Ed and Elaine Brown have been making international news by doing nothing. They hang out at their
The Browns have argued that there is no law stating that they must pay incomes taxes. According to them, they will gladly fork over the taxes on their $1.9 million of unreported income upon being shown the law. “The bottom line is: Show us the law, we will pay what you ask,” declared Brown last week.
The most obvious counter-argument is the 16th amendment: “The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”
There has been a lot of recent revisionism taking a look at how that amendment was ratified, including Aaron Russo’s Freedom To Fascism - an overall poorly produced, but still informative documentary. Historians interviewed by the Boston Globe note that the Brown’s claims have no validity.
I think that the best interpretation of this story has come from Ron Paul - who agrees that the law is the law, but that it is a bad law. He argued yesterday on FOX News that while the Browns are wrong about their interpretation of the law (or lack thereof) - they are engaging in legitimate civil disobedience - and that should not be condemned.
The pragmatic reality is - I don’t like paying taxes - no one does. The IRS should be abolished and the 16th amendment repealed. However, there are legal channels through which to accomplish those goals. Not paying one’s taxes is a legitimate protest (not for Christians mind – see Romans 13:6-7), but there should come with that an expectation that the government will be cracking down.
Go Ron Paul! Go Ron Paul! God Bless Ron Paul! Ron Paul for President 2008!
Ron Paul in CNN debate on June 5, 2007!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwJKGfAWQUo
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly. But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor—he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation—he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city—he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.
— Cicero: orator, statesman, political theorist, lawyer and philosopher of Ancient Rome.
“In the time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act” GEORGE ORWELL
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Yeah, just remember if you ever put up a poll, no matter the subject matter or question, always offer “Ron Paul” as a choice. For examples, see Littlegreenfootballs.com.
GoogleBot is Darius. Not sure why, but it won’t let me sign out, so my comments are labeled “GoogleBot”
Neil Cavuto wouldn’t know his anal sphincter from a hole in the ground if he fell in it. I tire of FOX news and their ability to never, ever listen.
Is what the Brown’s are doing against the law? Yes. Do I think they are right? Yes. Will they go to prison? Probably. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Before we can enact any changes to the American way of life, we have to change the American people’s way of thinking. This will start with a basic understanding of economics and the true role of government.
I don’t really get what these people are about. Are they trying to not pay taxes as a way to point out a simple technical problem in the way the income taxing process came to be or do they have a bigger principle that they are trying to make a point about(like wanting smaller government, or whatever)?
I don’t know the details of the case, but legitimate civil disobedience must carried out in public. The Browns appears to have surreptitiously conspired to avoid paying taxes. They turned it into a publicity stunt only when they got caught. I doubt their sincerity.
Here’s what they should have done: started a website from the very beginning, chronicling their decision not to pay taxes. They should have released all their financial records, and meticulously calculated what their taxes should have been–and then donated that amount to charity. That way we would have known it’s about the principle, not about the money.
But of course it was never about the principle to begin with.
Jew said it better: I agree with their premise on the tax laws, but I disagree with much of their methods (and sincerity).
“Neil Cavuto wouldn’t know his anal sphincter from a hole in the ground if he fell in it. I tire of FOX news and their ability to never, ever listen.”
As opposed to the networks’ endlessly negative coverage of Iraq when the troops are screaming out for the many positive stories to be heard?
Separate issues. While i agree that all networks have a bias, FOX is continually the only network to refer to themselves as “fair and balanced”, which is quite laughable. Though, this isn’t my point. In nearly EVERY interview with Ron Paul, the pseudo-journalists at FOX never-ever listen to what he says. Instead they accuse, put words in his mouth, and interrupt him constantly. Then again, it’s typically O’Reilly, Cavuto and Hannity/Colmes who are the worst offenders. Which, I guess, isn’t that much of an issue considering they are usually opinion-based shows who really don’t care about truth, just screaming and yelling. Or making claims they can’t back up. If you notice on the video that Colin posted, Cavuto stumbles over himself when Ron Paul mentions a bit of history that he didn’t know (like the fact that the building he is standing in was built pre-1913, so therefore was NOT built by income tax), which showed his lack of history.
First Off: The 16th Amd. merely states that congress shall have the power to levy and collect taxes. It does NOT say ANYTHING about WHO is required to pay those taxes! Second: The US Supreme Court has already defined the definition of (Income) and it’s the interest and profit from stocks and bonds, as well as OFFICERS and EMPLOYEES of the Federal Government. Thirdly: When WE THE PEOPLE decide that WE do not want to pay a tax, then government cannot keep telling US that WE are wrong. The 16th Amd. is not a LAW which says who is required to pay a tax!!!! Fourth: You do NOT need a SSN to live and work in this country (The SSA will tell you this if you ask). The ONLY way an employer can deduct any money from your paycheck is by a W-4 “AGREEMENT”. Lastly: Give us our legal Constitutional money of gold and silver, and no one will owe a tax. Remember the Federal Government is charged with the protection of ou country! Not the people supporting the government.