[JeanLynn81]

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fed-up-...04210409990001

Ok, there are two sides in this story. On the one hand, I totally understand where this guy is coming from. If he's trying to promote peace, then why fund the war. But all I can agree with is his viewpoint. I TOTALLY disagree with him, for many reasons, but I will name a few.

First off, any one person can't have total say over what their taxes are used for. They can influence it, like, uh...voting? I didn't like the D.A.R.E. program..ok, rephrase-I did like the idea behind it. But it was costing too much money and not helping nearly enough people. Everyone voted and the program was shut down.

I don't think the government is going to suffer enough by just a handful of its people not paying taxes. (I'm sure there aren't many out there willing to not pay taxes and risk a federal offense.) And on that note-not paying taxes is just going to make everyone else suffer. I doubt the reduction in taxes is going to come out of government officials' salaries, or the war...it will come out of government supported programs, that involve education or healthcare or the like. Things that benefit the average citizen. Its like this-three kids want to go to the Zoo. One child acts up, makes the mom mad, and then no one gets to go.

And my last thought on this (sorry this is so long) is that this will not promote peace in the long run. Sometimes peace protestors don't think things out. No taxes=no money=weak government=war=chaos. We need to change the government, not bring it down.

Either that, or this guy could just like, uh...MOVE? If he hates his country that much, move somewhere else. Or better yet-ship him off to Afghanistan for a few months and then see how much he loves his country.

[twinzplus3]

Not that I disagree with you at all but for argument's sake. . .if pacifists who have religious affiliations don't have to pay taxes (Amish communities do not, that I'm aware of pay taxes) then why can he not claim the same right?

[MissyChrissy]

The squeaky wheel gets the grease-so they say. He knows his sudden lack of contribution is not going to stop the war, but he's getting attention. And he's able to look himself in the mirror & know he's not supporting the war that he morally opposes.

I think it's commendable that he dropped his income from over 100,000/year to less than 15,000. Wow-that's all I can say.

I do think he has a right to live here...that's what's great about America. You're ALLOWED to hate it & still be free.


eta: I hope you know I still love you...I just differ on opinion in this matter

[siageah]

The Amish do pay federal taxes, state taxes, property taxes and such.

There are a lot of people who protest paying any federal tax, period. And every April 15th or so they get a lot of press. The IRS doesn't show them much love, but every year they get hits to their websites and interest goes up in their message.

[twinzplus3]

Woops. . .you're right. They don't pay social security if they are self-employed. Sorry about that.

[purelegance]

Originally Posted by JeanLynn81

Either that, or this guy could just like, uh...MOVE? If he hates his country that much, move somewhere else. Or better yet-ship him off to Afghanistan for a few months and then see how much he loves his country.

haha this is what i always say.

this guy says he lives off 15,000 a year? there's no way he lives in Connecticut unless he's living with his parents. it's not so much the spending, but simply the cost of living (rent/mortgage, standard electric/gas bills) is ridiculous in the upper north east especially CT.

what's worse is, while he doesn't pay taxes, he probably gladly deposits a check consisting of OUR tax dollars because of his tax bracket. But that's his right as an American i suposse. He doesn't want to fund the war or our troops' lives because he "couldn't look at himself in the mirror" , but he can certainly take money away from our schools & child's education with a clean conscience.

[twinzplus3]

I have relatives who lived off of about that in CT. (Actually it was a little less.) It can be done. . .you just have to be uber-frugal.

I suppose he views it though as the lesser evils. . .is it worse to take tax dollars from our education system or is it worse to fund the war. I still don't agree with him but I honestly see where he's coming from. I do wonder how he'd feel about living in a country where he doesn't have the right to protest the war. I wonder if then he'd feel very differently about supporting the military and its endeavors.

[siageah]

If anyone is interested, he has a blog (doesn't everyone?) with a FAQ:

http://sniggle.net/Experiment/index.php?entry=faq

It doesn't appear that he is accepting any government checks, like assistance, if that is what purelegance meant.

[twinzplus3]

No. . .I think she's referring to getting money back on your return. Did she mention that she gets a tax refund? I didn't see it.

[siageah]

No, no refund. He seemed to figure it that it was a complete wash. Nothing paid, nothing received. It was in his how-to guide I think.