Feeling inspired today...
As I make my weekly Monday commute, this time listening to the stories of several war tax protestor--using my phone's YouTube app and Bluetooth connection--and feeling proud of my fellow human beings who have enough of a moral compass, enough fortitude of conviction, and enough logical thinking skills to finally come to the point where they--at varying degrees and in varying fashion--finally say "NO."
I feel compelled to share a few of these stories with you, because like many issues dealing with natural human rights and freedom, paying lip service to standing up for what is right is one thing, but those who actually do so are always bad-mouthed and denigrated by a lot of the same useful idiots who were so vocally supportive initially of "standing up for freedom." People are labeled. Criticized. Dismissed as "lazy," "pothead," "extremist," or some other bullshit moniker non-thinkers love to apply to people doing what they wish they could, but are afraid to.
I want to share the following three videos with you for two reasons. One, because war tax resistance (and indeed, all tax resistance) is 100% moral, fair, and sensible. Two, because the people in the videos are clearly not "dangerous extremists," but normal, everyday folks who just don't want to fund murder or other immoral acts.
1. The Quaker.
This "crazy extremist criminal" Quaker presents a moving case for why he chose to stop paying taxes.
2. The Couple.
Tons of resources and techniques in this video. From outright refusal to pay, to less direct techniques, as well as stories of other resistors of evil, this couple lays out their stance on war and tax resistance in a helpful, clear, and simple fashion.
3. The Hardcore Lifers.
This episode of Democracy Now! features interviews with two, basically life-long, tax resistors who had the guts to stand up for what is right, and for people all over the world who no longer wish to finance the destruction of their fellow human beings.
I'd like to leave you with some stats.
- For Americans, At least 23% of your Federal Income taxes are spent to fund the military. This means bombs, drone strikes, researching more effective ways to kill, and paying for recruiting programs by which to induct more innocent young men and women into the killing machine. Yay.
- If you're in Japan like me, things aren't much better. 43% of your taxes are used to payoff just the INTEREST on the GOVERNMENT'S debt. So, yeah, forget paying for things to give your kids a better life. Forget paying off your debts. Pay for the irresponsibility of the state. Your kids are born into this debt, too! Congrats!!! Welcome to earth!!! By the way, Japan also supports all of America's military brutality, so you are basically paying for that as well. Just not as directly.
Finally, the best reason not to pay taxes . These are the people we are expected to pay. People who think killing 500,000 kids for political reasons is "worth it."
Thanks for taking the time to read/view this post. While I don't offer advice to anyone on whether or not they should resist paying these criminal taxes, I hope this article has shed some more light on the true nature of the state, and has displayed with a greater clarity than readers previously may have held, where exactly our "tax dollars" go, and what they fund.
Even taxes used to pay for "good things" such as parks, libraries and other such social goods, are immoral, as all taxation is money taken under the threat of violent force. Sex without consent is rape. "Payment" for a service without consent is stealing. Euphemism and talk about roads and "the greater good" does not change that.
NOW GO PAY ALL YOUR TAXES!
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DTube and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)