Editor,
The United States has deliberately supported bloody, greedy regimes that have robbed, tortured and murdered their own people in dozens of nations: Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Zaire, Fiji, Ethiopia, Rhodesia, South Africa, Pakistan, Brunei, Argentina, Liberia, Honduras, Paraguay, Panama, El Salvador, Indonesia, Taiwan, Greece, Brazil, Portugal, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Morocco, Spain, Vietnam, Peru, Philippines, Cuba, Haiti, Chile, Guatemala, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
If we believe the U.S. empire works for worldwide justice, freedom, democracy and human rights, we have swallowed the abominable U.S. lies and propaganda. We have been terribly deceived and duped. The U.S. empire is the enemy of justice, freedom, democracy and human rights.
The U.S. empire’s main goal is to make sure that most Americans, especially the corporations and the elite, keep stealing and hogging the world’s wealth. The U.S. is less than 5 percent of the world’s people, but consumes 25 percent of the world’s resources.
Nothing in my life is more important than refusing to pay federal income tax for U.S. wars. No job, no salary, no romantic relationship, no house, no car, no degree, no art, no furniture, no trips, no gadgets …
The best way to refuse to pay federal income tax for war, with no fines and no threats from the government, is to live simply — below the taxable level.
I lived well for all of 2010 on $4,126 — less than one of the federal income taxable level of $9,350 for me as a single person. I have paid no federal income tax for 32 years. I pledge publicly, at age 65, to live simply, to not own a car and to not pay federal income tax for war for the rest of my life.
Don Schrader
Community member
