BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes

Subject: BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes
From: Sam L
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 10:24 PM

An ethics question I recall from college involved a case of a young man in California who went to court to avoid the Viet Nam war. I'm a liberal. But being a liberal, I thought of Thoreau, who tried to refuse to pay his taxes on the ground they supported a war he opposed.

I argued that a Califiornia judge might rule that this young man, on his religious convictions, should be exempt from service, sure. That's what California judges are for. Sidebar: If you are a lawyer, you might try not to cite case rulings from California if you want to bolster your case. But the argument that the man wanted nothing to do with it didn't work for me. I can quite respect a draft-dodger, much easier than the man in this case. He was just innately above it all. I don't know what happened in the case.

   It's not a cartoon of mindless patriotism to recognise that being willing to do something or risk something in the way of your convictions sometimes counts a little more than proclaiming your high ideals, and wanting a pass. But sometimes it just does. Maybe not always, but sometimes.

I was not in favor of the war, but I live in the US and I paid my (rather stiff) taxes. So. Well, I really don't believe those notions that if you buy this, you're responsible for that. You're only responsible for what you do, and intend, and all those considerations, for better or worse. But still, I'd rather hope that Iraq does become significantly liberated, than be right about any doubts or fears I might have.

Subject: RE: BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 11:02 PM

At this point, Fred, I agree with you -- a reasonably orderly transition into a new, self-determined society is the only outcome that will make any of the blood worthwhile. We do, after all, have to deal with what is, as a starting point.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes
From: Troll
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 11:17 PM

I'm with you, Amos.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 16 Apr 03 - 11:55 PM

I've always thought that taxpayers should have a lot more say-so in how our tax money gets spent. We get to decide who spends it, why can't we tell them how much to spend on what?

We definitely should be able to stipulate how much of our tax money we will allow to be spent on defense right on our tax forms (just like we get to say whether or not we want a few bucks to go to the presidential election fund). Total pacifists should be able to say that they don't want any of their money spent on defense. I would tell them they can have 20%. My brother-in-law the retired Air Force Colonel would probably say 100% (and probably cough up more if asked).

Then, as the taxes roll in, the IRS would key in how much of each return goes to defense spending and, when all the taxes are in, voila! The ceiling for the defense budget for that year is written in stone. Congress wouldn't have to fight and bicker over how much to appropriate for defense because the taxpayers would have already done it for them. President's wouldn't be able to start costly wars and then steal the money to finance them from other projects.

Bruce

Subject: RE: BS: Death, Iraq, and taxes
From: Forum Lurker
Date: 17 Apr 03 - 01:16 AM

We can tell them what we want it spent on, at least in theory. If it worked like it were supposed to, we would be able to elect a candidate who would represent what we wanted, rather than pick the person whose stated goals more closely match what we want than the one other candidate.