HOW TO PARTICIPATE
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are a few ways you can participate in our call for tax resistance
and civil disobedience: |
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First
option:Sign
the pledge and join the growing number that aims to reach 100,000
to act in concert on April 15th. What percentage of your taxes you
decide to withhold is up to you, there are suggestions on the FAQ's
from 7% the percentage of the taxes paid we spend on Iraq and
Afghanistan, 31% the amount slated for military spending in
2008, or 51% the total of military spending, which includes
the interest on the debt. |
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Second
option: We understand that many good people of conscience who
deeply oppose the Bush administration's wars will choose not to take
the tax resistance pledge. For those individuals, we urge you to consider
a financial action that will help speed up the end of the wars. Please
consider calculating 7% interest on 7% of what you will
be paying in taxes in 2008 and donating all or part of it to help
the work of peace organizations to end the war. Fund peace as you
fund war. In actions of Civil Disobedience the support team is just
as important as those who take the risk. You can donate part of it
to your favorite peace group in the coalition and can give a portion
of it to dontbuybushswar.org, to support this website and this work.
Our increased capacity to outreach will help ensure we reach our goals.
Donate
Now! |
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Third
option: You don't need to join with 100,000, you are ready
to register as a War Tax Resister NOW.
Join
the 2008 War Tax Boycott! |
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Fourth
option: We are also appalled by the continuing government planning
for a military strike on Iran. We applaud Chris Hedges, who in the
Nation
has announced he will not pay his federal taxes if the United States
strikes Iran. Our coalition members are working to help prevent such
an attack, but we encourage you to join with Chris if we do bomb Iran.
You can mark the box provided on our pledge page to let Chris know
you will be joining with him. |
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Fifth option: Some resisters find
that resisting the whole package of consumerism, over-consumption
and taxation appeals to them more than other tax resistance strategies.
Some discover that by living simply they live more satisfying
and meaningful lives, and would choose to live this way even if
it didn't help them to resist taxes. Some prefer this method of
tax resistance because it can be accomplished within the law, demonstrating
their desire to be law-abiding citizens without at the same time
having to violate their consciences.
By taking in less income you reduce your taxes and thereby minimize
your contribution to military spending.
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How
to participate as a coalition member:
Click
here to learn how your organization can join us! |
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Other
actions local groups can join: |
 Sunday,
December 16/ Monday December 17: Tea Party to launch our Tax Resistance
Campaign
If we're serious about asking Congress to defund the war in Iraq,
we can stop buying war by refusing to pay our war tax in 2008. There
is a great tradition of war tax resistance in the United States.
When our political leaders have not listened to the will of the
people, individuals have engages in civil disobedience.
On December 16th, 1773, a group of patriots protested their government's
policies by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. This December 16th and
17th, CODEPINK symbolically recreated this event to launch the next
phase of our Don't Buy Bush's War campaign: an invitation to the
American public to stop buying war by engaging in tax resistance.
See photos here!
 You
can plan an action in your city or town anytime. Find an
historical site in your city, or somewhere you could enact symbolic
revolutionary acts, dress up in colonial costume (don't forget to
add you pink gear), and create a banner. Hand out flyers with historically
relevant quotes and information about the tax resistance campaign
we have provided below.
- CODEPINK says, "Pay no more till we end this war."
"Don't Buy Bush's War. Join our Tax Revolt." "Boston
2008 Tea Party" : Create a banner with these slogans on pink
fabric.
- Email Rae at locals@codepinkalert.org
if you plan an action.
- This campaign is a coalition effort with many national organizations
including United for Peace and Justice, Peace Action, Gold Star
Families for Peace, and True Majority.
You could use these famous quotes below to embellish
your banner, or create flyers:
- Every generation needs a new revolution. – Thomas Jefferson
- Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the
people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
– Thomas Jefferson
- To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation
of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical.
-Thomas Jefferson
- I won't pay my taxes if you won't pay yours. – Nina Rothschild
Utne
- 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. –Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of
Civil Disobediance, 1849
- I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.
It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so
much as for the right. –Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience,
1849
- Let them march all they want as long as they continue to pay
their taxes." – Alexander Haig, US Secretary of state,
1982
- A true revolution of values will lay hands on the world order
and say of war: "This way of settling differences is not
just." –Martin Luther King Jr.
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