Tax Day
Today is the day we face the music and have to get our tax payment in the mail. Some people, however, are so opposed to paying for war that they don’t mail their payments, and they suffer the consequences of being conscientious objectors. According to Peace Tax Fund Update, Issue 1, 2005, a newsletter published by the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund in Washington, DC, "war-tax resisters want to pay our taxes, but we cannot in good conscience pay others to kill in our names," (p. 3). Tax resisters also object to the hardship funding the military budget makes for average people, and particularly the poor, because of cuts in programs. They feel that the money used to fund Bush’s wars could do much good if used for social programs instead. Therefore, tax resisters redirect the money withheld from the IRS to "humanitarian and peaceful causes" (p. 3).
These people are serious, and they are suffering great hardship to follow their conscience. According to Andy McKenna in "My Taxes as Fuel for His War," on page 3 of the newsletter, a state worker endured a bank account seizure twice, an emergency-room physician had one car seized by the IRS and now faces seizure of another car and wages. One conscientious objector lives in poverty below the taxable level as an artist and housecleaner. McKenna has had his wages garnished with only $662.50 left per month, since this is considered the federal poverty level.
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) is expected to introduce the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Bill on April 15 (p. 1). If passed, conscientious objectors could director their taxes to a fund dedicated to non-military purposes (p. 3). According to Tim Godshall in "Legislate Nationally, Resolve Locally" (p. 1), the group has started by lobbying a city council to pass a resolution in favor of the bill. The first effort is in New York City. "The NYC Campaign has generated much support from New York peace, justice, and religious organizations by focusing on the economic impact of military spending on their city," Godshall writes.
These people are serious, and they are suffering great hardship to follow their conscience. According to Andy McKenna in "My Taxes as Fuel for His War," on page 3 of the newsletter, a state worker endured a bank account seizure twice, an emergency-room physician had one car seized by the IRS and now faces seizure of another car and wages. One conscientious objector lives in poverty below the taxable level as an artist and housecleaner. McKenna has had his wages garnished with only $662.50 left per month, since this is considered the federal poverty level.
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) is expected to introduce the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Bill on April 15 (p. 1). If passed, conscientious objectors could director their taxes to a fund dedicated to non-military purposes (p. 3). According to Tim Godshall in "Legislate Nationally, Resolve Locally" (p. 1), the group has started by lobbying a city council to pass a resolution in favor of the bill. The first effort is in New York City. "The NYC Campaign has generated much support from New York peace, justice, and religious organizations by focusing on the economic impact of military spending on their city," Godshall writes.
posted by Theodosia @ 4:15 AM
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