Yikes! According to this Sojourner's article, 42 cents on every American tax dollar is used to fund the military. Here's a related ethical question: If I believe that lethal violence is immoral, and the military is in the business of lethal violence, do I have blood on my hands if I allow my tax dollars to support the military? Seems like the answer is an obvious "yes."
If so, what am I supposed to do? Withhold 42% of my taxes? Live on a low income so that I pay very little income tax? Be willing to go to jail because of tax evasion? (and thus become rather useless to a society that I believe requires me to be an activist)? Life sure wouldn't be a bowl of peaches if I undertook any of these actions. Perhaps I don't have to, if Congressional bill H.R. 2037 passes.
From the aforementioned Sojourners article: "The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 2037) would recognize conscientious objection for taxpayers who, on religious or ethical grounds, cannot participate in the funding of war or preparation for war. Taxpayers who now unlawfully withhold the portion of their taxes that support military spending would be able to pay their full taxes once again, while still giving voice to their conscience.
The Peace Tax Fund Bill is molded in the image of conscientious objection to military service. It would not reduce an individual's tax liability, nor would it directly alter the level of military spending as established by Congress. It would channel the current military portion of an objector's income tax to life-affirming governmental programs."
The bill was introduced by John Lewis, a Demmycrat from Georgia, and apparently it already has 37 co-sponsors. I don't know if that's good, given my general ignorance of how things get legislated in the USA (I missed out on all those civics classes while growing up in Canada).
Speaking of ethical/religious opposition to war, it seems that more than a few evangelical Christians (normally stalwart Bush supporters) are reconsidering their support for Bush this fall, largely because of the increasingly calamitous nature of the war effort.
If so, what am I supposed to do? Withhold 42% of my taxes? Live on a low income so that I pay very little income tax? Be willing to go to jail because of tax evasion? (and thus become rather useless to a society that I believe requires me to be an activist)? Life sure wouldn't be a bowl of peaches if I undertook any of these actions. Perhaps I don't have to, if Congressional bill H.R. 2037 passes.
From the aforementioned Sojourners article: "The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 2037) would recognize conscientious objection for taxpayers who, on religious or ethical grounds, cannot participate in the funding of war or preparation for war. Taxpayers who now unlawfully withhold the portion of their taxes that support military spending would be able to pay their full taxes once again, while still giving voice to their conscience.
The Peace Tax Fund Bill is molded in the image of conscientious objection to military service. It would not reduce an individual's tax liability, nor would it directly alter the level of military spending as established by Congress. It would channel the current military portion of an objector's income tax to life-affirming governmental programs."
The bill was introduced by John Lewis, a Demmycrat from Georgia, and apparently it already has 37 co-sponsors. I don't know if that's good, given my general ignorance of how things get legislated in the USA (I missed out on all those civics classes while growing up in Canada).
Speaking of ethical/religious opposition to war, it seems that more than a few evangelical Christians (normally stalwart Bush supporters) are reconsidering their support for Bush this fall, largely because of the increasingly calamitous nature of the war effort.