Mermaid Musings

Below is a copy of the letter I wrote to the IRS to explain why I wasn’t paying my taxes this year. In 2003, I started war-tax resistance and mostly have been living on an income that was below taxable levels. This year, however, I found myself in a higher tax bracket once again. I was worried for a while, but then the pResident announced the economic stimulus dealy-o. So, the IRS seized my stimulus and so much for resisting taxes to pay for war…

In any case, here’s what I told them:

Dear IRS,

I am writing this letter because I have not included payment of my 2007 income tax liability. I cannot in good conscience contribute to the illegal and immoral war currently being waged on the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and possibly Iran.

In this country that prides itself on allowing pharmacists and doctors to refuse medical care to women seeking to terminate and/or prevent pregnancy, surely there is room for my right to refuse to pay for the violence heaped upon the innocent people of Iraq.

For the past five years the Bush Administration has manipulated and deceived the people of this country with his ‘war on terror.’ For the past seven years the same administration has systematically dismantled our constitutional rights and protections in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘security.’

I would gladly pay my taxes if the money were used to improve access to health care for the millions of Americans who have none (for what taxpayers paid for the war in Iraq in 2007, 40 million Americans could have had health care), or if the money were used to improve educational opportunities (how about university scholarships for 21 million students), or if the money were used to clean up the environment or develop more sustainable energy resources (we could have built 141 million energy efficient homes). Instead, more than $500 billion has been spent to kill almost a million Iraqi civilians, more than 4,000 US soldiers and to destroy a country with a rich history at the root of human civilization.

As a person of conscience, I cannot contribute one penny more to this atrocity.

Thank you for your time,