Longtime antiwar activists and tax resisters David and Jan Hartsough sent the following letter to the Internal Revenue Service earlier this month. Due to COVID-19, the deadline to file income taxes was delayed from April 15 to July 15. For more information about war tax resistance, see NWTRCC.org.
Dear Friends at the IRS,
We are Quakers and cannot in conscience pay for the killing of other human beings, or pay for war and preparations for war. Human life is too precious to drop bombs on people because we do not like their governments. Developing a new generation of nuclear weapons which could put an end to life on our beautiful planet is immoral and insane. Giving the Pentagon hundreds of billions of dollars does not increase the security of our people when we are cutting funds for schools, libraries, job training, diplomacy work at the State Dept. and now even the EPA and the transition to a renewable energy future.
The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, and increased use of drones have NOT increased our security, but rather have created more enemies of the United States. Our tax dollars are also being used to prepare for wars with Russia, Iran, North Korea and China which could easily, by accident or intention, become a nuclear war which could kill billions of people. Let’s end the “war on terror” and all wars and bring our tax dollars home to meet the needs of the American people.
Fifty-four percent of everyone’s tax dollars go for wars and preparations for wars. Together with our IRS Form, we are sending a check for 46 percent of what we owe made out to the Dept. of Health and Human Services. We ask that you designate all those funds for health, education and human well-being – and NONE for war and killing. The other 54 percent which goes for war and killing we are contributing to organizations working for peace and justice, and programs meeting human and environmental needs in the United States and around the world.
Instead of paying for war and killing, we are joining together with others to build what Martin Luther King called the “Beloved Community.” We hope and pray that all the taxes from people worldwide can go for schools, good health care, food and housing for all people on earth which will help create a healthy planet for our children and all future generations.
Sincerely,
David and Jan Hartsough
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Thank you, Jan and David. In times past I have done the same … and hope to do so again when it does not impact loved ones.
It took me a long time to come to the same commitment that David and Jan articulate in their post. I was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, but still paid income tax until the war on Iraq. I went to Iraq just before shock and awe and met with many Iraqis and asked, “What are you telling your children about why this is going to happen”. After that I could no longer pay to destroy the people I had met. I filled out the federal tax forms each year and enclosed a letter explaining that it would be illegal for me to pay the income tax. The Patriot Act makes it a criminal offense to provide funds to terrorist organizations and the definition of a terrorist organization fits the United States exactly. If the US were to set up a special fund that would make sure no monies would pay for war, I said, I would pay my taxes into that fund. It is not difficult to set up a separate fund. Every non-profit that receives government funding knows how to do it. Of course, the IRS never would do that. It is a myth that if you don’t pay your taxes, you go to jail. Maybe you go to jail if you file a false or frivolous tax return, but non-payment is a civil offense, like not paying your credit card bill. The US government can put a lien on any property you own and can mess with your passport if you owe more than $50K, but for conscientious tax resisters, like Jan and Dave, no jail for you. Don’t take my word for it, check it out yourself. And stop paying for war, militarism, and destruction of the earth.