The wise old owl
Report thisBy DavidJames, April 5, 2007 at 12:14 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Amy,
There are many ways to reduce taxes owed and of course payed. The easiest and best for anyone is maximizing your regular IRA contributions. Any tax deferred savings are wonderfully not taxed!! Save $4000 and that will be about $1200 in taxes BushCo will not get.
Max out your IRA or your company 401K, taxes will not be paid to BushCo on any of the money saved.
Report thisBy YIKES, April 5, 2007 at 12:09 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Certainly all should demand the telephone war tax rebate, but let us all apply the rebate where the money will continue to help/inspire, namely Democracy Now or Truthdig. It just makes sense.
Report thisAMY GOODMAN
Love at 1st Sight
By DennisD, April 5, 2007 at 12:05 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Why raise taxes to pay for something - that’s un-American - just borrow more from the Chinese like we always do. We’re not even able to pay the interest on the debt for this war and the countless bridges to nowhere our benevolent Congress and Bu$h Inc. have signed off on. As if taking the $30 phone tax deduction is going to stop the ship of fools from sailing merrily along. Dream the f**k on.
Report thisBy Christopher Robin, April 4, 2007 at 11:05 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Comment #62222 by Truth Be Told on 4/04 at 5:44 pm
Speaking of taxes, the Democrats are now preparing to give Americans the LARGEST TAX INCREASE in history.
Report this^ We have spent 3/4 of a trillon dollars on wars just these last six years. I’m sure you want to do your patriotic part and help pay for it all?
By Robert Riversong, April 4, 2007 at 11:03 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Thoreau’s refusal to pay the poll tax was an act of non-cooperation with war as much as with slavery.
“If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.” - On the Duty of Civil Disobediance, 1849
While the phone tax might have been initiated to help fund war, tax revenues are undifferentiated. More than 50% of every tax dollar paid to the federal government goes to fund past, present, and future wars - making war the principle priority of out nation.
A token gesture, such as resisting (or even less, asking for a rebate of) the few cents we pay for phone taxes, will do nothing at all to change our nation’s priorities.
Join with me - and Thoreau - in resisting ALL federal income taxes, and we will put the clog in the wheels of war.
Amy’s article is incorrect in stating that the IRS “aggressively targets” conscientious tax resisters. While there is always the potential for consequences to our acts of resistance, very few war-tax resisters have been sanctioned and fewer still have suffered jail.
But until many more of us are willing to refuse to put our money where we refuse to put our bodies - into the war machine - war will be our foreign policy, as it has been from the Spanish-American war of empire to today’s wars of global domination.
WE - not Congress - are the ones with the power to pull the plug on war. If you work for peace, stop paying for war.
Report thisBy Truth Be Told, April 4, 2007 at 9:44 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Speaking of taxes, the Democrats are now preparing to give Americans the LARGEST TAX INCREASE in history.
Report thisBy Jack McKissen, April 4, 2007 at 8:18 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Having just finished THe Sorrows of Empire, by Chalmers Johnson, I have a better idea than ever before of the amount of money the pentagon has to play with. It seems to me a sensible congress could easily arrange a single payer health care system for our country with no worry about budget: Simply charge it to the Pentagon and label it a “Black Program”, which would be secret. If anyone dared conmplain, they would be guilty of compromising classified material.
Crackpot idea, perhaps, but so was invading Iraq.
Report thisBy marie2, April 4, 2007 at 5:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
In 2000, 191 countries signed an agreement known as the Millennium Goals, the first of which is to eliminate global poverty by 2025. I hope that our representatives will uphold this promise made by global leaders.
Report thisBy Smart, April 4, 2007 at 5:50 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
That’s it. I’m definately not paying any more taxes.
Report thisBy john devlin, April 4, 2007 at 4:16 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
way to go Amy, always thinking!!!!
Report thisBy Angry surfer, April 4, 2007 at 1:48 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
There are no instructions there. This article is a scam.
Report thisBy GW=MCHammered, April 4, 2007 at 12:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
HANG UP ON CORPOCRACY!
Isn’t it clear by now that Iraq is the GŴ-CђeЙey-Яøve, ђa£iburt♂n and БlackŴater ÃgeЙcy? So let them soldier-up and moralize it minus their red-white-blue vs. høly-terrør B$.
And how about this whole Pet-Food Poisoning thing? Especially it’s timing. It sounds so Яøvian! Oh, perhaps I’ve just become paranoid. But living with loons will make one feel that way. Paranoia… it’s what’s ordained.
Report thisBy nomorebombs, April 4, 2007 at 12:38 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
indictments and impeachment…
Report thisBy Louise, April 4, 2007 at 10:40 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
OK, has nothing to do with taxes, but I cant resist.
It’s that photo.
Bush on phone, “Hey Tony, gonna have to put you on hold, got a real emergency here!”
[new phone line]
“Send someone in from the Secret Service quick! I just knocked my bottle of water over!”
Or maybe it is about taxes.
Report thisPhoto op!
Your tax dollars at work ...
Da-duh!
By straight_talk_11, April 4, 2007 at 12:59 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
What makes Amy Goodman think that any of our personal income tax goes to pay one penny of the war in Iraq? If we ignore corporate taxes and only look at individual tax returns, the total collected by the IRS from our personal income taxes doesn’t even pay the interest on our national debt. And the private banking consortium we innocently call the “Federal” Reserve Board gets all of that. Given these simple, easily corroborated facts, what makes us think that one penny goes to any government services whatsoever?
So why don’t we ask ourselves why this banking consortium doesn’t mind extending loans quasi-indefinitely to the U.S. government for wars, etc.? Why is our government’s credit so good when it’s actually so bad? Where does all this funny money come from anyway? You can’t redeem it for anything. The banks can print all they want, can’t they. And don’t they? And who prints our money?...the government or a private corporate consortium of banks, or should we say “cartel”?
Why don’t you answer these questions for yourself, Amy Goodman? It doesn’t take much effort to research these questions today. Quite a number of reliable sources have already done the footwork and documented it throughly with references and the whole nine yards. Don’t you think these questions might be important? So why don’t we quit pussyfooting around and check this stuff out for ourselves?
Report thisBy Quy Tran, April 3, 2007 at 9:35 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
He looks exactly like a chimpanzee using phone to call its tribe in White House zoo.
Report thisBy Steve Hammons, April 3, 2007 at 8:16 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Amy Goodman’s references to civil disobedience of various kinds remind us that the power of individual and groups of citizens can be significant.
True, it is the “soft power” of persuasion, communication and psychology, but, it can have great influence and results.
Taking responsibility ourselves, at the “grass roots” of society, may have more power than we currently understand. The article below may provide interesting information on this:
“Intelligence, psychology and human heart: All are needed for success in war and peace”
PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
March 31, 2007
http://www.populistamerica.com/intelligence_psychology_and_human_heart
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