I was momentarily excited by the idea that I could suddenly and unilaterally decide to quit paying federal taxes! Before beginning such a plan, however, I wanted to gather a little information about this supposedly non-existent law that we must pay taxes to the federal government. I came up with this bit:

"16th Amendment In 1895, in the Supreme Court case of Pollock v Farmer's Loan and Trust (157 U.S. 429), the Court disallowed a federal tax on income from real property. The tax was designed to be an indirect tax, which would mean that states need not contribute portions of a whole relative to its census figures. The Court, however, ruled that the tax was a direct tax and subject to apportionment. This was the last in a series of conflicting court decisions dating back to the Civil War. Between 1895 and 1909, when the amendment was passed by Congress, the Court began to back down on its position, as it became clear not only to accountants but to everyone that the solvency of the nation was in jeopardy. In a series of cases, the definition of "direct tax" was modified, bent, twisted, and coaxed to allow more taxation efforts that approached an income tax.

Finally, with the ratification of the 16th Amendment, any doubt was removed. The text of the Amendment makes it clear that though the categories of direct and indirect taxation still exist, any determination that income tax is a direct tax will be irrelevant, because taxes on incomes, from salary or from real estate, are explicitly to be treated as indirect. The Congress passed the Amendment on July 12, 1909, and it was ratified on February 3, 1913 (1,302 days)."

Then I read a post here, directly quoting that 16th amendment.

Then I read a bunch of stuff by someone name Bill Benson who claims to have "discovered" that the 16th amendment was never legally passed/ratified. It is also claimed by Mr. Benson that after serving years in jail for not paying his taxes, he is now out, and is still not paying taxes.

So . . . it seems pretty clear to me that this family/enclave is operating from the Bill Benson playbook: Deny that there is a "Legal" law that states they must pay taxes, and then use that alleged toehold as a way to gather publicity & perhaps support for their cause.

All of this reminds me of a certain problem in city/county government from my home, not terribly long ago.

It seems there was a man who "knew" that he had a right not to skirt his trailer, even though local laws made it clear that the skirting needed to be done. This person was called to court, where he promptly informed those gathered that these proceedings were illegal because there was an American flag in the room that had gold fringes on it, making it a "military flag." In this person's mind, no civilian decision could be made in a room flying such a flag.

Directly after the court date, the man fled town. It wasn't long before the town's officials were "served" with papers from this man's "militia." This group "ordered" the mayor, judge, city attorney, and a host of other folks, to appear before "its" court, so that they could render judgment upon the "illegal" proceedings to which this man had been subjected.

Now I ask you . . . which is better--to skirt a trailer, or to attempt to shotgun the legal system by which one is fined when one doesn't? There are practical benefits to the skirting of trailers. What are the practical benefits of allowing each person to interpret the law as he/she sees fit?

And had this non-trailer-skirting rogue declared, after skipping town, "they'll never take me alive," would not the duly appointed legal authorities have had a very good reason to carry weapons with them when going to the militia "compound" to make good on the arrest warrant?

(Add to the mix that this person was a veteran police officer, trained in the use of firearms.)

Ed and Elaine Brown have declared that they WILL NOT BE ARRESTED. Is it any surprise that those who come to arrest them will come with weapons, and will be prepared to use those weapons?

Do I hope they get shot? No. I hope nobody gets shot. Ever.

But I also think that the Browns bear a great deal of responsibility for the situation in which they find themselves. My hope is that they gather up whatever is left of their rationality, and choose to "render unto Caesar."

Perhaps if they live past this encounter, Ed and Elaine Brown will teach us all how to simply "choose" not to pay taxes.

After that, or even failing that, perhaps they will find a way to teach us all to avoid dying.

Herring405