Since we get no attention for millions marching on the streets do you

[Citrene]

think we might get some attention if we followed these few brave souls lead? Just a few million of us?

Friends, This week, Joe Donato, a conscientious objector from New Jersey,
started a 27-month prison sentence for his refusal to pay taxes for military
purposes. War tax resisters endure various hardships for following their
beliefs, but this is the longest prison sentence for war tax resistance in
the
U.S. in at least 60 years!


PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Timothy Godshall
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

South Jersey COs Imprisoned For War Tax Refusal

February 23 -- On February 21, Joe Donato reported to the Federal
Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, to begin a 27-month
prison sentence for following his religious beliefs against paying taxes
for military purposes. Donato is one of three defendants convicted by a
jury in federal court in Camden, New Jersey, in December 2004 on charges
of "conspiring to defraud the United States" and "willful evasion" of
federal taxes. Donato's sentence is the longest handed down to a pacifist
war tax resister in the United States in at least 60 years.

The other two defendants, Inge Donato and Kevin McKee, were sentenced to
prison terms of 6 months and 24 months, respectively. Inge Donato, who is
Joe Donato's wife, completed her prison term on February 6. McKee reported
to FPC Schuylkill in Minersville, PA, on February 13 to begin his sentence.
The Donatos and McKee are members of the Restored Israel of Yahweh, a
small Bible study-based religious society located in Mays Landing, New
Jersey. Their founder, Leo J. Volpe, was a World War II draft refuser who
left the Jehovah's Witnesses to teach a gospel of pacifism that included
refusal to participate financially in the military.

"We would always have gladly paid our full share of taxes if only the
government could assure us that the amount we paid would not go to fund
war making," said Joe Donato. "The lack of any provision like that forced
us to either violate our religion or risk being branded as criminals. At
that point, we saw no choice but to honor our beliefs."

"I am deeply saddened that these gentle folks wound up being the first
pacifist tax resisters to be prosecuted and jailed -- possibly ever -- for
felony conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and attempted tax evasion, the most
serious criminal charges in the Internal Revenue Code," said Peter
Goldberger, Inge Donato's attorney. "The IRS has plenty of power to
collect taxes without resorting to criminal prosecution. I look to our
government to show more respect for sincere expressions of religious
beliefs."

"This case highlights the need for a way to collect taxes from
conscientious objectors that respects their beliefs," said Timothy
Godshall, interim director for the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund,
an organization that advocates for legislation to allow conscientious
objectors to pay their federal taxes into a fund earmarked for nonmilitary
purposes only. Called the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act (H.R.
2631), this bill has 41 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.

# # #

Action Alert Text

Greetings,

On February 21, Joe Donato reported to prison to begin a 27-month
sentence. His crime? Following his conscience against paying taxes for
military use. Joe is one of three members of a southern New Jersey
religious society convicted last summer for following their beliefs
against paying taxes for war. (for background article, click here:
http://www.peacetaxfund.org/news/2005-08-03cosfaceprison.htm>http://www.peacetaxfund.org/news/2005-08-03cosfaceprison.htm)

Joe and his religious society members are not alone in their convictions
against paying for war. In this country, thousands of people, for
religious or ethical reasons, refuse to pay taxes that are used for
military purposes. While few receive prison sentences, many have had their
wages garnished, cars and houses seized, and bank accounts levied in order
to collect taxes that they could not pay with a clear conscience.

Please act now to protect the religious freedom of conscientious objectors
to military taxation.

The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill, H.R. 2631, currently has 41
cosponsors. This bill would allow conscientious objectors to pay their
federal taxes into a fund for non-military purposes only.

Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to support H.R. 2631.
Click Here to take action:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ncptf/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2668>http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ncptf/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2668


The ordeal that Joe Donato is enduring reminds us that religious freedom
does not exist in this country for those whose beliefs forbid participation
in
war. Thanks for supporting the movement to broaden religious freedom.

Sincerely,

Timothy Godshall
Interim Director, National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund

____________________________________

The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund advocates for legislation to
allow conscientious objectors to pay their federal taxes into a
non-military fund.
http://www.peacetaxfund.org/>http://www.peacetaxfund.org/


To sign up for this action alert list, go to:
https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/ncptf/signUp.jsp?key=151>https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/ncptf/signUp.jsp?key=151

To contribute, go to:
http://peacetaxfund.org/donate/index.htm>http://peacetaxfund.org/donate/index.htm

[ClayZ]

1. Did it! Kick

:kick:

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. Being a conscientious objector...

doesn't free one from the civil duty to pay one's taxes. I think one should be able to refuse to serve in the military in a combatant role for reasons of conscience; I do NOT think that those reasons of conscience justify failure to uphold the OTHER obligations incumbent upon one as an inherent part of the social contract. And I don't see any grounds for a religious justification, especially not since these people seem to be Christian (albeit members of a splinter sect); Jesus supposedly said 'render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's' in reference to taxation, after all.

[sui generis]

3. I don't agree with the idea of withholding taxes

for any reason.

If you disagree with the U.S. government, there are a thousand other things you can do, but if you play in this sandbox you have to abide by the administration of the sandbox. If you don't like the adminstration, work hard to change it.

If things get bad enough, then consider paying your taxes elsewhere as a non U.S. citizen, but taxes don't JUST fund wars.

If the issue is the war, then work to stop the war, otherwise it comes across as the issue was paying taxes.

Just the same, I feel badly for them. The last thing tax evaders need is extended prison sentences.

[Citrene]

4. This is "our" government and we pay for it. Taxation = representation.

There are 1000 and 1 valid reasons to support these people and also to see this as a valid way to get "our" government to listen. They aren't listening to all our protests on the streets are they? Do you think they just might start to pay attention when "we the people" withold payment on our tax dollars that "they, the government" say we owe to support the "military-industrial complex".

For heavens sake. It is not a hard thing to do, stand up and make your voice be counted. We are more than happy to give you taxes, we want a say in how you spend the money.

It's "my government", not George's.


Just think "BOSTON TEA PARTY"!

[sui generis]

5. well then nobody would ever pay taxes

and the prison lobby would be in ecstasy.

There is a right way and a wrong way to protest - this is the wrong way.

If I wanted to support these people I would say escrow your tax liability so that you could show you were actually doing this as a form of protest by proving that you weren't spending the money elsewhere.

Anyway, the Boston Tea Party today would be an environmental disaster.

[Citrene]

7. Peace sweetheart and there is only one way to protest, with money

and in addition the tea party would be no "environmental disaster". Bless your heart.

And yes, there are ways to with hold your tax dollars and show why. I believe they can be found at the links provided. It has been a long time.

[sui generis]

6. and another thing

taxation does not equal representation, unfortunately.

If it did my partner and I would have been married ten years ago.

[Citrene]

8. Then why do you still pay taxes? If you are not being represented? n/t

[sui generis]

9. I am not a squatter.

That's why. I believe that if I want to live in a sovereign nation that supports my life and family, then America shouldn't take my citizenship for granted.

My "not paying taxes" means that if I transfer my assets to Canada the U.S. government doesn't get to treat my life partner as a legal stranger in my estate, and that my taxes from future earnings goes to a different country.

If America isn't number one for me, why should I give a damn about it? My American ancestors came here because life was so extraordinarily difficult for them in Germany and Russia and Italy, and for hope, and so they wouldn't have to continue to waste their lives in those places.

My European ancestors didn't leave because they were part of the problem - gentry and very well off.

If the the people in the OP really wanted to make a difference, I have to question whether they chose the most effective way of doing that.

[Citrene]

12. Of course you are not. Bless your heart and then some.

I love my "european" ancestors just as much as I love my American indigent ancestors as well.

Hopefully we will all find some common ground, you think?

[Citrene]

20. Good for you, keep paying for criminals committing crimes. It's a

beautiful thing. Don't you think? I like it, don't you?

More money for us all. More to buy, more to consume, I LOVE IT! LET'S GO SHOPPING! I want, I need, I have to have!!

[sui generis]

21. They're not all criminals

I don't get your last sentence. I think that was an attempt at a slam, or else your weed wore off.

[MindPilot]

10. Nice idea, but exactly how does one NOT pay taxes?

Specifically federal income tax which is the source of war funding--for most of us working stiffs--is taken out of our paychecks before we see them. The best we could hope for is to fudge a bit on the deductions so a little more is in that refund check.

[Citrene]

11. Just say NO!!! It is really that simple. Peace.

n/t

[Citrene]

13. I'm kicking it up and taking a break. Peace you guys. n/t

[MindPilot]

14. I'm afraid it is not "that simple".

To whom do I say "NO"? My employer? An employer faces stiff fines for failing to withhold federal income taxes so he's not going to do that, no matter how much he happens to agree with me about the war.

So are you suggesting I quit my job? That would keep a little less than $10,000 out of the hands of the government and of course my family and I would be hungry and homeless. But hey, that's a small price to pay to put a .000000000001% dent in that trillion dollar war chest. :sarcasm:

That said however I have for many years advocated--but of course no one listens to me--that the tax forms have a short series of broad check-off categories so taxpayers could direct percentages of their funds to particular areas, Social Programs, Education, Defense, Infrastructure, etc. Budgets would then be influenced by the aggregate percentages of those results. If more people shifted a greater percentage of their tax obligation to Education than Defense, then education gets proportionally more funding.

[Citrene]

16. All you have to do is file a simple form with your employer to not

withold your taxes by whatever percent you choose. It really is up to you.

I'm suggesting nothing to no one person.

It can be done. It is a personal choice.

And you all can quit with your dripping sarcasm. :sarcasm:

PEACE AND LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL!

AND YES, IT IS THAT DAMNED SIMPLE!!

[Citrene]

19. Keep on paying, keep on supporting. Good Luck, A Hole.

Education got lost a long time ago.

[MindPilot]

22. And you can quit with the name-calling. n/t

[Citrene]

18. You file a letter with them telling them how much to take out. It is

legal to do so. I've done it. n/t

[MindPilot]

23. OK, this is the second time you've answered the same question

I suggest you lay off whatever psychotropic medication you're ingesting until you can craft a coherent post.

BTW, please see post #22 for the correct use of "n/t".

[MadMaddie]

15. What we should be doing is marching on the ...

headquarters of all of the major media outlets....they wouldn't dare pass up free publicity for themselves...

[Citrene]

17. I'm suggesting the marches are not working, let us try something new?