Refusing to pay taxes: Civil disobedience and the Iraq war

Christian Science Monitor has an interesting piece on some modern-day Henry David Thoreaus who are refusing to pay their taxes to protest the ongoing war in Iraq. The number of such protestors is estimated at about 10,000--and growing.

According to the White House, 19 cents of every tax dollar goes to military spending, although many tax resisters believe the number is much higher, with some saying the figure may be as high as 42 cents. Some protestors have withheld all of their taxes and others have withhold the percentage they believe gets earmarked to military spending, Others have refused to even file a 1040, and instead donated the money to charities of their choice.

Is this type of civil disobedience more effective than engaging in public marches, writing letters to Congress or blogging in your free time? I'm not sure, the money involved is truly negligable to the IRS's coffers, but there is no doubt a lot of bravery involved in openly refusing to pay your taxes due to your personal convictions. I've been known to complain about the indifference of most Americans who, although they disagree with Bush's invasion of Iraq, have not been moved to do or say anything about their feelings. Apparantly, there is some hope.