No Way, I Won't Pay for War

[Marilyn Langlois <langlois-rine@comcast.net>]

Dear Ca-Resisters--
As Rich Gibson's recent post noted, US policies of nationalism, racism,
imperialism and war continue to be dire, and we welcome the recent massive
resistance to horrendous immigration legislation.

As we all know, a war budget leaves every child behind, and this year I've
decided to join war tax resisters as an act of conscientious objection.  See
my statement below.

peace and solidarity,
Marilyn
----

Letter to the IRS, April 2006

Every week I volunteer as a counselor on the GI Rights Hotline, answering
calls from members of the US armed services and their families.  All too
frequently, I hear: ³My recruiter lied to me.²  ³I was ordered to do hurtful
things to others.² ³The military is mistreating my son/daughter.²  Many of
the men and women who call have come to see themselves as conscientious
objectors to war.  The more I talk to them the more I realize that I, too,
am a conscientious objector to the illegal and reprehensible activities
funded by revenue from personal income taxes.  I am therefore unable to
write a check to the US Treasury for the amount of federal income taxes I
ostensibly owe this year, based on the enclosed tax return which I have
completed to the best of my knowledge.

I harbor no ill will towards the IRS, which merely implements revenue
collection laws passed by Congress.  For 8 years I volunteered for the AARP
Foundation in partnership with the IRS, as instructor and counselor
providing free tax preparation services for low income taxpayers.  During
that time I had the pleasure of working with many knowledgeable, caring and
respectful IRS employees.

Yet I feel deeply saddened knowing that federal tax dollars pay for
torturing, traumatizing and killing so many of my brothers and sisters in
the human family.  Iraqis, Haitians, Palestinians, detainees at Guantanamo
Bay and Abu Ghraib, survivors of Hurricane Katrina, immigrants dying of
thirst at the border, and US soldiers deployed to war zones are among those
suffering unnecessarily due to US government policies and spending
decisions. 

I feel betrayed by the deception of our leaders who are occupying Iraq under
false pretenses, covering up the truth of 9/11, spying on US residents, and
pretending there¹s nothing wrong with the US stockpiling over 10,000 nuclear
weapons. 

War tax resistance is a big switch for me, because I used to enjoy paying
income taxes, viewing them as a contribution to the common good that I was
very happy to make.  I support the use of taxes to promote human dignity and
well-being at home and abroad. Thus I am giving more than my tax liability
to organizations that provide education, arts, housing, mental health and
peace-making services in my local community of Richmond California and
beyond.  The work they do brings joy, and we need more of it.

I believe that by redirecting its resources, the US could be a safe and
thriving republic in a community of nations, without waging war or
committing atrocities.   I gladly join others who share this belief and act
on it.  Si se puede!

Marilyn Langlois
Richmond, CA

http://www.nowartax.org for more information on war tax resistance