Tax Resistance News from Hither and Yon

Some tax resistance news from here and there:

• The campaign against the new water charges in Ireland has hit a milestone. At the end of the first billing cycle, only 43% of households had paid their bill.

  While Irish Water will consider this to be a solid start and in keeping with international experience related to the introduction of such new charges, the anti-water charges movement is already claiming the fact that just 43% of households have paid the charges as a victory for their side.

  Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald said it signals to the Government in no uncertain terms that the majority of the people do not support water charges.

  Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy said it represents a massive victory for people power and that a clear majority of 57% of people have sent a message that they will not pay these charges.

• Two sex workers in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand stood up to a would-be pimp who tried to impose a tax on them for the privilege of working there. They endured threats and violence and have now found allies of a sort in the local police.
• It’s hard to tax you if you don’t bother with money. Mark Boyle gave up on money in 2008. Click that link to see a brief interview with him about how his experiment in living a moneyless life has gone.

Tammany Hall was the name of the political crime family that ran New York City government for decades, starting in the middle of the 19^th century.

The following article, which I found in The Daily Kansas Tribune of 30 July 1871, shows an attempt to fight back against Tammany Hall that may have helped to contribute to the collapse of the particularly corrupt rule of “Boss” Tweed:

Tax Payers vs. Tammany.

New York, July 29. — The Tribune says that the insurrection of capitalists (as the movement to resist tax payments to Tammany has been called) is rapidly assuming large proportions. There are two movements in progress: one consists in the combination of property owners and residents of New York city — about one thousand of whom, it is stated, have signed an agreement to resist the collection of taxes by the city and county officials until a showing of books is compelled. The paper was actively circulated in Wall street yesterday evening. Most conservative capitalists are determined to support the movement, provided it be as general as it now appears likely to become. Meanwhile, those doing business in New York, but residing in New Jersey, are stirring, and contemplate a flank movement in the U.S. Court.