Each year, Americans pay millions of dollars in taxes to the federal government, but not everyone’s happy about it.
Military Tax Resistance of Lane County organized protests Monday at the Lane County Courthouse and downtown post office to voice concerns about the high level of military spending in the United States.
Standing on the sidewalk outside the downtown post office, Eugene PeaceWorks volunteer Phil Weaver discussed military spending with people and provided them with literature on spending. People could also pick up postcards opposing military spending to mail to elected officials.
“People have been really responsive,” Weaver said, adding that most conversations he had with people were civil.
While most people have supported the efforts the tax resistors are putting forth, some people disagreed with the idea of reducing military spending, Weaver said, mentioning one person whose business held military contracts.
“I love paying my taxes, this is a great country, man,” one taxpayer shouted sarcastically while entering the post office.
At the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, located just outside the Lane County Courthouse, the festivities were more interactive and entertainment-oriented.
Activities included a penny-poll, where people could take 10 pennies and place them into jars symbolizing where they would most like their tax dollars to go, and the opportunity to throw bean-bags labeled with dollar signs into the “Military Bottomless Pit.”
The game involved throwing the bean-bags at a wheel partitioned into five military spending areas the protestors highly opposed: School of the Americas, nuclear weapons, arms exports, cost overruns, chemical weapons and “Plan Colombia.”
“It’s the bottomless pit of military spending,” said Rob Castleberry, who recently became involved with tax resistance. “Throw your money away here, you won’t have another chance until next year.”
The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee organized several local, state and national protests on tax day this year. In addition to merely protesting, Military Tax Resistance of Lane County was able donate $1,000 to a variety of peace-focused groups that included Cascadia Forest Defenders, Oregon PeaceWorks, the National Peace Tax Fund and School of the Americas Watch. The latter is a group that works to close the Army School of the Americas, which opponents argue is functioning as a training ground for international terrorism.
Some people at the events urged taxpayers to consider military tax resistance.
“We cannot, in good conscience, pay for war,” said Mary Loehr, coordinator of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee. “We are outraged at how the U.S. government is determining its priorities, and we encourage others to consider refusing to pay for some or all of their federal taxes. We will take that money and give it to groups that are supporting life, not death.”
Inside the post office, Eugene resident Mike Davenport waited patiently to part with his money.
“Some of this money goes to good programs,” he said. “I’d like to see more social services and education funding, less B2 Bombers, Star Wars, all that crap serves no purpose — it’s wasted money.”
Sue Barnhart of Eugene is actively involved with Military Tax Resistance of Lane County and has been a tax resistor for many years.
“If all my tax money was going to serve people and work for peace and justice, I would be happy to pay,” Barnhart said. “But since so much of it goes for killing and war, my conscience tells me I must resist.”
Now that Barnhart has adopted a child, the tax credit she receives allows her avoid taxation. Barnhart now donates part of the money she keeps from that credit to programs promoting peace.