Imagine what will happen when the millions of Americans who oppose the government's escalating militarism proclaim in unison, "WE CHOOSE PEACE! WE'RE BOYCOTTING WAR!"

There are many ways to boycott war, including

refuse to serve in the military;

refuse to fund the military;

fund peacemaking, social justice, environmental, health, and education programs

be vocal in your community and to your legislators about your opposition to war and desire for peace and social justice;

refuse to purchase war toys or see movies or shows that glorify violence;

cut down on fossil fuel consumption;

use language of cooperation and connection rather than that of competition and separation:

practice kindness;

working for campaign funding to be only from public monies

and more…

War tax resistance is a centuries-old form of civil disobedience regarding taxes. War tax resisters refuse to pay taxes for war, sending their tax money instead to groups working for peace and community social needs. For those not familiar with war tax resistance, the idea is often scary, conjuring up images of jail and homes confiscated. Although such events are extremely rare for war tax resisters, most peace activists continue to pay their war taxes in full, without protesting.

How to become a Taxpayer for Peace:

• Send $10.40 "peace tax" to an "alternative tax fund"or to a local group working for peace, nonviolent conflict resolution, social justice, the environment, health, education, the arts, etc.
• Write your check to the IRS for $10.40 less than the amount you owe.
• Write letters to your friends, local newspapers, your congress people, and the president explaining your action.

Why become a Taxpayer for Peace?

If you want peace, pay for peace.

If you want peace, stop paying for war.
"Let them march all they want, as long as they pay their taxes."
      attributed to Alexander Haig, June 1982, serving under Pres. Reagan,

The Pentagon receives about one-half of every dollar that Congress annually allocates (Learn More). If you disagree with these priorities, becoming aTaxpayers for Peace is a small, significant step you can take to help keep your conscience intact and let your voice be heard.

While considering whether to commit civil disobedience, you might also consider the consequences and risks involved in paying your taxes in full:

• perpetuating a culture of violence and oppression at home
• contributing to our country's bombing thousands of innocent people
• supporting our country's destroying infrastructures in foreign lands
• alienating our allies' good will

The $10.40 you're not spending for war you can redirect to life-affirming programs.

"If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible."
      Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience

How do you feel...

When you think about how your federal taxes are spent?

When you think about refusing to pay for war?

When you think about redirecting your taxes towards peace?

What fears or concerns do you feel about redirecting war taxes?

What hopes do you feel about redirecting war taxes?

In making decisions, how important is each of the following:

Personal values

Financial concerns

Convenience, effort

Risk

Anticipated results

When you disagree with the government, where and when do you draw the line in going along with them?

Yes, but...

Specific concerns

Some thoughts

Cost-benefit analysis

Role of civil disobedience in a democracy

Sample Letter

Date

Dear ______________________,

*Instead of exporting weapons and war, the United States needs to be providing leadership in a multinational political and legal course to address terrorism, aggression, and conflict. We need to be promoting civil, political, and economic human rights along with humanitarian and environmental aid to foreign countries, and here at home as well.

*Tie in the current issues relevant to your refusal and redirection of $10.40.

OMTFP History
One Million Taxpayers for Peace (OMTFP) was initiated in response to the government's military actions following September 11, 2001.

OMTFP is an outgrowth of a "1040 Club" [http://www.tea-circle.com/sctfp/1040club.html], which involves the low-risk refusal of paying $10.40 of income taxes which would go to war expenses. Knowing that close to 50% of their tax dollars fund military programs that conflict with their ethics, 1040 Club members feel morally obligated to resist, redirect, and speak up. The strategy of a 1040 Club is to achieve widespread participation, and thereby, be able to effect political change.

OMTFP was originally a campaign to inspire at least 1,000,000 people nationwide to symbolic war tax resistance and redirection of their $10.40 to nonviolent conflict resolution programs in schools nationwide. Endorsed by Helen Caldicott, NWTRCC, Every Church a Peace Church and others, we'd hoped to create a collective voice against war and violence that was loud enough to break through the political and media barriers against dissent, as well as provide funds to make nonviolent conflict resolution a reality in every community.

Unfortunately, the campaign did not generate enough energy to keep going. We did, however, inspire several local groups to spring up. Axis of Peace, and Austin Taxpayers for Peace are two that we know of; we've heard tell of others.

In March, 2003, we were able to make grants from redirected war taxes from peace tax payers living in 16 states, on both coasts, in the midwest, the south, and the Capitol.

$315 to Children's Creative Response to Conflict,,

$315 to Help Increase the Peace Program (HIPP),

  $70 (10%) to Peace Tax Fund Bill,]

And we are very grateful to Conscience and Military Tax Campaign and Sonoma County Taxes for Peace for their support from Day 1 of OMTFP.

Links