This week, the US marked the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq. President Bush is expected in his remarks on tomorrow to confirm that the war in Iraq was necessary, saying, “Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win.”
He is also expected to note the toll that the war has taken on the US, including the deaths of almost 4,000 troops. He is not expected to mention the billions of dollars spent during the course of the war or what may happen to the military if the war continues.
Marches and protests have been taking place throughout the week to mark the anniversary, including in Washington, DC, where activists plan to blockade the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service on March 19, 2008. The activists will gather at 7 am at McPherson Sq., 15th & K Sts. NW. From these areas they will march to the IRS main entrance at 1111 Constitution Ave. Once at the entrance, they will attempt to prevent the IRS from opening as usual. The plan is to call attention to the cost of the war and what some perceive as a collective responsibility to stop funding it – including by distributing flyers such as this (downloadable here as a pdf).
This is not a completely isolated event – though it may be singular in its scale. But, increasingly, Americans are protesting the war with their dollars – as in not paying them. In 2007, an estimated 10,000 Americans did not pay federal taxes or paid only a portion of what they owe as a means of protesting the Iraq war. There are even several popular web sites which explore various means of protesting through nonpayment, including the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.
It’s a really interesting concept – this idea of whether you should be forced to pay for expenditures that you may find morally reprehensible. Even Congress has considered the implications of continuing to fund the war on the backs of taxpayers. I’ve mulled this notion before. What do you think?
Of course you should pay your taxes. We have a system in this country. If you disagree with something you vote for someone who agrees with you. If no candidate agrees with you then run for office yourself. Everyone in America can find some government program with which they disagree. That doesn’t mean that we have the right to refuse our civic obligations.
As a US citizen, we are obliged to support our government, decisions right or wrong. I agree with Andrew, the ballot box is where change is made. Support a candidate of like views (be a supporter or a lobbyist) or if you feel strong enough about an issue, be a candidate yourself. Withholding taxes, although it may seem noble to emphasize a cause, causes grief for the whole government. Resources are diverted to correcting these abuses, which could be directed to more meaningful programs. Social programs suffer when money is tight, or the economy is suffering. What makes one think it would be any different to oppose the war by not paying one’s obligations as a citizen? The war is not the only item that would and should raise our voices. How about ear-marking legislation (stealing money for one’s own district), corruption within the government and those who do business with it (Haliburton), and those who prey on others during disasters and ill-fortune. Look at New Orleans and NYC after 9/11. Change in government is do-able, but hard to do on a selective case to case. Consider Immigration. That issue has not gone away, but our elected officials have chosen to ignore, until a clamor is raised again. So pay your taxes, but work for better and a more responsive government. Maybe we would not have troops in Iraq if folks had worked harder in 2000 and 2004 for different results.
Our democracy may not be perfect, but it is the best system in an imperfect world compared to others, and it does work most most Americans.
If that were not true, then why do so many of the world’s population want to come here. We do have a blessed nation, in people, resources and
a government that works compared to most.
While I would never consider shirking my obligation to pay taxes, I would feel better about it if so much of money didn’t go to things I feel are wrong.
Not only the Iraq War, but also the money we pay to subsidize other countries’ militaries (some of which, like Saudi Arabia, perpetuate human rights abuses), subsidize large and profitable corporations (Big Ag and Big Oil, especially), earmarks, and large amounts of government redundancy, inefficiency and waste.
I do my best to raise my voice (contact legislators, vote for ppl I think would make changes), but sometime I feel like politicians’ self interest overcomes a desire to serve the people and the Constitution, and sometimes I really do feel as though no matter how hard I try, it’s just so much wasted effort.
Wayne: You took the words out of my mouth. I’m glad you said it for me.
As for a protest at the IRS building, I think that republicans or Christians would be shunned and others would try to silence them for similar acts.
P.S. I just wanted to add that I grew up in a military town most of my life. What is portrayed on the news is many times not accurate and twisted for personal gain. All of the military that I have spoken to support the war and what it stands for. And no, it’s not because the war is paying their paycheck. They come home with stories of hope and how excited they are to help the people over there that have been enslaved for so long. My cousin just returned from his 3rd trip in Iraq. Most soldiers that come home want to go back so that they continue the work they’re doing over there. They see it as a ministry. I don’t agree with everything that has been said or done in this administration or everything that has been done about the war, but I believe that a lot of good has come from the war. Like Wayne, I believe that if things had been done differently in previous administrations, including republican ones, things would not have gotten this bad. I had friends that were overseas during the first war of 1990 and they were pretty annoyed at Bush Sr. for backing down and not getting more aggressive.
It really stinks that 4,000 troops have died, but to be honest, just as many might be dead right now had we not gone over there to show terrorists that we weren’t going to back down. I see these bumper stickers that say, “9/11, Never Forget”, but it seems as though we have forgotten how violated and hopeless we really felt.
But 9.11 had nothing to do with Iraq. That’s what is so frustrating about this war.
I remember every detail of 9.11. I remember where I was, who was with me and what I was feeling.
The fact that our administration knew that Hussein had nothing to do with 9.11 and led us to that war anyhow is disturbing. Sure, Hussein was a tyrant. But there are tyrants all over the place – start with the civil wars and genocide in Africa. Should we invade those countries, too?
It’s a scary, slippery slope. Yes, freedom is good and democracy is good. Do I wish more of the world were free? Of course. Do I want my brother to die for it? No. Selfish or not, the answer is no.
As far as my tax dollars go, the war is not as expensive as the infrastructure. We are building roads in Iraq when we have bridges falling down here. We are building schools in Iraq when children in the US are in overcrowded rooms without textbooks. I understand this collective frustration about not wanting to fund another country’s economy when our own is in such danger of recession.
And I agree that we should make our voices heard. It’s just frustrating that this administration has made it known that they will “stay the course” no matter what the public opinion says. It reminds me of something Jon Stewart said on The Daily Show – that Cheney supports democracy, just not in his own country.
Ok, this really gets my goat! I am all for protesting. But do it legally. Pay your taxes and vote out the people who are idiots! Hello!!! If you don’t pay your taxes, then the annual income of the government is hurt. Not the war. The money will come from somewhere. So technically, you might not be giving your grandmother her SS check. Or you might keep a wounded soldier from getting the medical care he/she deserves and has so honorably earned.
I am all for protesting in a manor that makes sense. But not paying taxes doesn’t make sense to me.
Here is something to think about. Whether you agree with the war or not, the fight will take place. They, unfortunately for them, picked us to have a problem with. I am, unappologetically, grateful that the war is being fought on their back door than mine. I pray for the families that are war torn. I am so sorry that anyone has to go through that, but I am so grateful that our military is willing to go out and fight over there. For that sacrifice, my kids can play anywhere they want without fear of someone shooting around them. And for that, I am willing to pay my taxes.
I dont agree with the cost of gasoline, so should I just drive off without paying after filling up?
The thought of such is just as rediculous. Of course you should pay your taxes. As a Desert Storm vet(USMC), I completely support the war in Iraq. I wish that we had done more humanitarian stuff back in the early 90s to get Iraq in a better place. Maybe we wouldn’t be there now. But the fact is, we ARE there now, and our troops need your support, financially, and otherwise.
PAY YOUR TAXES, then thank a VET for the freedom you have to write such a blog.
Well, I never cease to be amazed at the liberal idiots in our country. You pay for it one way or the other. Where were all the cry babies when we were being attacked during the eight years that “Slick Willie” was in office. The U.S.S. Cole; the embassies that were attacked and bombed; the citizens who died in other countries because they were Americans; the Twin Towers the first time; and let’s not mention the hugh reduction in the CIA budget for intelligence gathering during this administration. Where were all the cry babies then. This new age of gutless wonders whose memory span is about five minutes; we lost about 3,000 people when the towers were attacked. Your fathers and grandfathers fought a war in the Pacific were their memory was of a battlecry of “Remember Pearl Habour”. You can stick your head in the ground, howl at the moon or whatever you want, but remember you will pay for the attitude of indifference. You will pay in lives; in blood; in what the cost of buildings will be to be replaced; medical cost for those who will be injured and maybe never recover; and you will pay in fear. Our flags use to carry a phrase “Don’t Tread On Me”. Maybe you would rather be “red (communism) than dead”. I will use an old verbage, you can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Should we finance the Iraq War? You will pay trust me, one way or the other. It’s your freedom, your stupidity that will put us fighting this war in our country instead of over there. You decide.
G-world,
I am thankful for all vets and our service men and women, as the proud sister of a former Navy service man and another who is lifetime Navy. Many of my uncles and cousins have or are serving in the military and my grandfather was in Navy. I get and appreciate the sacrifices of our military.
I think your analogy is flawed, however. The difference is that if you disagree with the price of gas in this country, you can opt not to buy it. I think this is the point that the activists are trying to make – that financing the war is not a choice and they are reacting to it by protesting. I’m not endorsing their cause, but I am struck by it. In an unpopular war, at what point does the country collectively say no more?
Myron,
You can state your case as you like but please don’t resort to name-calling. My mother reads this site. It’s a friendly community. You can make your point without being rude.
As to your point about the flags, I believe you’re referring to the Marine flags which were never officially adopted as a US flag – I grew up not far from Camp Lejeune and am pretty familiar with the Marines.
I’m not quite sure what communism has to do with Iraq, but it’s your opinion to express.
I think we also need to remember in this conversation that, thanks to our military, we can have this conversation without fear of persecution.