“In Lafayette Park, Washington D.C., of all places to protest, the plan was to dump one million tea bags in the park, but the brave dissidents never did it because they forgot to get the proper permits. Are you kidding me? What is civil disobedience without civil disobedience? They even went so far as to say that they were willing to put down plastic tarps and clean up after themselves.
That’s like saying we don’t agree with your oppressive, unconstitutional despotism of our nation and to show our ire in no uncertain terms we’re going to break public law and disrupt the peace so take that, nah- nah-ne-boo-boo. But don’t worry because we’ll put everything back when we’re done as if nothing happened cuz we don’t want any trouble!
Videos on the Internet of Lafayette Park show people standing around in their trendy turtlenecks and Tommy Hilfiger and North Face jackets, chatting, socializing, drinking coffee and talking on their cell phones. Some dressed in colonial garb (how cute) and waving flags. Others even break into a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner followed by a chant of “USA, USA, USA.” What a terrific show of meaningless symbolism….”
My Comment
My fear is that it’s not meaningless symbolism. It’s meaningful…but in the wrong way.
It’s meaningful because it focuses energy away from action that works to dressing up, going out, socializing, talking, waving flags etc. etc.
Which is why, with all due respect, I sat it out…..
Yes, that tea party protest like all of protest in the U.S. has gotten very lame. Pointless and sad.
The other sad thing around taxes is that so many people still buy that the U.S. has lower taxes than other “developed” countries in europe, canada and austrailia, new zealand say.
We still have the myth of low taxes and get a lot less in return than a lot of countries.
The deception of low taxes is when they use a table of federal income taxes and compare it to national income taxes in other countries. Of course other countries tend to include social security in the total tax and then we have state income taxes, county taxes even city taxes in some cases in the U.S. Consider: We pay higher taxes than Norway and I have known Londoners horrified by taxes when they live in New York or D.C. Dan Cooper is right in a way that we are lame–we are now a high tax country with lousy services. We still think we have low taxes and freedom!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world
By the way go to Robert Reichs Blog and call him out for asserting that we have the loweest taxes of any developed country–typical fact free assertions that we hear from defenders of status quo.
Wait for the emergence of a “leader?” Right.
How bout this: A draft statement of general principles is established, reflecting a general return to constitutional rule. It couldn’t be purely libertarian, but should include keystones that would elicit broad support including Abolition of a agencies (IRS, Education), abolition of the FED, restoration of sound money and a few things that simply streamline the federal bureaucracy such as merging the USDA and FDA.
Then an association is formed…a corporation, if you will. Members sign an “illegal” contract endorsing the statement of principles and objectives. Then, if employees, they push their exemptions to the max, or otherwise do everything possible to reduce their federal taxes. They do not file returns, in a public manner, such as holding 1040 barbecues in public places. The federal tax obligations however are recorded and the money is deposited in an offshore account that is controlled by the corporation. During the duration of this act of disobediance, the fund is used to pay the legal defense and provide compensation for loss of property to any members that the IRS chooses to prosecute.
If enough people joined (I think 10% of the adult population would suffice), Obama and congress would be faced with two choices, adopt and execute the plan, resign or initiate violence and the next revolution.
Since this would actually work, the odds of it’s occurance are small…
Okay, three choices, lol
Robert, Jeff,
Great ideas.
I am for the IRS barbecue plan and for exposes of the so-called mass shootings that are so mysteriously appearing just now.
No one on his/her own can do this – they will get involved in law suits that will drag on and accomplish nothing because the whole “legal” model” is intended to siphon off energy.
Corporations are the groups that can fight the government most successfully. Once they do it, then individuals will have a legal precedent they can use.
An umbrella group of small businessmen, for example, can refuse to pay taxes as a group. Professional associations could do the same.
Also, if mayors of cities could act on behalf of their citizens to outlaw federal tax laws,you would have the momentum for meaningful action.
That is my perception. Is it dangerous? Yes.
But it can be done, and it can be done peacefully.
But the churches and church leaders must take the lead (along with business).
In the first place, the churches have a great deal at stake. Increasing surveillance is destroying all privacy and thus the sanctity of the individual’s right to his own thought.
The imposition of belief on others, against their will, whether by organized religion (theocracy) or by the state (omnipotent state) go to the heart of religion.
Also, by having the churches at the forefront, we can make sure that those who are indigent can also be looked after.
The elderly, children and the sick must not bear the burden of a tax revolt.
I wouldn’t be opposed to churches joining the Association by contract, then the fund could be distributed to them for charitable purposes. This would have the side benefit of providing the foundation for the post-revolt private substitution of federal welfare and social services.
Since all of the fund would not be used for IRS-related activities and need not be returned to the members after the revolt has succeeded (it would have gone to the federal government anyway), this would be a good use for it and would have the added benefit of excellent propaganda to the non-member portion of the US as well as to the world.
Lila, I am just a private person. You on the other hand are a very public one with presumably lots of contacts. Would you be willing to refine this idea and discretely pass it around the “rebel” community? If we could get the Pauls, Napolitano’s Schiff’s etc to sign on, it could then be distributed on the blogosphere and get lots of attention in a short order.
I know Gerald Celente will join..
I believe you would have better qualifications to call out Reich..
It think I annoyed enough people calling out Krugman and roubini (I like many things they say, nonetheless).
Jeff- I am far more private than you. I write – that’s the extent of my public life.
Re – your private post.
It is precisely practical men and businessmen who are needed now
That’s why I wrote the second book with a business man and not on my own.
That’s why I am blogging. That’s why I address my blog to thinking people on the right – who are more sympathetic to business life and to the struggles of small businessmen.
I don’t know Gerald Celente.
But I certainly can forward a proposition to others..
You should not be afraid of being actively involved without anonymity. It gives other people the courage to go public. Anonymous community has its uses. But it can make no public impact. It will sink into the oblivion of mass language.</p>
Upon reflection, I do have a few ways to test the waters. Believe me, I will be more than happy to go public when it will actually accomplish something. I will also stand besides whomever would join me in whatever manner is required.
I ask myself, you and all of us who understand what this country has become and what should be, “Do we just talk?” If so then we’re doomed and deserve our fates.
I’m going to ask you a simple thing, respectfully. And of course, I will do exactly what you ask me to do.
I would like to publish your last comment
Please don’t think it’s a small thing. It’s a very big thing.
All this talk about Gandhi makes me laugh.
Gandhi came from a well- to-do business family, had a successful law practice, married, had children – then stripped himself down to a loin cloth, making himself a figure of fun in front of the most powerful and exalted worldly figures. He was in prison more than out. He starved for months. He gave up his sex life after the age of 40. Look, I disagree with quite a few things he said and did. I prefer Aurobindo myself.
But these men, like Jefferson and Lee were giants compared to us.
So let’s not try to be Gandhi. Let’s try to just behave like ordinary decent human beings.
We do not even have to tell the truth. Simply stop agreeing in public to the lies.
agreed, post it.