New National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee Newsletter

A new issue of NWTRCC’s newsletter — More Than a Paycheck — is out featuring an article I wrote about how to craft a persuasive and motivating tax resistance message. (It’s a distillation of a Picket Line entry from .)

Also in the newsletter are some notes about IRS policy and foibles, an update on the ongoing attempts by war tax resister Daniel Jenkins to find a legal forum that will rule that conscientious objection to military taxation is a human right, and the latest on All Saints Church’s struggle to maintain its freedom of speech and its tax-exempt status at the same time.

Daniel Sicken gives a report from the New England Regional Gathering of War Tax Resisters and Supporters. And some of those who gathered there — Ruthy Woodring, Aaron Falbel, Frances Crowe, and Daniel Staub — are profiled briefly. Here’s Frances Crowe’s profile:

“I suddenly woke up about five years ago and made a big sign that said ‘Does Our Lifestyle Demand War?’ and hung it on my door.” Frances then proceeded to work at changing her lifestyle, starting by not using her car for two days a week. As she walked more, she found she could use her car less and less — and liked walking more and more. It became something of a meditation, with the added bonus of meeting people along the way. She changed from a Friends Meeting that was some miles away to one within walking distance, and dropped her YMCA membership where they use so much heat and air conditioning. She doesn’t want to fly anymore and takes the train instead. She’s still working on many things, like buying food that is grown locally. She’s really working to reduce her footprint on the planet, and at the same time redirecting taxes from war to funding real human needs like schools, peace and justice work, and rebuilding the new society in the shell of the old.


Congress finalized that “economic stimulus” bill I discussed , and it’s due to become law. You can find all of the nitty-gritty at TaxProf Blog, and a good overview at Tax Update Blog.

If you’re resisting the federal income tax by keeping your income below the “tax line” you’ll want to adjust your strategy based on the new law — chances are, you’ll be able to earn more income this year than last and still remain below the income tax line.